This secures the appliqué fabric in place. Next, most designs do a tack down stitch. When this is done, you lay down your appliqué fabric over the stitch line. This preliminary bit of stitching is intended to show you where to place the appliqué fabric. Typically appliqué files are set up to first stitch out a placement stitch line. Well, you’re in luck – check out my previous post where I show you just how easy it is. If you are new to machine embroidery, perhaps you have never tried to appliqué on your embroidery machine.

So, instead of having to fuse the shapes onto the base fabric and then stitch around them, an appliqué design and your embroidery machine does all the stitching for you. Unfortunately, it’s the only way you can do appliqué if your design is extra large or you don’t own an embroidery machine.Īppliqué designs that you purchase (or find for free) online are created to be stitched out on your embroidery machine. Needless to say, each of these projects were pretty time consuming as they required me to painstakently stitch around every appliquéd object. I made a crazy duvet cover covered with animals, a denim shirt with a retro “LOVE” applique, and a dress full of poppies. And if you are working at a very large scale (beyond the size of an embroidery hoop) – this may be the only way you can do it.īack in the early 1990s (before I owned an embroidery machine) – this is exactly how I would appliqué. You can certainly appliqué with a sewing machine. What is appliqué on an embroidery machine?Īppliqué is the process of placing a cut out piece of fabric on top of another and stitching both layers together. And these freebie designs are a great way to hone your skills. What? You say you have never done appliqué on your embroidery machine? Have no fear – it’s actually quite simple. Want to remember this? Save “Free Appliqué Designs to Stitch on Your Embroidery Machine” on your favorite Pinterest board.

Celtic embroidery design downloads free