How to Put on an Appliqu?

To add appliqués to an outfit or craft project, you can buy ready-made appliqué transfers, or make your own appliqués. Most ready-made appliqués come with an adhesive backing that you can iron on to the fabric. You can also add fusible web to the back of homemade appliqués to make them easy to put onto the fabric. When ironing on appliqués, you’ll want to use a press cloth, such as a cotton handkerchief or scrap of cotton fabric, to protect the fabric while you press it. For some appliqués, you may also want to sew the appliqué to the fabric for extra durability.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Clothing or fabric
• Appliqué or scraps of colored fabric
• Fusible web
• Scissors
• Iron
• Press cloth
• Sewing machine (optional)
• Thread (optional)

Put on an Appliqué Transfer

1. Preheat the iron to the hot or cotton setting, or the temperature recommended by the appliqué transfer instructions. Place the fabric right side up on the ironing board, and iron out any wrinkles in the fabric.

2. Peel off any removable white backing paper on the appliqué. (Do not remove the clear coating, since this is what fuses the appliqué to the fabric.)

3. Position the appliqué right side up on the fabric, then cover it with a press cloth.

4. Press the appliqué for about 30-40 seconds, or the time recommended in the instructions. If the appliqué is larger than the iron, press the appliqué in sections rather than moving the iron back and forth.

5. Remove the press cloth carefully, then turn off the iron.

Put on an Appliqué with Fusible Web

6. Cut a piece of colored fabric the size and shape you want the appliqué, then cut a piece of fusible web the same size and shape.

7. Place the appliqué right side down on the ironing board. Position the fusible web on top of the appliqué, with the paper side facing up.

8. Preheat the iron to a hot or cotton setting, or the temperature recommended by the fusible web instructions.

9. Iron the fusible web to the appliqué fabric. Let the fusible web cool, then carefully peel off the paper backing.

10. Place the fabric right side up on the ironing board, and iron out any wrinkles in the fabric.

11. Position the appliqué right side up on the fabric. Iron the appliqué to the fabric.

Tips & Warnings

• Use lightweight fusible web if you want to sew on the appliqué as well as iron it, or use heavyweight fusible web if you want to skip the sewing.
• To sew the appliqué to the fabric, iron it to the fabric first. Set the sewing machine to a short zigzag stitch, if available, and set the machine speed to slow. Stitch around the appliqué so that the zigzag stitches overlap the edges.
• Use caution when working with scissors, irons and sewing machines. Do not use steam while ironing on appliqués.