How to Make Girly Applique Shirts

Light- to medium-weight fabrics are best for applique projects.

If you want to turn a plain shirt into something girly, consider the technique of applique. Applique involves sewing one type of fabric on top of another type of fabric, such as a garment or a pillow, in order to create a crafty contrast and add another layer of dimension. Since applique can take on various themes, a girly applique project requires you to select girly materials, such as frilly fabrics in feminine colors, special trim and a girly pattern.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric
• Fabric pen
• Sewing tape
• Scissors
• Pins
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Girly trim
• Fabric glue

Instructions

1. Draw a girly pattern onto the fabric of your choice with a fabric pen. This allows you to freehand the design of the applique. However, you can also select a pre-made applique pattern if you do not wish to draw the pattern yourself. Some girly patterns may include hearts, peace signs, unicorns or bows.

2. Cut out the applique design with scissors. Leave 1/2 inch of space between where you cut and the outline of the design that you created or traced.

3. Place the applique over the shirt you are going to decorate. Move around the applique to get a feel for where it should go on the shirt. When you decide on a spot for it, pin the applique to the shirt with sewing pins. Tuck the extra edges of the fabric under so that you cannot see the outline from the fabric pen. Stick the pin through the top layer of the fabric, the part of the fabric that is tucked under the shirt.

4. Set the sewing machine for a zigzag stitch, which the New Mexico State University deems is the most appropriate stitch style for applique projects. Prepare a seam allowance of 1/2 inch and let the machine do the sewing work. Take the pins out of the applique as you come to them, because sewing over the pins can damage the needle.

5. Add embellishments to the applique to make it even more girly. A lace or ribbon trim, for instance, enhances an applique craft in a feminine way. Sew the trim onto the outline of the applique. For instance, if you sewed a heart-shaped applique onto a shirt, cut out enough trim to outline the heart applique and sew the trim onto the shirt, or glue it on with fabric glue.

Tips & Warnings

• Certain types of fabric are slippery, such as nylon, and require you to use more pins to keep the fabric in place as you are sewing it.

References

• New Mexico State University; Sewing Machine Applique; Susan Wright; March 2001