If you have an old manual Singer...

[beginnersewer]

how do you do applique to attach a shaped piece of fabric to something else?

I love my old Singer but it doesn't do the zig-zag stitch for going round the edges of things.

Answers in words of one syllable please as I'm an inexperienced sewer (have done more knitting but mostly just plain stuff).

I would just sew slowly around the appliqué about half a centimetre in from the edge, either in a perfectly matched thread or a complete contrast.

I have got a zig zag attachment which fits all my old machines but they are £30 upwards. If you are interested in one I would ring Helen Howes, tell her what machine you have and ask her for the simplest attachment to operate.

www.helenhowes-sewingmachines.co.uk/bigatts.html

Oh, some are cheaper £15 without a box, ZZ005.

oooh an attachment sounds good, I will look into it thank you :)