Raw Edge Applique Tutorial- All you Need to Know About It.

In this post, I will share with you a new fantastic technique called raw edge applique. Here I will take you step by step through this unique technique so you can make amazing sewing projects with it.

You can make this raw edge applique by machine or hand, following the same steps I give you here. For this applique tutorial, you will need just a few materials that are very easy to get at any craft store or Amazon.

Choose the best fabric scraps in your stash and get ready to make a unique project that you will be proud to call textile art.

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What is a Raw Edge Applique?

Raw edge applique is a technique in which different-shaped pieces of fabric are attached to a background fabric using different stitches. The edges of these pieces will be left raw and exposed on the right side of the fabric.

This technique is often used in quilting or to make fabric art, as well as in other projects to create a 3-dimensional style upgrading the designs. 

There are a lot of patterns for raw edge appliqué online with blog tutorials like this one here that you can download and try. You can also make your own drawings or designs by hand and then transfer your design into the fabric.

You can use a thread and a needle to create the raw edge applique technique with a sewing machine or by hand.

Does Raw Edge Applique Frays?

As the edges of the applique pieces are left raw, they will eventually fray, especially if the fabric is constantly washed or has any friction with other objects or the body.

The amount of fraying will depend on three things; the materials you use, the technique used to secure the pieces and the type of stitches you use.

Materials such as knit fabrics will never fry. Still, if you use cotton or any type of woven, you will get minimal fraying. If you use fusible web to secure your pieces before sewing, you will likely get less fraying on your fabric. Finally, some stitches, like the zig-zag stitch, are better for preventing fraying.

But there are some things you can do to prevent your raw edges applique from fraying.

How to Keep Raw Edge Applique from Fraying?

Here are some things you can do to prevent your fabrics from fraying on raw edges appliques.

1. Apply the Dritz Fray Check on the edges of the pieces before sewing.
2. Choose good quality fabrics with high thread counts.
3. Use closed stitches that hold the raw edges in place, like the satin zig-zag stitch or a closed blanket stitch (short stitch length).
4. Stitch very close to the edge. The less “leftover fabric” on the edges, the less material is there to fray.
5. Use sharp scissors to cut your pieces and get clean cuts. Dull scissors are more likely to damage the edges.

How do I secure the pieces on a Raw Edge Applique?

There are several methods to secure the pieces of raw edge applique on the background fabric before stitching it. Here are the most popular ones.

Fusible Web Technique.

Using the double side fusible web to secure your fabric pieces is an easy and very effective technique to make raw edge appliqués. Especially if you are a beginner. To use this technique, start with pre-washed and ironed fabrics. Then press the fusible web into the fabric you will use for the appliqué pieces. Trace your design and cut your applique designs. Finally, peel the paper side on the back and press the pieces against the background fabrics.

Temporary Fabric Glue

The temporary fabric glue sticks are outstanding for this technique, and it also has a lot of uses in sewing. It works similarly to a basting stitch. It washes off quickly and cleanly in the washing machine and takes almost no effort. Just rub the stick on the back side of the fabric appliqué piece and glue it to your background fabric. Then sew it safely with your preferred stitch.

Wallpaper Paste

Even though this is not my favorite method to secure appliqué pieces on fabrics, it is popular, so I will explain it to you. Wallpaper paste can be great if you want to create a unique and texturized design, but be warned, it can be time-consuming. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to prep the paste, and then use a brush to lightly spread it on the back of your fabric. Leave it to dry for a whole night before stitching.

Pins

Finally, you can use pins to hold your pieces in place. I recommend using the thinnest pins with glass heads to avoid fabric damage. Place the pins strategically over your design to ensure that the pieces won’t move or create wrinkles while sewing them.

What Stitch should I use in Raw Edge Applique?

You can use almost any of the decorative stitches your machine has. Just make sure you choose a large stitch width and a short stitch length. Also, as I do in this tutorial, you can choose between using your regular presser foot, an open toe applique foot, or a free-motion quilting foot. 

Here are some of the most popular sewing stitches you can use for your machine applique.

1. Satín zig-zag stitch
2. Straight stitch
3. Blanket stitch
4. Free motion foot for quilts
5. Feather stitch
6. Chain stitch
7. Herringbone stitch
8. Cross stitch

Tips and Tricks for Success.

Whether you are making the raw edge applique by hand or by a machine, you need to ensure you have as much control over the pieces as possible. I like applying lightweight fusible interfacing to my background fabric when making small designs or working on art textiles. This stabilizes the whole project, and I can confidently move my base.

I make raw edge applique without fusible web all the time. When I do this, I still use a lot of pins or at least temporary glue sticks. Then I set up my machine and sewed my pieces very slowly. I also like to press between stitches to ensure my work won’t be wrinkly. Don’t be afraid of hand-stitching your pieces first. The results will be totally worth it.

Pre-washing your fabrics is a must. Remember that fabrics can shrink or release dyes after the first wash. You may ruin your work if you don’t pre-wash your fabrics first.

Finally, look for all the free motion raw edge applique patterns online. If you don’t find anything you like, try looking for drawings or art with easy shapes that you can replicate with fabrics.

Materials and Tools You’ll Need

• Fusible web, temporary fabric glue, wallpaper paste, or pins.
• Fabric for applique (the higher the thread count, the better)
• Background fabric (canvas is great, but anything will do)
• Scissors (you can get applique scissors too)
• Iron and ironing board
• Pencil or pen for tracing

Raw Edge Applique Tutorial.

Preparing the fabric.

I will use a free-motion raw edge applique to stitch the pieces on my background fabric this time. This technique consists of lowering the feeding dogs on your sewing machine and stitching by moving your background fabric around with your hands. 

Press lightweight fusible interfacing to the back side of your background fabric. 

If you will use fusible web, apply it to the fabrics you will use for the appliqué pieces.

Transferring the design.

I am using a flower drawing I found online for this design. That I intend to put in a frame later on.

The background fabric I am using is cotton, and the fabric for the applique is chiffon. 

I don’t recommend you use lightweight fabrics such as chiffon if this is your first time trying this technique because it will be more challenging. But I used it because I wanted to create the layering effect of the draw.

To transfer my design, I draw it first on my background fabric. I used a light tablet that I bought on Amazon and traced the design with an erasable pen. You can use any of your favorite sewing tracing tools, though.

I used the same techniques to draw each petal and leaf into the applique fabric.

Cutting the applique pieces.

Cut the applique pieces leaving about ¼” of margin around the shape. 

Remember to use sharp scissors or even applique or embroidery scissors for this step. The sharper your edges are, the less likely they are to fray.

Securing the pieces on the design.

If you use fusible web to create your design, peel the paper on the back and then position the fabric into the background with the right side of the applique facing up.

Press the applique onto the background by ironing firmly over the piece. Make sure there are no bubbles or wrinkles.

Rub a bit on the wrong side of the applique if you use glue and place it over your design. If you are using pins, place them strategically so the fabric won’t get bubbles or wrinkles.

Stitching the raw applique pieces on the fabric.

I am using the free-motion quilting technique to apply this applique. 

First, I lowered the feeding dogs of my machine with the lever on the back, and I changed the regular foot into the quilting foot that came with my machine.

I started by sewing the stems and leaves of the flowers, and then I proceeded with the petals.

Place them all together by layering one on top of the other. By the way, you don’t have to draw each one of the petals as I did. You can just draw the flower’s general shape and then draw/stitch the petal’s shape, as I will do next. 

It doesn’t make that much of a difference unless you use different fabric colors when layering your pieces.

Move the background fabric with both hands to draw the shapes of the petals. Don’t worry too much if you don’t make it perfect. The beauty of this technique is that it is faulty. 

Finishing the Applique

Give your applique a good press to set all the pieces in place. Cut the remaining threads on the back of the design, and you are done!

You are ready to frame this piece of textile art or use it to do other unique projects like quilts, makeup bags, and other fantastic sewing projects.

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