Making Applique Patterns with Your Word Processor

Did you know you can make applique patterns with your word processor? Whether you share a quote or just a single inspiring word, our Pillow Talk embroidery pattern is a creative way to express your personality.

If you have an embroidery machine – especially a newer model with a big hoop – it’s a cinch to appliqué words onto your projects. But if you prefer to appliqué with hand-guided stitches – or by hand – read on for a way to use the word processing software on your computer to make perfect letter patterns.

We have the instructions here and you may also watch the video as seen on It’s Sew Easy.

Making the Pattern

These instructions are for Microsoft Word on a PC. If you use a different word processor or a Mac computer, your layout and commands may be different, but the method is the same.

Step 1

Open your word processing software and type the letter you’d like to use. The sample is a lower-case c.

Step 2

Select the letter with your mouse. Locate the Font area in the toolbar and click on the arrow at the lower-right corner of the area. This opens a dialog box with lots of choices.

Step 3

Font: Our sample is in Times New Roman, the default font on many computers. However, you probably have a wealth of different fonts available; experiment to find one that you like. Remember that, even if the overall look of a font is likeable, individual letters sometimes are less than perfect for appliqué. Avoid too-thin areas and shapes with lots of wiggle, as they may be difficult to stitch around.

Step 4

Font Style: For our purposes, the selection in this menu may not make a difference, but try choosing Bold to increase the size of the letter slightly.

Step 5

Effects: Choose Outline so that only an outline of the letterform prints.

Step 6

Font Size: The drop-down menu for this option gives us sizes up to 72 points. That’s quite large for type, but still small for appliqué. Fortunately, we’re not limited by the drop-down options. Type 300 into the box and watch what happens.

Now the letter is about 2″ tall.

Step 7

To refine the letter even further, close the dialog box and try some of these options.

Step 8

Type in a capital C to compare the two. You can even retype the same letter, select one of the two, and change the font to see what various letter forms look like side by side.

Step 9

By looking at the ruler along the edge of the work space, you can gauge the size of your letters. The capital C is about 4″(10cm) tall. If you don’t see the rulers, check your program’s help function to learn how to turn them on.

Step 10

Let’s stay with the lower-case c, which has an interesting ball serif in this font. We can make it even larger; type 700 into the box in the Font area on the toolbar.

Now the size is good, but the bottom of the letter is cut off. To fix that, click on the Page Layout tab and select Margins. Choose or create an option that makes the page margins smaller and the entire letter settles into place on one page.

Step 11

Print your outline letter onto plain paper. If you’re using a fusible-appliqué technique, use the printer commands to reverse the letter, creating a mirror image, before tracing it onto the fusible web. You can also use a light box or sunny window to trace the letter on the wrong side of the printer paper, creating a mirror image.