Tutorial: Making and Applying Appliques

How to make and apply an appliqué to fabric:

Here's what you'll need:

• iron
• ironing board
• assorted fabrics
• thread
• embroidery floss (optional)
• sewing machine (optional)
• scissors
• fusible interfacing (look here)
• buttons (optional)

Here's what you do:

step 1: First you will need to have an idea of what you want your appliqués to be shaped like, how many pieces you want, and it is a good idea to make a sketch or sketches of each piece.
step 2: Cut out squares of the fusible interfacing big enough to hold the area of your sketches. To save interfacing, try sketching your applique idea onto the back (smooth side) of the sheet and cutting out the square around it.

step 3: After you have your squares of interfacing cut, place them rough side down on top of the designated color fabric that is on your ironing board. The fabric should be "right side" (the side you want to show) facing down towards the ironing board. Make sure your fabric is a little bit wider than the squares of interfacing so the ironing board doesn't get sticky!
step 4: Now make sure your iron is heated up and set on a silk setting. Start gently gliding the iron over the fabric with the smooth sided interfacing on top. As the paper becomes flatter you can apply more pressure with constant iron movement. This should only take a 2-5 seconds and you will notice the paper adhering to the fabric and becoming one stiffly bonded piece.
step 5: Set down the iron (but keep it on) and start cutting out the desired appliqué shape from the fabric/paper sandwich (I chose a bird on bee printed fabric). Once you have your shapes cut you are ready to adhere them onto anything now!! A bag, shirt, tote, more fabric, pants, skirt, cardboard, and some pieces of wood!
hint: If you don't want to attach them to anything, you can give just the appliqués as presents or sell them alone for other people to use them for their own crafty projects. Just leave the paper on the back of the patch and viola!
step 6: So you're ready to attach your appliqué? We'll use a tunic in this example (the tunic is actually one I reconstructed from another skillshare showing up later this week). Place your tunic flat on the ironing board positioned where you want your appliqué to sit. Run the iron over it a couple times to make sure it is smooth and warms up the surface a bit. Peel off the paper backing from your appliqué and you will notice a clear sheen adhesive bonded to the fabric. Place the bonded side down onto the shirt flat.
step 7: Iron on top of "appliqué/tunic sandwich" keeping movement. As the fabric heats up apply more pressure. Check to see if fabric and appliqué are bonded well; you might have to check a couple times before getting it just right. Once fabric is bonded set down iron and turn off.
hint: You have now successfully bonded your appliqué to your shirt! You can leave it like this if you want, but for a more secure, structured, and detailed appliqué...keep reading.
Step 8: It is now time to reinforce your bonded appliqué with sewing. You can hand sew the edges of the appliqué with either thread or embroidery floss, or you can run it through the sewing machine like we have pictured below. Get creative with your sewing using different threads, colors, and stitches. You can also use buttons to add details like eyes, bubbles, and other round imagery!
You now have a new perfectly appliquéd item! This technique is so great for dressing up old clothes, totes, curtains, etc....get creative!
*Note: Once you have appliquéd clothing, the washing instructions may change due to the material you have chosen to adhere. For best results, hand wash appliquéd clothing!