1. Don’t be shy when tracing around your templates onto the fabrics. Draw a line that you can see. If your line is too faint, it is difficult to know where to turn the seam allowance under.

2. Finger-press your appliqué piece before pinning it to the foundation fabric. Hold the appliqué piece right side up. Using your thumb and index finger, turn the seam allowance to the back of the appliqué so that the drawn line is just barely turned under. Use your fingers to press a crease into the fabric along the inside of the drawn line.

3. Use two-ply 50- or 60-weight, 100% cotton thread for hand appliqué. Match the color and value (light/medium/dark) of your thread to the appliqué fabric.

4. To make the stitch, hold your needle perpendicular to the appliqué foundation. The needle enters the appliqué foundation next to the appliqué, near where your last stitch came up out of the appliqué fabric. Push the needle through the background fabric. You’ll feel the needle tip with your middle finger underneath the foundation. Your right hand falls to the right as you rock across your underneath finger. The tip of the needle comes up through the founation and the edge of the appliqué piece to complete the stitch.

5. Stitch length is important. An 1/8” stitch is too long. A stitch that is 1/16” is a little short in most places. 10 to 14 stitches per inch is recommended depending on the appliqué shape and the fabric type. Look at your appliqué as you sew. If it looks loose, then shorten your stitch. Pull each stitch tight without pleating the fabric.

Click here for a fun silhouette appliqué project.