Iron on Lace Appliques

Appliqué comes from the French verb "to lay on top of." Lace appliqués are a popular way to dress up anything from hats to canvas bags to jeans to wedding dresses. Iron-on lace appliqués do not take as much time--or skill--to apply as the sew-on versions and come in a wide variety of designs.

Things You'll Need

• Iron-on lace appliqué Straight pins Tailor's chalk or bar of soap Iron Ironing board Pressing cloth or thin towel Sewing needle Thread Scissors

Instructions

Iron on Lace Appliqué

1. Check the instructions on the appliqué and choose a material that can be ironed at the same temperature as the appliqué. The appliqué will not adhere to the material if it is not bonded at the proper temperature.

2. Prepare the item to which you will attach the lace iron-on appliqué. It needs to be clean. If the material will shrink after washing--like denim--then wash it. Iron the item to remove all wrinkles; do this even with a garment that is wash and wear. If it has buttons or hooks, or anything else that might get in the way when attaching the appliqué, remove them.

3. Determine where the iron-on lace appliqué will be placed. Lace can be itchy and, if the appliqué is going to be attached to clothing, make sure it is in a place that will not chafe or irritate the skin by rubbing against it. Pin the appliqué in place, try on the garment and move around. Once you are sure it will be comfortable, pin the lace appliqué in place. You can also use tailor's chalk, or the edge of a bar of soap, to mark the outline of the appliqué. Be sure this is exactly where you want the appliqué to go; it is not easy to move them once bonded.

4. Set up the ironing board and place the material on it so that it lies smooth. If it is not pinned on, place the lace iron-on appliqué in the premarked location. If you pinned the appliqué, remove the pins.

5. Some appliqués must be attached with a dry iron.

6. Put a pressing cloth or thin towel on top of the appliqué and material. Carefully set--don't slide--the iron on top and hold it in place for about 15 to 20 seconds. Don't move the iron as you do with regular ironing; the heat needs to be consistent to bond the adhesive of the appliqué. Carefully turn the material over on the ironing board. Place the pressing cloth on top and put the iron on top of the area with the appliqué. Hold it for between 25 to 30 seconds. Let everything cool.

7. Inspect the cooled appliqué to determine whether all the edges have adhered. If there are spots that haven't bonded, cover them with the pressing cloth and iron again for 15 to 20 seconds. If the edge still hasn't bonded--or if the lace appliqué has intricate designs--use a needle and thread and lightly tack down these sections. Reattach any hooks or buttons that were removed.

Tips & Warnings

• A bar of soap is a good alternative to tailors' chalk when marking the material. You can use a knife to shave it to an edge.