How To Make Iron On Appliques Without Sewing
Iron-on appliques make it possible and fast to fix appliques on fabrics and garments. You may not have access to a sewing machine or the skill to applique with one. However, with an iron-on, you can easily embellish your fabrics and garments with applique.
How To Make Iron On Appliques Without Sewing?
Contents
You will first need to have the design of your applique and transfer it to a template. Once your design is on the template, fuse it with an iron fusible. Remove the backing of the fusible and place it on the part of the fabric or garment you want it to stay. Press with a hot iron for about a minute. Lift the iron and confirm that the applique is properly fixed on the fabric or garment.
Method 1. Making Your Design
Step 1. Get an applique design. Come up with a pattern or design that you want to fix onto a piece of fabric or garment. The design can be an image of something you love or a drawing. You can get the design from the internet, a book, or any other source. Make sure that it is a simple design to make your work easier. Also, ensure that it complements the intended fabric or garment.
Step 2. When you have a source for your applique design, you will need tracing paper. Trace your design onto the tracing paper. Then cut out the design from the paper. Cut carefully leaving about ¼ inch outside of the lines of the design. Now you have a template you can use to make your applique patch which you will eventually fix onto a particular fabric or garment.
Step 3. Now, place your tracing paper on a window or a lightbox. You will place your iron-on fusible on the tracing paper and trace the mirror image of the design onto the paper-backed side of the fusible.
To make a mirror image on your fusible, place your tracing paper or template on the window with your object in the opposite direction. Place your iron-on fusible on the template and trace the design as it is.
Step 3. Prepare the fabric that you want to apply the applique. This includes the fabric that you will put the template onto and the final fabric or garment that will be appliqued. Wash the fabrics, dry them, and iron them. Make sure that they have no wrinkles on the part that the applique will be fixed. Also, washing prevents the fabric from shrinking after you have already fixed the applique.
Step 4. Place your paper-backed iron-on fusible on the fabric that you want to use as your applique. You should place your fusible on the wrong side of the fabric. Peel the paper off on the side that you place on the fabric so that the adhesive is exposed.
Step 5. Place a hot iron over the iron-on fusible and the fabric. Press for about twenty seconds. Then lift the iron off and confirm that your applique design is stuck on the fabric.
The adhesive on the fusible is activated by heat. Ironing is the most convenient source of high heat, hence the name iron-on fusible. Once you iron it, the adhesive is melted causing it to stick on the fabric permanently.
Step 6. When the fusible is stuck on the fabric, cut out your shape. Use sharp scissors for this and cut as close as possible to the lines of the design. This ensures that you have a nice outline of your design ready to be transferred to your fabric or garment.
Step 7. On the side of the fusible, that is facing you, peel off the paper backing. This exposes your fabric. You will see that it looks shiny and when you touch it it will be a bit sticky and rough. The fusible has transferred the adhesive onto the fabric. Now place the outline on the fabric with this top part meeting the fabric.
Step 8. Place your iron over your outline. Press for a full minute until the applique design is properly fixed on the fabric. Check with your fingers that the outline is properly fixed. Check the edges of your applique to ensure that they are properly fixed on the fabric. If they are not you can press again for a little longer.
Step 9. Turn your fabric around and iron for a little longer to help enhance the adhesive on the fusible. You have now finished applying applique on a piece of fabric or garment with an iron-on fusible without sewing.
There are different types of iron-on fusible that you can use. Make sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure that you know how long you need to iron it on the different fabrics you use.
Method 2. Using Iron On Patch
Step 1. Buy your patch. You can get an iron-on patch to applique on fabric or garment in many craft and sewing supplies stores. They are quite cheap and you can buy several at a go for your project. Make sure to buy a patch in a design that you like.
Step 2. Prepare your fabric. Make sure you wash and iron the fabric that you want to place your patch on. Make sure that there are no wrinkles on the part of the fabric that the patch will be ironed on. Wrinkles may cause your fabric or garment to lose shape once the patch is ironed on it.
Step 3. Turn your patch around. Peel off the paper backing on the patch. This exposes the glue on the patch. It is shiny and a little bumpy. Signs that there is a stuck adhesive on the fabric. This is the part of the patch that will lie on the fabric or garment to be appliqued.
Step 4. Place your fabric or garment on your working surface. Make sure that the right sides are facing up. Iron the part of the garment that you will be fixing your patch on to remove any wrinkles and to preheat it to prepare for the patch. This also ensures that you know how your fabric is going to react when ironed. You will know whether you need to place an ironing cloth over your patch as you iron it onto the garment.
Step 5. Place your patch on the preheated part of the fabric. Make sure that you place it properly as you may not get a chance to correct it once the adhesive on the patch feels the heat on the garment.
Step 6. With your iron set to medium heat settings press all around the edges of the patch. This fixes the edges in place on the garment. Then place the iron on your full patch and press for about a full minute. Make sure that you don’t burn your fabric or garment with your iron. Lift the iron to confirm that your patch is properly fixed.
Step 7. Flip the fabric over or turn your garment inside out and iron the patch from this side too. This enhances the adhesive onto the fabric ensuring that the patch is permanently fixed.
Step 8. Leave your iron-on patch to cool completely before you can wear or wash your garment. Too much activity, while it is still hot, may cause it to loosen and fall off.
You have made an iron-on applique with a patch without sewing.
Can You Sew An Iron-On Applique?
Yes, you can. Depending on the garment or fabric you are appliqueing, you can leave your iron-on applique with or without sewing. Some fabrics require that you sew your applique on after you have finished ironing on.
This ensures that your applique is permanently fixed. Sewing ensures that you can throw your fabric into the washing machine and the applique will still be fixed onto the garment or fabric.
Sewing also ensures that your applique will retain its original shape for a long time.
How To Use A No-Sew Patch To Mend Holes On Your Garment?
You can mend holes on your garment without sewing in different methods. One of the most common no-sew methods to mend holes is by using a patch. You can easily fix a patch on a hole to mend it without sewing.
First, measure the size of the hole. Add an extra inch to this measurement on all sides. You will then get a patch that is equal to this measurement. If you are sewing pants, turn the pants inside out and make sure there are no stray threads around the hole.
Apply some fabric glue all around the edges of the hole. Then also apply some glue to the patch. Lay the patch on the hole and press. The fabric glue allows your patch to stick on the garment mending the hole.
Press with a hot iron for a few seconds. Leave the patch to rest and fix it permanently on the pants.
Crafting has always been a deep-seated passion of mine, one that has flourished and evolved over the years.
I've dedicated considerable time to both studying and practicing in the realm of fashion and sewing, amassing a wealth of experience and skills.
It brings me great joy to share these insights and experiences with you all, hoping to inspire and foster a similar passion for the art of sewing.
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