What Is Appliqué?
Appliqué is a textile technique where a piece of fabric is placed onto another material and then stitched in place.
It’s used both in hand sewing and machine embroidery.
Typically, the fabric piece forms the shape or “filler,” while a decorative stitch – such as a satin stitch or zigzag stitch – secures the edges.
Benefits of Appliqué
- Less stitch time and thread usage compared to full embroidery
- Bold visual impact through color, texture, and patterned fabric
- Ideal for children’s clothes, accessories, or logo-style graphics
Techniques & Variants
- Classic appliqué: covered with a dense satin or zigzag stitch
- Doodle appliqué: edges left raw and outlined with a simple running stitch
- ITH appliqué: stitched entirely in-the-hoop on an embroidery machine
- 3D appliqué: using thicker materials like felt, faux leather, or foam
How Machine Appliqué Works
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The embroidery file includes an appliqué sequence:
- Placement stitch: outlines where the fabric should go
- Tack-down stitch: secures the fabric in place
- Trim: excess fabric is trimmed close to the tack-down
- Cover stitch: often a satin or decorative border
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Alternatively, the fabric can be pre-cut using a cutting plotter (requires a matching cutting file)
Fabric Tips
- Use stable, non-stretch fabrics like cotton, felt, denim, or canvas
- For fraying fabrics, a dense border stitch is recommended
- Spray adhesive and stabilizer help keep everything in place during stitching
Note: Many embroidery designs include appliqué elements – look for designs labeled “with appliqué” or check if an SVG file is included for pre-cutting.