Table of Contents
Video reference: “Dragonfly Applique Embroidery - Part 2: Halfway There” by the creator.
Halfway through your dragonfly block, the big wins now hinge on clean placement and confident trimming. This guide distills every move—what to cut, what to keep, and when to skip fabric—so your satin stitches finish crisp and stress-free.
What you’ll learn
- How to place, tack, and trim applique fabric for the moon, wings, and body
- Why and when you might intentionally skip adding fabric to a section
- The 45-degree trimming technique that protects your tack-down stitches
- How stitch numbers 4–9 sequence the work on a Janome Memory Craft 500E
Primer (What & When) Applique embroidery layers decorative fabric into an embroidery design, then secures those edges with satin or other finishing stitches. In this block:
- Moon shape: fabric placed, tacked with stitch number 4, then trimmed.
- Wave section under the dragonfly: outlined, but no extra fabric added (a design choice to reduce visual “busy-ness”).
- Wings: cut and tacked with stitch number 8, then trimmed.
- Body: placed, tacked with stitch number 9, then trimmed.
This workflow is ideal when you want the richness of patterned fabric and dimensional contrast in a single block. It assumes you have your project already hooped with backing/stabilizer and that the initial placement sequence (up through stitch number 3) is done.
Pro tip If you like a cleaner workstation and consistent placement, a hooping aid can help. Some embroiderers prefer a station-style tool to center and align fabric quickly hoop master embroidery hooping station.
Prep Tools and materials
- Fabric for applique (patterned for the moon, a dark purple for wings and body—colors are up to you)
- Embroidery scissors for precise trimming
- Hooped project with backing/stabilizer
- Janome Memory Craft 500E (or your embroidery machine)
- Tape measure (for pre-cutting larger coverage pieces)
Files and prerequisites
- Dragonfly embroidery design loaded
- Initial setup complete and placement stitches up to the prior step finished
Workspace
- Cutting mat and a clear area to lay and pre-cut fabric
- Machine set up and threaded for tack-downs
Quick check
- Can your chosen fabric fully cover its placement lines with extra margin?
- Is the hoop secure in the machine with good clearance?
Checklist — Prep
- Design file ready
- Fabric scraps selected and sized
- Scissors sharp
- Hoop mounted and stable
Pro tip If you’re working with delicate fabrics or larger coverage pieces, a light positioning aid can help manage shifting. Many users like low-grab hoop systems for confidence during trim-heavy applique magnetic hoops for embroidery machines.
Setup Thread and stitch numbers
- Stitch number 4: tack-down for the moon.
- Stitch number 5: outlines the wave area.
- Stitch number 6: would tack down wave fabric (intentionally skipped here).
- Stitch number 7: outlines dragonfly wings.
- Stitch number 8: tacks down wing fabric.
- Stitch number 9: tacks down body fabric.
Design intent The instructor opts not to add fabric in the wave area to let the backing show for texture and to keep the block from feeling too “busy.” That choice affects which stitch numbers you run next.
Watch out Confirm the selected stitch number before pressing start. A wrong step here can tack down the wrong area.
Checklist — Setup
- Machine threaded
- Correct stitch number selected for the next action
- Hoop clicked in securely
Step-by-Step Applique: The Moon Shape 1) Place and tack the moon fabric (stitch number 4) - Rough-cut a patterned fabric piece large enough to cover the moon outline with extra margin.
- Float the fabric on top of the hooped block and slide the hoop into the machine.
- Run stitch number 4 to tack it down.
Quick check The tack-down should completely encircle the moon shape with fabric caught evenly all around.
2) Trim the moon fabric
- Remove the hoop from the machine.
- Hold scissors at a 45-degree angle and trim close to the stitches—without cutting them. Turn the hoop as you cut so your hand and scissors stay steady.
- Compare your trimmed shape to the design image to confirm what stays vs. what goes.
- Return the hoop to the machine.
Pro tip Keep a slight tension on the fabric while trimming; it helps the blades glide and reduces “chewed” edges.
Designing with Intent: The Wave Area 3) Outline the wave, but skip adding fabric - Run the outline for the wave area (stitch number 5).
- Intentionally skip stitch number 6 (which would tack down additional fabric). This leaves the backing fabric visible in the wave for a calmer, less busy look.
Decision point
- If you prefer a high-contrast wave: place a single piece of fabric large enough to cover both outlined wave sections, run stitch number 6, then trim.
- If you want the background to show (as here): skip stitch number 6 and move on.
From the comments A reader asked whether you can also skip the outline if you’re not adding fabric. Because outlines can affect how later steps register visually, consider your design goal before skipping any outline. When in doubt, keep the outline for definition.
Pro tip If hoop handling feels awkward during frequent remove/trim/rehoop cycles, consider a low-lift hoop system that makes in-and-out easier magnetic hoop embroidery.
Crafting the Dragonfly Wings 4) Outline the wings (stitch number 7) - Run stitch number 7 to draw the wing shapes on the block.
5) Place and tack wing fabric (stitch number 8) - Cut a single piece of dark purple fabric to cover both wings; measuring roughly, ensure you exceed all edges (example sizing used in the demo: about 7 inches by 4 inches for coverage).
- Lay the fabric smoothly over the wing outlines and run stitch number 8 to tack it down (outer and inner wing lines).
Quick check The tack-down stitching should catch every edge of the wing shapes with room for a safe trim margin.
6) Trim the wings - Remove the hoop and trim close to the tack-down, again at a shallow angle while turning the hoop.
- Don’t stress tiny irregularities—satin stitches typically cover small slips.
From the comments Community makers shared creative wing materials for translucency and shine: glittery tulle and organza were both reported to work well for seeing background detail through the wings.
Pro tip Using sheer fabrics? Stabilize your trim by supporting the fabric from beneath with your finger or a stiletto so it doesn’t distort as you cut.
Pro tip If you frequently applique with Janome single-needle machines, many users like easy-on/off hoop options for smoother rehoop cycles magnetic embroidery hoops for janome 500e.
Completing the Dragonfly Body 7) Place the body fabric
- Position a piece of fabric over the body area. The demo uses the same purple as the wings for a cohesive look.
8) Tack down the body (stitch number 9) - Reinsert the hoop and run stitch number 9 to secure the body fabric.
9) Trim the body - Punch a small starting hole in the excess fabric if needed and trim close around the body and head shapes. A slight pull on the fabric helps keep the cut clean.
Quick check Edges are smooth and close to the tack-down, and all body contours are visible.
Checklist — Operation
- Placement lines fully covered before each tack-down
- Correct stitch number engaged (4, 5, 7, 8, 9 as applicable)
- All trims close, clean, and intact (no cut stitches)
Tips for Flawless Applique Results Understanding stitch numbers and prompts
- #4 moon tack-down → trim
- #5 outline wave → optional fabric skip (shown)
- #6 wave tack-down (skipped here)
- #7 wing outlines
- #8 wing tack-down → trim wings
- #9 body tack-down → trim body
Precision trimming technique
- Angle the blades at about 45 degrees.
- Move the hoop as you cut; keep hands/scissors steady.
- Keep consistent light tension on the fabric.
Dealing with imperfections
- Small trimming wobbles are typically hidden by later satin stitches.
- If you snip a tack-down by accident, you can pause, secure the area, and proceed.
Watch out Cutting too close at corners can nick stitches. If it happens, gently secure the edge before continuing.
Pro tip If you do a lot of applique, some embroiderers like a re-usable frame style for quicker fabric swaps and fewer pinch points dime snap hoop.
Pro tip If your hoop fit allows, a purpose-built frame can make mid-project access easier on single-needle machines like the 500E janome memory craft 500e hoops.
Quality Checks At each milestone:
- After each tack-down: Confirm every edge of the shape is caught.
- After each trim: Edges should be close and smooth; no cut stitches.
- After the wave decision: If you skipped fabric, the outline is clean and you’re happy with the background showing through.
- Before moving on: The next stitch number matches your plan.
Results & Handoff By the end of this sequence you will have:
- A trimmed moon applique
- An outlined wave with backing showing (if you skipped fabric)
- Trimmed wing fabric in place
- A trimmed body fabric in place
This completes the fabric layering for the main design areas. From here, the finishing stitches (such as satin) will cover raw edges and polish the design.
Troubleshooting & Recovery Symptom: Fabric lifts during tack-down
- Likely cause: Fabric wasn’t fully covering or shifted.
- Fix: Re-cut a slightly larger piece; ensure it fully covers the outline before stitching. Light hand pressure while starting can help.
Symptom: Snipped a tack-down stitch while trimming
- Likely cause: Cutting too close or not turning the hoop.
- Fix: Secure the area carefully and continue; small gaps are often hidden by finishing stitches.
Symptom: Jagged trimmed edges
- Likely cause: Dull scissors or pulling too hard on the fabric.
- Fix: Sharpen or switch scissors, use lighter tension, and make shorter controlled cuts.
Symptom: Confusion about what to cut vs. what to keep
- Likely cause: Losing track of the design map.
- Fix: Refer to the design image for each section before trimming; identify the “keep” areas first, then trim away the rest.
From the comments (mini-FAQ) Q: Can I make the wings translucent and show the background? A: Yes. Makers reported beautiful results with glittery tulle and with organza for a shiny translucent look.
Q: If I don’t add fabric to a section, can I skip its outline? A: The wave outline was kept here while fabric was skipped. Consider whether the outline contributes needed definition before skipping it entirely.
Pro tip If frequent rehooping slows you down, consider simplified frame options designed for rapid load/unload on single-needle setups magnetic hoop for janome 500e.
Pro tip If you frequently float fabrics instead of hooping them tightly, a supportive magnetic frame can reduce handling and keep layers steady magnetic hoops.
Pro tip For multi-block projects, a consistent placement tool helps keep repeated motifs straight from block to block magnetic embroidery hoop.
Pro tip Some embroiderers prefer using robust magnetic frames for thick quilts or layered applique sequences mighty hoop magnetic embroidery hoops.