How to Applique Stars

Stars can add a patriotic effect to a craft project.

Applique art lets you place almost any design or image on fabric or similar material. Stars are actually one of the more simple choices in this craft, as the sides and corners are fairly simple. There are no curves or tight corners to work with while creating and applying this shape. Therefore, appliqueing a star is a great option for a craft artist who is just beginning with this type of project. Generally, this will take less than an hour to complete and can be done by almost anybody with basic craft and sewing skills.

Things You'll Need

• Tracing paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Fabric marker or chalk
• Iron-on applique fabric
• Fabric (to hold the applique)
• Iron
• Sewing machine (optional, with silk or zig zag stitch capabilities)
• Thread (Optional)

Instructions

1. Sketch a star on to tracing paper with a pencil. The star can be of any size but should fit in the space on the fabric to which you would like to adhere it. Using tracing paper and pencil will leave more room for drawing mistakes and redrawing the star if necessary, since you won't be marking the applique fabric directly and making a mess with re-dos.

2. Cut out the star shape from the tracing paper with scissors. Use accurate cuts, as this will be your tool in creating the star shape on the actual fabric.

3. Trace the star shape on to the applique fabric with a fabric marker. Place the cut out from the tracing paper on the top surface of applique fabric. The top will be rougher than the bottom, as the bottom is coated with an adhesive that reacts to heat from an iron. The bottom will have more of a plastic-like texture than the plain fabric top. Trace the perimeter of the tracing paper cutout with the fabric marker.

4. Cut out the shape from the applique fabric with scissors. Follow the tracing made with the fabric marker in the previous step with your scissors until the entire star is cut out from the fabric.

5. Place the cut out applique fabric star on the location in the main piece of fabric in which you would like it to be adhered. Place the bottom side of the applique fabric down and touching the main piece of fabric.

6. Heat an iron to the necessary temperature for bonding the applique fabric glue to the main piece of fabric. This temperature will depend on the brand and type of both pieces of fabric. The time needed for the applique glue to adhere during the heating process will also depend on the brand and type of both fabrics. Confirm the needed time and temperature by reading the manufacturer's instructions that are supplied with the applique fabric.

7. Remove the iron from the fabrics and allow the fabrics to cool.

8. Stitch the applique fabric to the main piece of fabric. This is optional, but will created a better, longer-lasting bond between the fabrics. Make a silk or zig zag stitch along the entire perimeter of the star and through the main fabric with a sewing machine and your desired color of thread. The thread does not have to match the colors of the stars, but can complement the color or fit your personal taste.

References

• My Happy Crazy Life: How to Applique
• Dummies; Making Machine Stitches Work for You; Jan Saunders Maresh
• Craft Town: Silk Stitching