Applique work s a great way to use up those scraps of material that are no good for anything else, it also allowes you to ahve a fun time with your imagination.What is it? well it is simply placeing a piece of material down onto the main fabric and letting the machine sew around it, then you remove the hoop from the machine and trim around the stitching very close put down the next bit of material that will help make the shape and repeat the above. The machine will satin stitch all the parts so it will look nice and neat. Now you realy can have a pink eliphant with blue spots or even a floral cat, flowers in strips or spotted cars. just let your imagination run wild with the scrap bag.
its also a great way to create badges to put on totes or purses and to brighten up that base ball cap or old loved jacket. for quilting it is a neat way to do those nursery rhyme characters and simply sew them in place later.
i hope this will help you understand things. Go and have fun and don't forget you can sew out an aplique and then glue on a silk flower for even more eye catching designs. annie in the Uk

If you are like me, I need to "see" it. So if you follow this link there are pictures.
http://www.adorableapplique.com/716/
;)

Embroidery Library has a geat video on one technic that can be used for appliqué designs. I have attached the link.
http://www.emblibrary.com/EL/elprojects/holder.aspx?page=video_applique

Good luck!

Danie

I'm glad you asked the question. I too have put off trying it. Thanks to all for the information and of course flowers.

I have only one thing to add to Annie's explanation. I often do applique on bibs made from towelling. Close cutting the material away can damage the loops of the towelling, so I put thin wash away between the bib and the fabric. Have fun trying it out!

You have received very accurate and detailed suggestions. Do try this - I love it, and there are so many beautiful designs now that it takes a lot of work out of applique. I found the 'duckbilled" scissors work great, and I keep them beside my machine.

Oh nglover, please don't be afraid to try anything, that's how we learn. Besides, if you find yourself in hot water with a project we're always here to bale you out, have fun with the applique.

Good luck nglover, Annie gave you a very good answer. give it a try ,I'm sure you will like it!!! Maybe something simple at first. A flower to give you courage!!!

Thanks to all of you for such good advice. I have tried a baby bib and it was fun. Thank You for giving me confidence. Floweres for all of teachers.

When you do applique in the hoop, there are stops for you to place the fabric, then another stitch around, then stop to trim fabric close to stitching, then it will do the satin stitch to finish, and any other stitching on the design. They are very pretty and quick to do, especially quilt blocks. Judy

If you have ever tried applique on a standard sewing machine, you will be surprised and amazed at just how fun and easy it is on your embroidery machine. The design will stitch out an outline of the area to place your fabric, allowing for perfect placement. You then stitch down the appliqued portion and clip it as close to the tack-down seam as you can. The third step in the applique is a finishing satin stitch that covers the rough edges, and makes everything look pretty. There can be additional stitching either before or after the satin stitch, giving depth to the design. I have even done some designs that have multiple applications of fabric (four layers is my most complicated, I believe) and they are so much fun to do. Use scraps for your first try and just jump right in. What's the worst that could happen? You might mess up a few pieces of fabric and some thread. And you will learn in the process. Be sure to share with us your successful projects, which I am sure you will be producing sooner than you think. =]

HERE IS A TETORIAL THAT I THINK IS VERY HELPFUL..best of luck its so much fun once you get the process down..

http://www.designsinstitches.com/Free%20Bobbin%20ABC.htm