Small scissors that allow me to get in small corners & up close to the stitching. I like to have at least one blade that is a “duck bill”. Sometimes you can look for lace scissors. Make sure to get a good quality pair, because your trimming does reflect the final outcome of the appliqué. Take your time in trimming.

Heat’n bond Lite. This is a permanent adhesive that remains on the appliqué piece. Follow directions on package. This is what makes a professional looking appliqué. Because you iron it on, there is no puckering of fabric. You will iron it on the back of your applique fabric. Apply this to all of your pieces before you start your appliqué. Do not pull off the white paper backing until your ready to do that piece of fabric. You can find this at craft/fabric stores.

Travel iron. You can find different brands & sizes. Get one that will fit into your hoop.

Table top pad. These are available in different sizes & styles. You want to place this on your counter top – you will lay your hoop on top of this for trimming out your appliqué & for ironing down the pieces as you go.

Roll of scotch tape. This is what I use to hold down the appliqué fabric before trimming it out – while machine is doing the tack down step. I re-use the pieces several times, 3-4 times. I just stick the edge of tape on the edge of my counter top.

You always want to cut your appliqué fabric bigger than the finished design, so you can be sure to overlap enough to prevent errors in your positioning.

I will not get to much into hooping or into stabilizers. This will vary according to your fabrics & your personal preference. I personally do not hoop, but use the “sticky” paper. I use a long ruler & draw the centers onto the sticky paper. I print out the design to scale, & line up centers on the printed design & my hoops paper. I trim out the design area a tad bit larger than finished design so I do not stitch through the sticky paper. I always use my biggest hoop, even if I’m doing a 4x4 I will use my largest hoop. Since I’m cutting some of the paper out, this gives me the most “sticky” area. This also allows for easy trimming while cutting inside of the hoop. This applies to applique only. I also keep a separate set of pins to pin my fabric & back stabilizer to the sticky paper. I do realize that not everyone has a large hoop, so this may not work for you. They are coming out with new hoops all the time. I use a light weight – iron on- tear away stabilizer on the back of the fabric that is to be appliquéd (garment fabric). I find the iron on backing keeps things from shifting around. I place this onto hoop with sticky paper. I then place a light weight tear away on the bottom (back side) of the hooped sticky paper & pin through all 3 layers. See photos:

The machine will do an outline stitch, letting you know the position of the appliqué. Take hoop off of machine (YOU WILL NEVER UNHOOP YOUR FABRIC, until your through). Lay hoop on the padded table top, & place your appliqué fabric, with heatn’bond on the back side, over this outline, checking that you are overlapping the outline. Tape this piece on the edges. If your machine stitched through this tape, it removes very easy.

Put your hoop back on the machine & it will do the next step – tack down step.

Remove hoop from machine & lay it on the pad. Carefully remove the tape, you can put it on the edge of your cabinet to reuse. Using little scissors, trim out the appliqué, cutting close to, but not into, the stitched shape. It is helpful to lift up the trimmed fabric while cutting out the piece – see photo:

The little scissors allow you to get right up to the stitching line. You want to hold them flat.

After you have trimmed out the appliqué, press it with iron. This is why you need a table top pad & a travel iron. Having the garment pinned to the sticky paper keeps it in place while you press with iron. Of course you want to press with care, not “pushing” your fabric around, but staying on top of the appliqué piece.

Place the hoop back on the machine, & continue with the design, repeating these step as needed. Some designs will lay down several pieces before doing a final zigzag.

If you choose to use the pin method, make sure you are placing the pins out of the stitching area. This is another reason why it is a good ideal to do a print out of the design. If you are not able to print the design out to scale – then look at the given size of the design, & trim out that area, going a tad bit beyond this.

Save the section of sticky paper that you cut out, so you can “patch” up spots for the next appliqué, if it has a smaller area than the last one.

You will need to clean your hoop after you have re- papered it several times with the sticky paper. If you find your paper isn’t sticking to your hoop well, then it is time to clean the hoop. This is important, because if you don’t have a good hold – your fabric can shift around on you.

It is always best to prewash ALL fabrics, as they shrink in varying degrees. Natural fibers always work best. Use a good quality fabric for best results.

It is always best to prewash ALL fabrics, as they shrink in varying degrees. Natural fibers always work best. Use a good quality fabric for best results.

If you use the sticky paper method, you can of course re-use the paper several times. You can use a light spray of the temporary spray adhesive, or even a glue stick. I can tell when my paper has just had it by the fabric not staying smooth.

Appliques do NOT resize well, not like embroidery will to a certain extent.

For reverse appliqué – (where you cut out a section, like the window on the train, or truck) place your appliqué piece over the placement outline, & carefully lift up a corner to see where you will need to trim out the section. Put a dot with water washable pen, & then make a tiny slit there, so that once it is tacked down, you can slide your scissors under this slit to cut shape out.