Techniques to Make Your Machine Applique Stand Out

Here are a few of the ways we have mixed things up with applique designs from Sew Inspired by Bonnie. Try something new to expand your machine applique knowledge.

Applique is my favorite machine embroidery technique, partly because there are so many ways to make it stand out. Here are three unique materials to try.

Non-Traditional Applique Materials

Most often, applique is fashioned from quilting cottons or flannel. If you really want to make a statement, these materials kick things up a notch!

GlitterFlex 

Spooky Buddies

The star of the show is GlitterFlex and Bonnie sells the best. You can buy sheets individually or take advantage of bundles that coordinate with Bonnie’s machine embroidery designs.

GlitterFlex is soft, extremely sparkly, is fused before embroidery, can be laundered and dry cleaned, and doesn’t shed, which is why it is a favorite of professionals. Get some ideas in the Project Galleries.

Angelina Fibers

Sew Eggsquisite

Angelina hot fix fibers are extremely fine strips of cut Mylar that fuse together when heated with an iron or heat press.

Use the resulting opaque sheet just like fabric for applique that has a subtle shimmer. Get a tutorial here and see some projects using Angelina fibers in the Eggsquisite Jewels and Sew Eggsquisite Project Gallery.

Mylar

Stitching on Mylar adds more of a shine than Angelina fibers but not as sparkly as GlitterFlex. Even though Wing Needle Butterflies is not technically an applique set, the satin-stitched edge allows you to stitch them that way when using a sheet of mylar.

Open stitch designs work best and wing needle embroidery is perfect, allowing plenty of surface area for mylar to reflect light.

Freestanding Applique

 

Christmas Cookies Freestanding Applique

 

Applique designs are typically stitched onto another fabric, like quilting cotton, a shirt, or a towel. If applique edges are finished with satin stitches, you can make the designs stand on their own.

Make ornaments, gift tags, or stand-alone appliques that can be attached to other projects. See a freestanding applique tutorial here. Several projects using this technique are found in the Christmas Cookies Project Gallery.

Debbie Henry
Sew Inspired by Bonnie