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Printing and Stitching Dielines

Printing and Stitching Dielines

The designs used in this tutorial include:

- Knittin' Kitten (Applique)

Printing Dielines


When you download an applique file, or any file with a template, youโ€™ll see a few different kinds of files. The files with the label DL are the dieline files. You can print these dielines full size with your embroidery software, like so.


If you donโ€™t have embroidery software to print them, donโ€™t worry! You can skip down to the stitching dielines section.

A plain white sheet of paper with a faint outline of a cat shape in the center, placed on a dark surface. No other visible markings.


Once you have your dieline printed, spray a piece of cutaway stabilizer with temporary spray adhesive and smooth the fabric on top. Then, spray the backside of the template with adhesive, smooth it on top of the fabric. Carefully cut out your design.

Hand holding paper with a cat-shaped stencil on fabric; inset shows scissors cutting fabric along the stencil outline on a dark surface.


When youโ€™re done, you can peel away the paper to leave just the applique piece behind. Repeat this step for as many dielines as there are for the design.

Hand holding a two-layer fabric piece, lifting a white layer with a cut-out hole, revealing a black fabric layer beneath on a dark surface.


Stitching Dielines


If you donโ€™t have embroidery software, you can stitch the dielines directly onto your fabric. Cut a piece of cutaway stabilizer and fabric a bit larger than your hoop. Spray the stabilizer with adhesive and smooth the fabric on top. Then, hoop the fabric and stabilizer together.

Black fabric piece mounted in a white embroidery hoop on a gray surface, with a smaller inset image showing the black fabric folded flat.


Stick your hoop under your machine and load your dieline file (the one with the DL in the name). Embroider your dieline directly onto the fabric.

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching a white outline of a bear shape on black fabric secured in an embroidery hoop.


Your dieline all finished after stitching! Itโ€™s best to pick a thread color that will stand out a little from your fabric.

Black fabric hooped in an embroidery frame with an outlined stitched design of a cat silhouette, including a curled tail, on a dark wood surface.


Carefully cut out your stitched shape, taking care to trim right along the sewn line.n.

Hand holding black-handled Fiskars scissors cutting black fabric along a stitched pattern with a curved shape on a dark surface.


Thatโ€™s it! Those are your two options for using your dielines.

Two black felt cutouts shaped like stylized cats with curled tails, placed on a gray surface, viewed from above.