Reindeer are one of my most favorite animals in the whole world. I mean, who doesn’t love Rudolph? Besides there’s also Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Donner, Blixen, Comet, Cupid…….and of course we can’t forget Clarice! Am I right?

For this project I resurrected an old cut file I made several years ago for Christmas cards. I’d been promising myself I’d learn how to make appliques, and with Christmas around the corner, I finally had the impetus to just do it!

Since the file wasn’t going to be used to cut card stock this time, I had to make some adjustments to the design. Paper piecing just wouldn’t ‘cut it’ – lol! First I had to copy the design from KNK Studio, paste it to MTC, and then I could make some adjustments. The primary task was to weld all of the main body pieces together so that I had one shape for the deer body. The one on the right was the finished product. I used this file to cut the fabric which had been prepared with a backing of Fuse-n-Bond (for appliques). Then I exported the design to an .svg file so I could import it into my embroidery software. 

What I love about Fuse-n-Bond is that you can use an embroidery machine (if you have one), a simple sewing machine to manually satin stitch it, or you can simply iron the applique onto the selected background material and leave it as-is.

Materials:

• KNK Digital Cutting System
• Fabric
• Fabric Blade
• Brayer
• Fuse-n-Bond
• Thread
• Decorative accessories

Settings (Maxx Air):

• f = 86
• v = 200
• p = 3

Steps:

1. Prepare the fabric by heat pressing Fuse-n-Bond to the back side.
2. Create/edit/open the design file you want to cut.
3. Brayer the fabric with Fuse-n-Bond to a very sticky mat.
4. Cut the file from various fabrics as needed.

5. Option 1 – If applying with an embroidery machine as an applique, you will need to create your matching design in the embroidery software.

   1. Place background fabric into hoop.
   2. Next, stitch the outline to show where to position fabric. 
   3. Stitch applique onto background, then repeat for other fabric pieces.
   4. Finally, satin stitch the edges.

6. Option 2 – Sewing machine

   1. Apply ‘lowest’ layer first using a heat press or iron and work your way to the top.
   2. Stitch out the edges using a satin stitch on your machine.
   3. Next, decorate as desired.

7. Option 3 – Heat application only

   1. Apply ‘lowest’ layer first using a heat press or iron and work your way to the top.
   2. Then decorate as desired.

I cannot decide which way I like him better! Since he’s going to be used for holiday decorations I might make some each way. Wishing you and your family the happiest of holidays!