What Is Applique Work?

Applique is an ancient cultural art using fabric. The designs created can be for clothing, items of religious significance, banners or quilts. Artists all over the world use applique to create art work that celebrates their culture and history; others create applique designs as a hobby or to sell.

Defined

Applique means to "place on" fabric pieces that are sewn onto a larger piece of foundation fabric in order to create designs. This kind of craft is often done when the design has to be seen from a distance.

Technique

Applique is created by placing small fabric cutouts to create intricate designs, such as animals or flowers. The fabric is then stitched on with a sewing machine or by hand; applique can be completed on clothing or quilts.

Types

Broderie perse is a type of applique, called "persian embroidery," in which pieces of chintz are sewn onto a quilt or muslin. Mola applique is a fabric panel that has been worked in several layers by using "reverse applique," cutting away top layers of fabric and leaving the bottom layer uncut.

History

Applique is French for "lay on." The earliest known example comes from Egypt, dating from approximately 980 B.C.

Culture

Cultures all over the world use applique as a decoration technique for clothing as well as home decor items. Applique, in its various forms, has often been used for religious items, such as altar cloths.

Resources

• Quilting Techniques: What is Applique?
• Broderie Perse
• Unique Handmade Mola Art Works San Blas Panama