Applique is the name given to stitching pieces of fabric to a background cloth to make a design. Using a variety of textures and colours will give you an almost endless supply for your imagination. Done by hand or on a sewing machine you can decorate your home with your own personal and unique touch.
Materials and Equipment
Two pairs of scissors – one for cutting out shapes and a fine pointed pair for notching edges and snipping threads. Needles in a packet of assorted sizes should cover everything required. Choose your needles to suit your stitch this makes for much easier sewing, large needles are best for embroidery. Pins, very fine will hold the pieces in position while sewing. A thimble will help you keep up a nice pace of work. An embroidery hoop makes large scale work easier.
Regular pure cotton thread is the best though synthetic will work fine. For slip stitching use a matching colour to your applique piece. Transparent thread is useful if you cannot match your colours and a contrast is not wanted. For machine stitching use a machine embroidery cotton choose a fine lustrous texture if possible.
Tracing paper is used for designing. A non-slip paper is best for backing machine applique work. A hard sharp pencil is needed for designs.
A sewing machine should have a swing needle if it is to be used to apply the pieces. Fabric of almost any description is usually worth keeping for your applique projects. for machine applique is is best to use firm fabric backgrounds and for the applique pieces, finely woven, plain weave fabrics.