How to Sew on Appliques
KarensVariety.com

Appliques are a fun and sometimes necessary way to decorate clothing. Team logos or names are added to sports clothing, pictures are created by piecing together pieces of fabric, or geometric designs are placed on plain clothes to create a unique look.

The fabric used plays an important in attaching appliques. You must be careful that your applique doesn't shrink or fray once it is attached. Pre-wash any material and pull on a cut edge to see if it will hold. Material that doesn't fray at all, such as felt, is the easiest to work with but you must be careful not to stretch it so that it loses its shape.

If the material being used does fray, then the ends must be folded under. Pictured below are the methods used. Your fabric must be absolutely flat and wrinkle free. Use cardboard templates and be careful to adjust all sides evenly.
 

	For circular pieces, use a gathering thread, pull taut around a cardboard template, knot the ends, give a light pressing, and remove the cardboard.
	For triangular pieces, again lay on a cardboard template and fold over the edges. Cut a small piece off each corner, fold the corners first and then fold the side pieces, give a light pressing and remove the cardboard. Now stitch with blind hemming or slip stitch.
	For more complicated shapes, again make a cardboard template, snip and fold any corners, fold straight sides, and snip inwards part way only on curves before folding. Press lightly, remove cardboard and blind hem or slip stitch. Your appliques are now ready to be attached to your garment.

If the material being used does not fray or you have made your applique pieces as above, there are several methods to sew them to your clothing.
 

	A - Sew a line of decorative stitching, such as chain stitch or back stitch, just inside the edge of the applique. This will leave the outer edge subject to wear.
	B, C, D - Sew very small stitches evenly spaced down through the applique and up through the garment, around. You can also very larger or very large stitches sewn in the same manner. The smaller the stitches, the less likely your applique will stand up to wear. The larger stitches may be in a contrast colour and decorative.
	E - If your shape is very small, sew or embroider an X shape in the centre of the applique or sew on with a bead or sequin in the centre. This leaves the outer edge subject to wear.
	F - Sew or embroider over existing lines in your applique and extend these over the outer edge to reinforce the applique.