Applique Objects have “Position”, “Material” and top stitching steps. The use of the steps is optional, including the top stitch. Here is a general way that applique is typically machine embroidered:
The “Position” step places a run down on the fabric, and then stops the machine. This is used to provide you with a placement line for your applique. You can use a Pre-Cut applique, perhaps cut with a machine, or by hand using a template. Or you can simply lay down a piece of fabric big enough to cover the placement stitch. A tip to placing your applique is to use some adhesive, spray-on, ireon-on or otherwise, to hold the applique fabric in place when the machine is restarted.
The “Material” step will sew another set of running stitches to anchor the applique fabric in place. This step may be omitted if the applique is Pre-Cut, as the topstitching will anchor the fabric down.
The topstitch finishes the edge of the applique, and you can choose from Blanket Stitch, E-Stitch or Satin Border.
Note: You can also use the Satin Border object type to make appliques, and it provides additional properties.
The applique properties add applique steps and visualization to the object. You can select adding a “Position Stitch” which will be a single run that sews out to indicate to the user where the applique will be laid. Then an optional “Material” run can be done to anchor the applique in position.
Blanket and E-Stitch have stitch length and width that can be set in the properties. The Satin and Zigzag stitches use density and width. The applique can have a fabric preview that lets the user visualize the final applique with colors similar to those that will actually be used. The color used for the preview is set by the color of the Position step.
The Pre-Cut checkbox indicates that you will have the applique already cut, and this causes the object size to be locked, preventing you from inadvertently mismatching the design and the fabric. Pre-Cut appliques could also come from dies, where the exact size of the applique is known in advance.