How to Machine-Sew an Applique With Fusible Poly Mesh

Christmas stockings can be decorated with appliques.

Appliques are decorative patches sewn onto quilts, towels and articles of clothing. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from simple ovals used to create patterns to animal shapes. Make your own applique and reinforce it with fusible poly mesh before sewing it on.

Things You'll Need

• Applique pattern
• Fusible poly mesh
• Pencil
• Fabric shears
• Applique fabric
• Iron
• Towel
• Scrap fabric

Instructions

1. Set the applique pattern down on a flat surface. Put the fusible poly mesh over the pattern. Trace the pattern onto the fusible poly mesh with a pencil.

2. Cut out the applique pattern from the fusible poly mesh with fabric shears. Follow outside of the pattern as you cut, leaving a 1/4-inch border around the drawn pattern on the poly mesh.

3. Put the applique fabric down on your workspace. Set the fusible poly mesh into the center of the fabric. For heat-sensitive microfiber or fleece fabric, place a towel underneath the fabric and a piece of scrap fabric over the fusible poly mesh.

4. Heat up the iron. Apply the hot iron to the fusible poly mesh to melt it and make it adhere to the fabric. Wait 15 minutes for the fusible poly mesh to cool. Cut out the fabric around the fusible poly mesh to finish making the applique.

5. Place a piece of fusible interfacing onto the wrong, or blank, side of the fabric you are going to fuse the applique to. Apply the hot iron to the fusible interfacing to adhere it to the fabric. Wait 15 minutes for the fusible interfacing to cool.

6. Set the applique onto the fabric in the desired position. Put the sewing machine setting on satin stitch or button hole stitch. Raise the presser foot. Place the fabric and applique onto the sewing machine beneath the presser foot, positioned with the raw edge of the applique beneath the middle of the presser foot.

7. Place your left index and ring fingers on either side of the back of the presser foot and hold the applique fabric taut. Begin sewing on the right side of the applique, with the stitches encapsulating the "raw edge" of the applique fabric. The needle should go through the top of the applique and out the opposite side of the fabric that you are sewing it to. When you reach a corner or finish sewing one side of the applique onto the fabric, lower the needle into the down position, so that it is going through the fabric.

8. Raise the machine's presser foot and pivot the applique, turning it around to the next section of the applique edge. Align the edge of the applique with the center of the presser foot and continue sewing it to the fabric.

9. Trim any loose threads with scissors. Cut as close to the fabric as possible, taking care not to cut the fabric or sewed stitches as you remove the loose threads.

Tips & Warnings

• If your sewing machine does not have the satin stitch setting, use a zig zag stitch setting to sew the applique.

References

• New Mexico State University: Sewing Machine Applique
• Stitch 'em Up: Sewing a Perfect Satin Stitch