Beginner’s Guide: DIY Trendy Mama Applique Embroidered Sweatshirt

If you’ve seen the viral Mama embroidered sweatshirt trend, you know how popular these cozy, personalized pieces have become. 

In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to create your own version of the Mama applique design onto a sweater.

Applique is not only a fantastic way to save on stitch time and stitch count, but it also allows you to create completely different looks just by changing your fabric.

This tutorial will guide you through each step of machine embroidery applique, whether for yourself or as a gift. Great for beginners and experienced embroiderers, you’ll quickly create stylish, custom embroidered Mama sweatshirts that everyone will love!

Enthusiast or VIP members of the Embroidery Legacy Design Club receive a special embroidery cheat sheet PDF. You can save the PDF on your computer or print off as a reference beside your machine.

Login to your digitizingmadeeasy.com account and check your “Classroom” tab!) 

• Sweatshirt
• Design template print-off 
• Applique material
  • We recommend using an interface on the back of your applique fabric if you use a thin material. This reduces fraying.
• Thread
• Scissors
• Cutaway stabilizer
• Applique embroidery design file– we used our Mama applique design file for this sweater
  • You can create your own designs with your embroidery software. Check out the Design Doodler to start creating your own custom embroidery designs without any digitizing experience! 

Step 1: Print out and cut your design template. Use the template to ensure your design fits within your hoop and achieves perfect placement on your sweater.

Step 2: Create a hole in the center of your “A” with the end of your scissors. This is so you can easily cut out the small shape after your applique fabric is down.

Step 3: Lay your paper template over your applique material. Pre-mark your two holes with a marker so you know where the placement should be.

Step 4: Cross over your applique fabric where you marked where your hole should go. Cut a small hole in the fabric. Do this to both marker spots.

Put an “up” arrow so you know which way your fabric should face when you place it on your sweater.

Step 5: Place your template on your sweatshirt in the proper position. You can determine this by pinning your template to your sweater and trying it on. Adjust the placement if needed.   

Watch the video above to learn how to gauge and preset your hoop for the best results.

Step 6: Hoop your stabilizer and sweatshirt. 

Tip: Tape the stabilizer to your bottom hoop to prevent the stabilizer from moving when you try to hoop. Put your bottom hoop through the bottom waist of the sweatshirt.  

Step 7: Load your mama applique embroidery file into your embroidery machine & place your hoop in your machine. 

To avoid stitching on unwanted parts of the sweater, keep your sweater material away from the needle. You can use clips to hold loose fabric securely.

Step 8: Embroider your design. You will start with a placement stitch.

Step 9: Lay your applique fabric over the placement stitch. Use painter’s tape to avoid movement.  

Cut small holes in the center of your “A”s on your fabric for applique. Make sure they are in the right spot for your lettering.  

Step 10: After you have finished stitching, take your hoop off your machine with extreme caution. Cut the extra applique fabric from your design. Carefully remove the middle of your “A” lettering. (Good thing you pre-cut your holes 😉 ) 

Step 11: Place your hoop back on your machine. Stitch the rest of the design.

Step 12: Remove your hoop from your machine and remove your sweater from the hoop.

Step 13: Use your scissors to trim a few loose threads and remove the stabilizer from the inside of the sweatshirt.

Congratulations! You’ve just completed your very own embroidered Mama sweatshirt using our mama applique design. This personalized piece is more than just a wardrobe staple—it’s a unique expression of your creativity! Don’t forget you can change your applique fabric and thread color to make customized looks.

Whether gifting this Mama embroidered sweatshirt to someone special or keeping it for yourself, the skills and techniques you’ve learned in this machine embroidery applique tutorial will benefit you in future projects. Keep experimenting with different embroidery applique designs, and soon, you’ll customize all your favorite clothing items!

PS. Don’t forget to check out all our other high-quality applique embroidery designs! You can also save up to 90% off and get a free pocket page PDF of this tutorial when you join our exclusive Embroidery Legacy Design Club.