Easy DIY Applique Tutorial

SHAMELESS POST: HOSTING A GIVEAWAY OVER HERE

We had a bit of snow and ice here yesterday so I took off work a little early since the roads were a little nasty.  I made it home just fine and started thinking about what I should do with the little free time that I was given (NEVER happens around my house!)  So I decided to shave my legs!  It may sound silly but if you are a parent of two toddlers...you probably understand why this was so exciting for me!  So I then turned to my current sewing projects.

I had been interested in doing some easy appliques on some shirts for the boys.  I found some free applique patterns at this site.  Nothing crazy, just simple shapes.  But the ideas to make them unique are plentiful!  I found a few 'plain' shirts for my youngest at Walmart (about $2-4 per shirt) and got out the fabrics I chose and got started.

Here's how to do it yourself!

Items you will need:

• Heat 'n Bond Lite Iron-On Adhesive (amount will vary depending on the size of applique)
• Shirt or other garment
• Fabric for the applique (Again, amount will vary)
• Iron
• Sewing Machine and sewing basics (although this is optional, I will explain below)
• Scissors

1.  Draw out your applique outline onto the paper side of the Heat 'n Bond.  Go ahead and cut out the images but DO NOT cut them on the outline you just drew.  I did this because I drew 3 different appliques on a section of the adhesive paper...so in order to keep them separate since they are going onto different fabrics, I cut them out giving enough allowance around the outline.  *As you can sort of see, some of the applique patterns have a few parts to them so you may want to make your own markings to keep them organized.*

Sorry the image is a little washed out...

 2.  Next you will take your applique and lay it onto the WRONG SIDE of the chosen fabric with the paper facing up.  Using medium heat with NO STEAM, press the iron onto the paper side of the fabric for 2 seconds. Yeah, that's all it takes!  Set it aside to cool.

This is a bird applique that I'll be putting on a little onesie in a later post.

3.  Once the applique is cool enough, carefully cut out the applique shape using the outline you drew.

4.  Lay the garment flat onto your surface.  Peel away the paper backing and gently position the applique onto your garment with the shiny side down.  Once you are pleased with the placement, iron away!  The adhesive doesn't take long to melt so a few seconds is all you need.  And here is what the semi-final* product looks like:

 * I've seen tutorials that end here.  I know fraying may not be a huge issue to some...but it is to me!  But if you don't have a sewing machine or basic sewing skills, consider yourself done with this project!

5.  I just had to 'finish' the edges of the applique.  I used a thin but dense zig-zag stitch.  I believe my settings were 0.5 for stitch length and 3 for stitch width.  Go slow around curves! I was careful to line up the outermost edge of the applique with far edge of the stitch length.  Sorry if that doesn't make sense but here's some pics to help clarify:

6. Finish sewing the edges and you're really done!

Final results:

I could do these everyday, they were so easy!  I think my little one will look quite adorable in them, it's a nice and easy way to add some uniqueness to a plain old tee.

Hope it's warm where you are...I'm ready for Spring and Summer!