Reverse applique in brief.

This is the ‘opposite’ of appliqué, where a layer or layers of fabric is removed to reveal the design.

By hand - cut 2 pieces of fabric and draw the design on the right side of the top fabric. Pin the other fabric beneath the top fabric, right side up, dia. 9a. Tack layers together about ?"- ½" outside the marked design, dia 9b. Use a small, sharp pair of scissors to cut ¼" within marked line. Clip curves and corners to the marked design. Use a thread to match the top layer. Use the point of the needle to turn under the top fabric to the marked line of the design, dia. 9c. Slip stitch to the second layer. Turn work over and trim away excess fabric, dia. 9d.

By machine - mark the design on the wrong side of the second layer of fabric. Sandwich fabrics as for hand reverse appliqué. Use a straight stitch and working from the back of the fabric, stitch, exactly following the line of the design. From the right side of the fabric sandwich, use a sharp pair of scissors to cut as close as possible to the inside of the stitched line thus removing the top layer of the fabric revealing the design. This cut edge can then be covered with a row of satin stitch.