Embroidery Designs Guide

What are the various applique embroidery designs that can be created?

The various specialties of applique embroidery desings range from quilt blocks to embroidered shirts. Applique is a Big Topic since it includes not just traditional quilting applique, but molas and many ethnic textile techniques from around the world.

 

Which are the most popular appliques?

The most popular applique embroidery designs are baby appliques. Also specific appliques on shirts and frocks have gained a lot of popularity over the ages. Apart from this there are applique famous for all seasons like this one for Valentine’s Day.

 

 

How much time does it take to learn applique?

Less than a week, provided you learn it systematically. The basic things to be considered is that it is an art like painting or cycling. The more you practise, the more will your hand set on to it. I came across a good book for learning applique embrodery designs easily : Applique Basics: Flower Wreaths by an award winning master quilter, Karen Kay Buckley. Section 2 of this book gives details on various methods of applique.

 

What is the qualification required for doing applique?

There is no specific qualification required to be a good applique designer. On the technical front, you should be having knowhow of stitching. You should be adept at needling your way around the designs. In case you want to use machines, then knowhow of the machine is necessary. The more important knowledge, however is knowing which design would suit which environment or cloth. Taking it a step further, knowing even the right locations of placing the design for maximum visual impact. In a nutshell, putting the right thing in the right place. This comes through practice.

 

 

Can I make money doing appliqué designs?

Yes, a lot of people are making money selling the designs or selling the applique itself. You could sell the appliques through websites giving information on appliques. One of the good places you could go to with your unique designs are : Secrets of Embroidery - They have a Projects Section where you could begin by contributing your designs and gaining popularity.

 

Are there any trainings online for learning applique?

Yes, there are Tutorials available on the web plus there are self help books available to enable you to become an expert in applique. There are also programmes designed to help develop your creativity in order to do beautiful designs. Specific trainings for various categories like baby / quilts/ shirts / frocks / bedsheets / pillows and cushions are also available in the form of books or online trainings. If you are interested in any trainings, pls do inform us through our contact form.

 

What machines are available for doing applique embroidery designs?

Fashion stitch machines, embroidery machines and even normal sewing machines with simple extra attachments can be used for making all the applique designs that you dreamed of doing. A good book I came across on Mastering Applique Machine Embroidery Designs on Amazon.

 

 

How do I utilize a machine for doing applique?

Machines will help you a great deal in automating the process or in replication. But in terms of speed, since by nature, appliqué is unique, there might not be a major difference. Unless we are manufacturing many pieces of the same appliqué.

 

 

How do I stitch an appliqué – step by step on a machine?

There are steps laid out for stitching each applique. Assuming you have purchased a particular design, the brochure will provide you a step to step detail of how a particular applique can be stitched on the machine. In case you are interested, you could get back to us (through our contact form below) with a requirement for a particular applique embroidery design and we would be happy to assist you in this regard. You could also visit Secrets of Embroidery : They have a section called Programs and Tutorials which gives a step by step guidance on all kinds of embroidery machines.

 

How much do these machines cost?

Machines do cost quite a bit ranging from less than thousand dollars for a simple machine to a few thousands for fashion appliqué embroidery designing machines. In case you are interested in any specific machine and would like to know the best costing, you could get back to us for assistance. The open toe applique machine is gaining popularity these days.

 

Can I use my sewing machine to do applique?

The best is hand or any fashion stitch machine. Sewing machine can be used with some attachments.

 

Are there any trainings for learning how to use machines to do applique embroidery designs?

Yes, there are trainings available on the web plus there are self help books available to enable you to become an expert in applique. There are also programmes designed to help develop your creativity in order to do beautiful designs. Specific trainings for various categories like baby / quilts/ shirts / frocks / bedsheets / pillows and cushions are also available in the form of books or online trainings.

 

 

What is the costing of baby appliques?

There is no special difference in costing of baby appliques. Like other arts, the difference is not dependent on the category of the applique, but on the design patterns.

 

Where can I see some good applique embroidery designs and associate with them for projects?

a) Secrets of Embroidery : This site has over 2000 pages with a large appliqué collection and also applique embroidery designs tutorials.

b) ArtisticThreadWorks : You have unlimited design downloads with a small membership fee. This website has a well classified design library, which enables an easy search.

c) America’s Sewing & Embroidery Center Sewforless.com : A hybrid website with a lot of information on applique embroidery designs as well as other forms of embroidery.

 

d) Embroidery Designs Our own digitized designs. $12.95 per set or $45.00 for everything. : Designs By Sick : This is a small site but contains some good unique designs on applique.

 

Not everyone is a craftsman and therefore comfortable with garden tools. While many are born with trellis, the rest cannot even try the lawn mowers and hence hire experts when they come own a housing arrangement.