How to Cut Out a Flower Applique to Sew on a Shirt

Personalize clothing with a floral applique.

Appliqueing designs onto clothing adds a personal touch to your wardrobe. By customizing the design, fabric and placement of the applique, you create a one-of-a-kind look. Floral designs work well with this technique because you can choose colorful prints from which to cut out the design.

Start with simple, easy-to-recognize shapes, such as a single daisy, and work your way up to complex works of art as your skill increases. If freehand drawing is not for you, find a picture of a flower. Use a copy machine to size it up or down to fit your shirt.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• Freezer paper
• Scissors
• Shirt
• Fabric
• Iron
• Needle
• Thread

Instructions

1. Draw or trace the flower onto the dull side of the freezer paper.

2. Cut it out along the outline. The seam allowance will be created later.

3. Place the freezer paper template on the shirt and make sure the proportions are to your liking.

4. Lay out the applique fabric wrong-side up. Smooth out any wrinkles.

5. Place the template onto the fabric with the shiny side down. Iron the freezer paper onto the applique fabric.

6. Cut out the applique with an added 1/4-inch seam allowance on all sides.

7. Turn the seam allowance under around the freezer paper and baste it in place with needle and thread. For tight corners between petals, cut the seam allowance to let the fabric fold over neatly. Press the fabric flat.

8. Remove the freezer paper and thread. The flower applique is ready to be sewn onto your shirt.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember the design you draw will be reversed when it is actually sewn onto the shirt.

References

• Rushbrooke Strand: How to Applique (Tutorial on Appliqueing); Rose Rushbrooke
• Quilter's Cache; Lesson Four - Learn to Applique; Marcia Hohn; June 2001
• All People Quilt: Prepare Applique Shapes

Resources

• World Wide Quilting Page: Applique Basics