Applique T-Shirts

Hand applique is a great method to cover up stains, holes or even dress up a plain tee. It can be done in a flash with very little expense. T shirts are easier to applique than you might think. Here's a list of items you'll need to get started:

T shirt
Coordinating fabric*
Embroidery thread & needle
Image for t shirt**
Freezer paper
Heat n Bond Fusible Interfacing
Iron
Scissors or Pinking Shears
Pencil
Embroidery hoop (optional)
Fabric paint (optional)

*Use outgrown, stained, ripped, or otherwise unworn clothing to reduce your expense on this project and save it from the landfill.
**Someone with artistic talent, can sketch their own image like I did but you can also find great applique images from coloring books. I suggest you start with a simple image until you get comfortable with the process.

1. Cut down a section of coordinating fabric to a size slightly larger than your image.
2. Trace your applique image onto a section of freezer paper. If you plan to applique multiple fabrics (eyes, lips, hair, etc) then a traced freezer paper image for each fabric is necessary.
3. Using medium heat iron setting, iron the freezer paper to the RIGHT side of your fabric.
4. Cut down a section of Heat N Bond Fusible Interfacing and iron to the WRONG side of the fabric. Follow the package directions.
5. Cut out your image from your interfacing, fabric, freezer paper sandwich and gently peel away freezer paper.
6. Arrange your image on your t shirt RIGHT sides up.
7. Set aside all pieces except the bottom (or base image) of your applique cut out.
8. Iron bottom image to the t shirt per package directions.
9. Stitch around edge with embroidery thread.
10. Add the next image layer and repeat steps 8 and 9.

An embroidery hoop will help hold the t shirt taught if you have trouble free hand stitching around your applique. Another alternative is to run a bead of fabric paint around the edge of your applique.

See my step by step photo's to help guide you along.

I spruced up a plain long sleeve t shirt I bought on clearance for $3. I already had the other supplies and used old holey t shirts long abandoned for the yellow, white, and orange fabrics. I intended to machine applique the entire project with a zig zag stitch. After starting with the fish body, I discovered I'm just not that good at it yet so I switched to hand stitching. The rest was done by hand very easily. The eye's pupil was back stitched with black embroidery thread.

It took me about two hours while fighting with the sewing machine, watching TV, chatting with hubs, and keeping the cat out of my potted plants. I could have done it MUCH quicker stitching it ALL by hand! {laughing} My next project is to embroider a race car J Man drew a few weeks ago. Cross your fingers and toes everyone!

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