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Trim-Away Applique

Trim-Away Applique

Bring a bit of DIY flair to your embroidery with this unique applique style! Incorporate a piece of fabric into the design, then use tiny scissors to precisely trim away the excess while creating a fresh, modern effect -- no dielines needed. We'll show you how!

Supplies & Materials:

 

- Trim-Away Applique embroidery design (we're using Good Vibes (Trim-Away Applique)

- 1/4 yard linen, twill or quilter's cotton (for the applique)

- Fabric to embroider on (such as twill, linen, or cotton)

 

- Medium weight cutaway stabilizer

- Temporary spray adhesive

- Small embroidery scissors

- Masking tape

The designs used in this tutorial include:

- Good Vibes (Trim-Away Applique)

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Spools of assorted colorful thread arranged in a fan shape over printed paper patterns on a wooden table, next to black and white fabric pieces and orange scissors.


Print the dieline template, labeled with a "DL" in your zipped design file (here's how to print dieline files). Spray the back side of the paper dieline with temporary adhesive, and smooth it onto the right side of the fabric.

White fabric square with a printed outlined rectangle centered on it, placed on a dark wooden surface. The fabric edges are frayed.


Then, cut out the shape.

Orange-handled scissors partially covered by a small white fabric square on a dark wooden surface.


Spray a piece of cutaway stabilizer, and smooth it on the back side of the fabric to be embroidered. Then hoop the fabric tightly, making sure there are no wrinkles.

Black fabric square hooped in an embroidery frame with white stabilizer fabric underneath on a wooden surface.


Load the embroidery file into the machine. Following the color change sheet, stitch out all of the background details.

Embroidery machine stitching a multicolored floral wreath design with pink, purple, and green thread on black fabric in a square hoop.


Then embroider the "text dieline." This will stitch out the words that will become applique later, and will help with fabric placement. For best results, match the thread color to the applique fabric color.

Embroidery machine stitching colorful flowers and green leaves around white outlined text "GOOD VIBES" on black fabric in hoop.


Then carefully center the fabric piece over the sewn text. Make sure there is fabric extending around all four sides of the text and that all the letters are covered. Tape around all four sides of the fabric to hold it in place.

Embroidery hoop holding black fabric with colorful floral embroidery partially covered by a white fabric square taped down with beige masking tape.


Embroider the final "text tackdown" step. This will stitch out the final piece of the design while also adhering the applique piece to the background fabric.!

Embroidery machine stitching "GOOD VIBES" outlined text on white fabric taped over colorful floral embroidery on black fabric in hoop under bright light.


After the embroidery is finished, use a small pair of embroidery scissors to carefully cut around the sewn letters. Leave 1/8" - 1/4" of fabric around the letters.

Once you're done trimming the fabric, your embroidery is complete! The raw fabric edge creates a natural, textured effect that will bring a fresh look to your creations.

Close-up of colorful embroidered floral wreath with "GOOD VIBES" in block letters in the center on black fabric, next to small gold embroidery scissors.


Create beautiful bath decor with embossed machine embroidery. Create an entire matching set by using multiple sizes of the same design.

Coral pink hand towel with a rose embroidery pattern placed on the edge of a white bathroom sink, next to a chrome faucet and two small skincare containers.


Experiment with variegated thread to create pattern and depth in the background stitching. We used Madeira variegated thread for these examples. Shop it here: <ink>

White towel with an embroidered white sheep applique featuring a red plaid background and leaf patterns, placed on a marble surface next to a glass vase with pink flowers.


High nap fabrics like faux fur and thick terrycloth can create even more textural effects and are particularly fun with animal machine embroidery designs.

A heavy water-soluble stabilizer topping is key to success when stitching embossed designs on high nap fabrics.

Close-up of a fabric embroidery of a tiger's face with brown thread outlining fur details and bright green eyes on a light beige background.