*TUTE*Want to applique a kids tee??? Here is how pic heavy

[jayneysews]

So those dull t shirts that our kiddos get bought,lets jazz them up

Firstly assemble your materials-
Plain T shirt (washed)
An iron
Thread
Scissors
Thread
size 14 Ball point needle
Clear applique foot for your machine
Patterned fabric
Stich and tear
Heat n bond



Cut from your fabric the design you wish to have on your T ,with a wide border round the edge about a cm will be fine!



Then draw round on the papery side of the heat n bond the shapes you have chosen for your applique
 



Then cut the heat n bond out so we have this............... ...



The fuse the glue side to the WRONG side of your fabric with the iron set to the temp suggested on the Heat n bond stuff



Then at this point,cut away the extra around the edges,to the final shape size,design which will be on your T,if it is a little pic,like I have with the owls leave a border,where the satin stich will be so the image itself has no stitching on it to spoil the design,IYSWIM?



Thsi all seems very,very complex and wordy,but infact takes five mins,once you work it out!!!

The the fun!!
Peel the paper backing from the appliques,i find this thrilling,but I am odd and tragic I know



The play around a bit with the placements of the pics




Until you decide how you like it!!!
The iron them onto the T in the place you think looks the best!
Grab some stich n tear ,I have tiny bits saved from bigger projects which I piece together for kiddies ones,I tend to lay them out on the top to see I have enough for coverage

The pin the stitch n tear in place roughly on the back on your tee,making sure the area which will be stitched has coverage

Grab your threads
 

and your needle(ball point remember)



And with a nice tight zig zag sew,sew,sew



I like to set my stitch width and length in advance so i know it is fine for the job!

Here we go................. .(My machine was a day pre service here,and having trouble with zig zag,normally i would do a much shorter stitch,a satin stitch,but it was having trouble)


So turn the T inside out and pull the threads through and tear away the stitch n tear


And here we go

[jayneysews]

Here is a second method too
I am doing two things differently here,one is to use a straight stitch,in order to get a semi frayed /vintagey look to your applique.
The other thing is to use ones own shapes and images,rather than one from a fabric,like the elephant and frog tees I just made!

Really the world is your oyster here,and the satin stitch or striaght stich can be used whenever where ever you feel like that is the look you are going for KWIM?

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=225831.0

Here is an apple T,first step design your applique,on paper,then trace it onto the Heat N bond



Then like before fuse this onto the wrong side of the fabric of choice



Cut out this design,this time to the actual edges,not leaving a border like before!



Peel the backing and fuse onto the T



Fix the stitch n tear behind the applique like before

Sew a few mm from the edge of the design with the clear foot ,ball point needle and a STRAIGHT STITCH



The usual pulling threads through,tearing away the stich  n tear and you are good to go!!!

[Caine]

wowzie! owlsies! and great instructions too -- both kinds! oh my!

[the_christine]

Very cute use of applique!  Great instructions as well!

[hotfudge]

Great instructions!  I've done appliques, but I've never used the stitch n tear stuff - which is probably why my edges don't turn out as nice as yours.  It's definitely on the list for next time though.  And I'm surely showing what a novice I am, but what do you mean by pulling the threads through?  How exactly does one do that?  Thanks!

[faerieflings]

Thank you thank you thank you!  I was so curious how to do this!!!

[jayneysews]

Great instructions!  I've done appliques, but I've never used the stitch n tear stuff - which is probably why my edges don't turn out as nice as yours.  It's definitely on the list for next time though.  And I'm surely showing what a novice I am, but what do you mean by pulling the threads through?  How exactly does one do that?  Thanks!

The stitch n tear is merely a stabiliser,I tend not to bother too much much with this for applique on non stetch,but on T shirts it really helps to give a smooth end product with no puckering ,KWIM?I heard of Mamas using coffee filters ,same kind of thing,

The heat n bond is the fusing product,they are not expensive a roll lasts foever,even me and i am an applique NUT :oand the results from using it are so nice!!!!

Well if you turn your work over to the wrong side and where the stich ends there is a loop,if you pull the loop with the end of a needle it will pull the top thread through to the back,so finishing it off and meaning when you cut it will not unravel

[KateV]

Those are so cute, and great pic tutorial (those are the kind I like! ). I have a couple of plain light and dark orange tees for my DD that I will have to try this on. Thanks!

[RockstarMom]

  Yay!! I have all the stuff and PLENTY of scraps to be used for appliqués! Now to find shirts and stuff to embellish....

[hippiejo74]

  Thanks for the great tuts! Will be using very soon.....