How to Create an Appliqué Embroidery Effect in Procreate
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How to Create an Appliqué Embroidery Effect in Procreate
Appliqué embroidery is a timeless technique where fabric pieces are layered onto a base and secured with stitching. It’s commonly used in fashion for patchwork, logos, and graphic motifs — and it can be effectively recreated in digital illustration using Procreate.
In a recent YouTube video, we showed how to achieve this effect digitally, replicating both the layered fabric look and the detailed embroidery finish.
The design was created using a single brush:
Sword Grass Brush – This is a standard Procreate brush that delivers a rough, organic texture - ideal for mimicking fabric edges and natural stitched lines. It allows for movement and layered realism, making it ideal for embroidery-inspired designs.
Design Technique
The appliqué effect was built by:
- Blocking out bold shapes to represent cut fabric
- Using the Sword Grass Brush for edges, shading, and stitched outlines
- Adding layering effects to suggest depth and separation between each piece
This technique creates a convincing digital version of embroidery, suitable for mock-ups, product visualisations, or fashion graphics.
This technique works well across:
- Streetwear graphics
- Logo applications
- Embroidered patch mock-ups
- Fabric panel concept art
Spend less time setting up and more time creating.
👉 Click here to shop this mock-up
✍️ Want to see the process from start to finish? Watch our free and easy YouTube tutorials here.
If you have any questions, get in touch today via email, Instagram, TikTok or YouTube@cm_fashiondesign.
Happy Designing! - CM Fashion Design
