Appliqué embroidery is a technique where a separate piece of fabric is attached to the base fabric using stitches. The Appliqué tool generates the multi-stage stitching sequence needed for this process.
How Appliqué Works
An appliqué design is sewn in three stages:
- Placement stitch - A simple running stitch that outlines exactly where the appliqué fabric will go. This is sewn first on the empty hoop. It marks the position so you know where to place the fabric piece.
- Tackdown stitch - After laying the fabric on top of the placement line, this is sewn to hold the fabric in place. Usually a denser stitch (like a zigzag) that grabs the edge of the fabric.
- Cover / border stitch - A wider satin stitch that finishes the edge. It hides the raw fabric edge and gives a clean, finished look to the appliqué.
Appliqué Properties
- Border width - The width of the cover satin stitch around the edge. Larger values give a bolder finished border.
- Stitch length - The length of the placement stitch (the initial guide outline). Typical value is 2-3mm.
- Tackdown density - How dense the tackdown stitches are. Higher density holds the fabric more securely but uses more thread.
Workflow
- Select the Appliqué tool (Q)
- Draw the shape of your appliqué piece on the canvas
- Press Enter to finalize
- The tool generates the placement, tackdown, and cover stitches automatically
- When stitching, the machine will pause after the placement stitch so you can position your fabric, then continue
Common questions
What is appliqué in embroidery?
Appliqué is stitching a piece of fabric onto the garment instead of filling the area with thread. It covers a large area with far fewer stitches, and adds texture and colour that thread alone cannot.
In what order does an appliqué sew?
A placement line marks where the fabric goes, the machine stops, you lay the fabric on, a tackdown holds it down, the machine stops again, you trim the excess, and a satin border covers the raw edge.