Applique vs Filled Embroidery Designs

An applique embroidery design uses pieces of fabric to fill the large areas, with stitching around the edges. A filled embroidery design is made entirely of thread. Applique is faster and lighter, and filled gives a solid, fully stitched look.

Where this question comes from

Annette C., one of our customers, bought a filled design and wrote to us in September 2026 about the applique version:

Anette wrote:

I bought the girl with basketball filled file and was curious about the appliqué one. Is the whole image appliqué or just the head? The picture look like its just the head.
Thanks,
Annette

We answered Annette, and we are sharing the answer here because many embroiderers wonder the same thing.

Applique designs

In an applique design, the machine stitches an outline, you lay a piece of fabric over it, and the machine stitches the fabric down and finishes the edge with a border. The fabric does the job that thousands of fill stitches would otherwise do.

  • Fewer stitches, so it finishes sooner and uses less thread
  • Softer and lighter on the garment
  • Lets you add printed or textured fabric to the design
  • Takes more steps: placing the fabric and trimming around it

Filled designs

In a filled design, every part is stitched with thread. You hoop the fabric, start the machine and change thread colors when it stops.

  • No fabric to cut or trim
  • A solid, detailed, fully embroidered look
  • More stitches, so it takes longer and uses more thread
  • Heavier and stiffer, which needs firm stabilizer, especially on thin or stretchy fabric

Is the whole design applique?

This is what Annette wanted to know, and the answer is usually not. In most applique designs, only the large areas are fabric. Small details such as faces, lettering, outlines and decorations are still stitched with thread. A design may have one applique piece or several.

The product picture shows which parts are fabric. Applique areas look like flat fabric with a stitched border, and stitched areas show thread texture. If a picture leaves you unsure, send us a message and we will tell you which parts of that design are applique.

Which should you choose?

  • Choose applique for T-shirts, baby clothes and other light fabrics, for larger designs, and when you want to use a special fabric.
  • Choose filled for towels, bags, jackets and other sturdy items, for small designs, and when you want the simplest stitching process.

Many of our designs come in both versions, sold separately, so you can pick the one that suits your project.

Learn more in what is embroidery stabilizer and is machine embroidery easy.

Browse our applique embroidery designs and filled embroidery designs.

Have another question? See all the answers in our machine embroidery designs FAQ.

Written by Dmitry, Embroidery Monkey technical support. We digitize every design by hand and test stitch it before it goes on sale. Last updated October 2026.