How to Sew Shabby Applique

Shabby Chic is a decorating style that was pioneered by Rachel Ashwell in the late '80s--and the lived-in, on and around look continues to be a favorite for many. Inspired by the worn look common to the style, this method of applique creates instant wear by embracing exposed raw edges. Perfect for throw pillows like the one pictured--this simple sewing craft can also be used to decorate totes, curtains or to create a one-of-a-kind wall-hanging. Here are the steps to shabby chic sewing.

Things You'll Need

• Fabrics, at least one of which should be a heavier twill, denim or upholstery style fabric
• Tear-away stabilizer
• Marking pens
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine or needle and thread
• Scissors
• Wire brush

Instructions

1. Choose sturdy fabrics, especially for the applique layer, as you want the edges to fray softly without falling apart or looking like cut edges. Your background fabric can be practically anything though, but if you're planning to use this technique on curtains or a wall hanging, make sure the background fabric is as heavy (if not heavier) than the applique fabric to avoid pulling or puckering due to gravity.

2. Trace or free-hand a design onto a piece of the stabilizer. Because we want the edges exposed, there's no chance to really hide your design marks. Plus, when working with dark fabrics it can be hard to see your lines as you sew. As its name suggests, once we've finished with the sewing, the stabilizer will tear away along the stitched lines, leaving the applique in place.

3. Pin the stabilizer to your applique and background fabrics, in that order. Pin placement should be based on how little it will interfere with the next step (sewing) while being frequent enough to keep your fabric from sliding, puckering, or in general, mucking up your design. Of course, a few wrinkles here and there won't hurt, but overall, you want your two fabrics to lay nicely one over the other.

4. Sew along the design lines, using a small, tight stitch for maximum stability in your finished applique. If you have a double needle for your sewing machine this is a good time to use it as two rows of stitches done at once will help keep your applique attached even once we fray the edges. A narrow but tight zigzag stitch is also a good choice if you don't have a double needle. If you choose to hand-sew the applique, backstitch would be perfect for this, but not a running or quilt stitch--you need more security against the fraying--and definitely sew two rows (though the second row can be sewn after the stabilizer is removed).

5. Tear away the stabilizer from your stitched design using firm but gentle pressure, so as not to disturb your stitching. It may help to snip the beginning of where you want to tear, if the stabilizer decides to be a bit stubborn.

6. Trim away the excess fabric from your stitches design, leaving a 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch border outside the stitches. This is the area that will fray and become a bit shaggy, giving the applique that worn look that we're going for.

7. Tease the cut edges into fraying or fuzzing with a wire brush. Alternately, you can just leave the edges raw and let time and use take care of it, or if the fabrics are washable, run it through a wash and dry cycle to fluff those edges out.

Tips & Warnings

• If your top fabric has a nice design already on it, you can skip the stabilizer step and just follow the outlines of the fabric you are using. Just make sure the edges of the design have enough room for both lines of stitches and the fraying edges.

• Consider using a contrasting thread on a solid applique for added visual interest.

• Simpler designs could benefit from a decorative chain or daisy stitch to highlight the stitched design among the fabric.