This set contains copyrighted and licensed designs for home use by the original purchaser only and is protected under U.S. Copyright Laws. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this product, or any portion of it, is forbidden. Copyright Roberta Amundson 2007. MADE IN U.S.A.

These designs were stitched with high-quality, 40-weight thread, which is recommended for these designs. If a different weight thread is used, the results may vary from the sample designs.

These critter appliques are two-sided so they look exactly the same on both the front and back side of the project when completed, only facing in opposite directions. They are also nested or set-in to the fabric making them perfect to use on fabrics that are heavy and napped such as chenille, fleece, knitted sweaters or fur. They are great to use on ready-made items including things like jackets, towels and curtains.  Fabric is not hooped, but is laid on top of the hoop and the fabric under the applique is cut away during the embroidery process. Designs may also be embroidered as a regular, one-sided applique.

Supplies needed:

2 Pieces of 5"x7" applique fabric

1 Piece of stabilizer to sandwich in the middle of the applique, if needed

Embroidery thread as required for the design

A bobbin of matching thread for each color used in the design. Fill bobbin to about 1/3 of capacity.

Clear wash away stabilizer for hooping a 5"x7" or larger hoop.

In the picture instructions below, white wash-away stabilizer was used to allow you to see the process. Clear wash-away stabilizer is a better choice because it is easily torn away without residue at completion of the project so washing is not required to finish. This is especially helpful if you embroider on a fabric that should not be washed.

Fill a bobbin 1/3 full for each embroidery thread color used in the design.

Hoop a minimum sized 5"x7" hoop with clear, wash-away stabilizer. You are welcome to visit my website to see how I hoop to avoid any movement of fabric during embroidery, however, I am not responsible for how you hoop fabric and stabilizer to sew out designs. Tips in these instructions or found on my website are things I've found helpful for my personal use and are supplied as a courtesy for those who want to know what methods I prefer. http://www.robertascreations.com/hoopinghowto.htm

Load the design of your choice into your machine. Shown is the Kangaroo.

Please note the color changes you will see in your machine or software are to bring the machine to a stop during the applique process. Please follow the text instructions included in the set for each design for correct thread color changes.

Shown is chenille fabric. Lay the fabric for your project on your hoop.

 Position the fabric so the design will sew out where you want it to. Using a template made from your software will help to position the design where desired.

Use a fix stitch to hold the fabric in place while the design embroiders, if desired. Once the first step is sewn out, the fabric will be positioned correctly during the rest of the sew-out.

I am using a brown, pindot fabric so I used brown thread to match. You will not need to change the thread until the end of the design.

Step 1: Embroider the cut-out line.

Remove the hoop from your machine. Trim INSIDE the thread line with sharp, curved scissors. Trim close to the stitching being careful not to clip the stabilizer. You want to cut away only the fabric, not the stabilizer.

Here you can see the fabric trimmed away with only the stabilizer showing through.

Turn the hoop over so the back side is facing up.

Use an embroidery spray adhesive to spray the back of the two pieces of applique fabric.

Position one fabric piece on the back side of the hoop to cover the design. Turn the hoop over so the front side of the hoop is facing up.

If you are using stabilizer to sandwich between the upper and lower applique pieces, adhere the fabric to the stabilizer. Then spray the stabilizer with adhesive spray to form the second fabric piece.

Use stabilizer according to fabric needs. For transparent fabrics, use light weight, mesh-type stabilizer. For heavier fabrics, you may not need stabilizer at all.

Position the second fabric piece on the front side of the hoop to cover the design.

Replace the hoop onto your machine.

Step 2: Embroider the applique trim line.

Remove the hoop from the machine

Trim away excess fabric from around the outside of the applique on the front side of the hoop.

Turn the hoop over so the back side of the hoop is facing up.

Trim away excess fabric from around the outside of the applique on the back side of the hoop.

Return the hoop to the machine.

Step 3: Embroider the satin cover stitch.

Remove bobbin and replace bobbin with one containing the thread to match the eyes and nose, which is black.

Step 4: Embroider eyes and nose.

Shown is completed design on the front.

Shown is completed design on the back.

Since I used white wash-away stabilizer, I had to trim away the excess stabilizer from around the design and wash the project to remove the stabilizer. With clear stabilizer you simply pull it away from the design.

Above you can see the kangaroo and bunny hopping across the fabric. The chenille pattern is plainly visible on the front, in the left box above. I chose a fabric with a wrong side so you could clearly see the back (box on the right) was different from the front. Normally I would choose a fabric that looks the same on the front and back so you could not tell a difference such as fleece or a towel, ready-made curtains and similar items. Transparent fabrics such as organdy can be used for these appliques, but be sure to use a mesh stabilizer. Delicate fibers may not hold the satin stitching outline without being reinforced with some fabric glue, so keep that in mind when choosing fabrics for your appliques..