Frayed Applique Instructions
Frayed appliqué lends a casual feel to what would otherwise be too typical of a look. The technique is typically like quilting, as it also makes decorative or ornamental patterns applied to one material using cut pieces of another material. It is literally a surface-over-surface application of two or more elements. A number of techniques are involved in this craft.
Other People Are Reading
-
Template Sourcing and Cutting
-
Appliqué templates range from the most elaborate ones available, to those sourced independently using different fabrics and patterns. Templates can be of any form or shape: hearts, stars and other basic shapes; numbers and letters; paisley and some other uncommon patterns. Once the desired template is found, cut about ¼ to 1/8 of an inch over the actual edges of the pattern.
Adhering the Template to the Surface
-
The next step involves initial application of the template to the surface of the base material. Both template and base material surfaces should both be right side up in this step. To stick the template to the base, you can apply adhesive spray to the back of the template or use paper backed fusible web, which you iron (hot dry) to the back of the template to activate the adhesive. The fusible web has to be detached from the template after the adhesive is activated. Once the adhesives are applied, stick the template to the background material.
-
Raw Edge With or Without Stitching
-
A number of stitching techniques can be used for raw edge with stitching. The most typical is the straight stitch, done about ¼ of an inch inside the template edge. Other stitches involve little or no edge-to-stitch spacing: blanket, zigzag or invisible stitch. Blanket and invisible stitching can be done with a sewing machine or by hand, while zigzag requires a special machine stitch. Leaving the appliqué without stitching is quick and easy, since the adhesive or machine quilting of the material holds the template in place; however, the template can possibly come off after repeated washing.
Fraying
-
One technique for fraying an appliqué requires pre-cutting around the edges of a straight stitched template without going past the stitching. The other technique applies to the other stitches and requires no pre-cutting. In both schemes, the edges can simply be put into the washing machine and the motions inside the machine will fray the edges automatically. Two other causes for fraying are: manual fraying, where the crafter pulls or rips away at the edge threads manually, or brushing out the edges to create fraying.
-
