How To Applique With Your Embroidery Machine - Stitching a Two-Color Design

Yesterday, I talked about stitching a single-color applique design with an embroidery machine. Today, we'll tackle a design that uses two colors, or two different fabrics. For this tutorial, I'll be using my Iron Man design, which is available here, but you can use any design that utilizes two fabrics. Here's how to do it:

1.       Stitch the initial outline where you want the applique to be placed on your finished project.

2.       Using temporary adhesive spray, adhere red fabric over the initial outline.

3.       Stitch the second outline over the red fabric, and remove the hoop from your machine.

4.       Using applique or embroidery scissors, cut your red fabric very close to the second outline stitching, leaving less than 1/8”

5.       Place the hoop back in your machine and stitch the inner outline. Remove the hoop from the machine again. After this step, I like to go over the design with a dry iron while it's still in the hoop. This helps to dissapate the temporary adhesive spray and makes it easier to trim your fabric. One of those little craft irons that you can get at Michael's is perfect for this.

6.       Very carefully, clip the red fabric close to the inner outline, leaving less than 1/8”

7.       Using temporary adhesive spray, adhere yellow fabric over the inner outline.

8.       Place your hoop back in the machine and stitch the second inner outline. Remove your hoop from the machine again. If you'd like, you can go over the project with a dry iron again.

9.       Clip the yellow fabric close to the inner outline, leaving less than 1/8”

10.   Place your hoop back in the machine and stitch the rest of the design.

That's all there is to it. By now, you should have a perfectly stitched applique on your T-shirt or tote bag. Tomorrow, I'll feature a tutorial for stitching a design with more than two colors.