How to Make Applique Circles
Dig through your stash of fabric scraps to add a touch of color and playfulness to any fabric item with hand-sewn circle appliques. With minimal sewing experience, you can create and attach the circle appliques. Use them to transform solid-colored curtains or pillows into bubbly decor for a child's room, or attach them to a shirt or purse to create your own polka dot pattern.
Things You'll Need
- Empty cereal box
- Scissors
- Compass
- Woven cotton fabric
- Tailor's chalk
- Sewing machine
- Iron
- Needle
- Thread
Instructions
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1
Cut the front cardboard panel from the cereal box. Use the compass to draw two circles, one 1/2 inch larger than the desired applique, and one the same size as the desired applique, on the back of the cardboard. Cut out both circles.
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2
Trace the larger circle on the wrong side of your fabric with tailor's chalk. Cut out the circle. Loosen the tension and lengthen the stitch length on your sewing machine. Sew around the perimeter of the fabric circle with a 1/8-inch seam allowance.
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3
Place the smaller circle on the wrong side of the fabric circle. Pull the threads of the seam to help fold the edge of the circle 1/4-inch over the edge of the cardboard circle. Iron the folds with the cardboard circle still inside. Remove the cardboard circle. Iron the folds again, so the circle is flat.
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4
Place the circle against the fabric you want to attach it to, with the right side of the circle facing up. Slipstitch the circle to the backing fabric by catching a few threads along the edge of the circle, followed by a few threads of the backing fabric. Keep working around the circle to attach it all the way around. Knot the thread and trim excess.
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