Many digitizing software packages now come with an automatic applique function.  Call me old-fashioned or cranky, but once again the logic of the one in my software escapes me.  I spend more time cleaning it up and removing excess steps than I do actually digitizing the whole thing myself!  And I do one extra step that helps me avoid fraying fabric pieces which is important considering some of the unusual fabrics we ID dressmakers use.

This is what I do.

  • Prep the fabric.  I use a fusible interfacing and either a good fusible stabilizer (Decorbond) or I fuse Wonderunder to the back so that the piece can be fused to the base.
  • I outline my shape with a running stitch as below.  (To conserve fabric, I will stitch this out onto my base fabric first so that I can see where to place the applique fabric to avoid waste.  This is also a way to ensure placement of pieces already cut to size.  Many people do it that way.)app 1 by you.
  • Next, I duplicate the above shape.  (This will be the initial tack down.  After this line is stitched, I can trim the fabric.)app 2 by you.
  • I duplicate the shape again…app 3 by you.
  • …and change it to a satin stitch.app 4 by you.
  • I do not digitize in a separate zig-zag or step tack down as my satin stitch is preceded by this underlay…app 6 by you.
  • …which is then followed by the satin-stitch.app 4 by you.
  • Now, before I do the final satin stitch, I usually run a line of Fraycheck along the tack down stitch before I trim.  This helps seal the fabric to prevent fraying.  However, sometimes fraying will still happen depending on the fabric, so I have taken to digitizing in a second running stitch tack-down line.app 7 by you.
  • Then I apply the Fraycheck, and then I trim very closely to that outside line.  Finish with the satin stitch. 
  • app 4 by you.