How to Applique Animals Using Your Own Fabric

Appliques transform plain baby clothes into custom gifts.

When personalizing plain garments, many people use fabric paint or embroidery to create custom designs. If you're not so handy with a paintbrush or a needle, consider creating your own fabric appliques. The effect is polished and can be done with almost any type of fabric. Common themes for appliques include abstract shapes, floral designs or animal shapes. Animal appliqued clothing can be a perfect gift for a baby shower or an animal-loving friend.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric
• Scissors
• Needle
• Thread
• Paper-backed fusible webbing
• Cardboard
• Fabric paint (optional)

Instructions

1. Draw your animal shape on the cardboard to create a template. If you're not artistically inclined, find a pattern online or use an animal-shaped cookie cutter to create the outline. Try and keep your design simple, since too many details and small shapes will be harder to manage.

2. Cut out the template and set it aside. Following the packaging instructions, iron the fusible webbing to your applique fabric and let it cool. Trace the template on the paper backing and cut out your applique.

3. Peel off the paper backing and iron the applique to the base garment. Once the fabric cools, sew around the edges with a simple zigzag stitch to secure the applique. Embellish with fabric paints if desired.