How to Appliqué a Shirt

Even a plain white shirt becomes a work of art with the addition of an embellishment, such as an appliqué. An appliqué is a piece of fabric cut into a particular shape and sewn onto a larger piece of fabric, such as an article of clothing. Appliqués can be simple or complex in design.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cotton shirt
• Cotton fabric
• Tracing paper
• Scissors
• Pins
• Fusible web
• Sewing machine

1. Wash and iron both the shirt and the fabric used to make the appliqué.

2. Trace the appliqué design onto a sheet of tracing paper, and cut it out.

3. Pin the appliqué design onto the appliqué fabric, and cut it out. You may also trace the design with an air or water-soluble marker if you don't want to use pins.

4. Fuse the appliqué to the shirt with fusible web, following the directions on the package.

5. Stitch around the appliqué to secure it in place. You can choose a variety of stitches by changing the setting on your sewing machine.

Tips & Warnings

• Similarly weighted fabrics work better than those that are different. For example, a cotton shirt and cotton appliqué will sew easier than a silk shirt and cotton appliqué.
• Washing the fabric before using it will allow it to shrink before sewing, which helps to prevent the material from puckering.
• A close zigzag stitch prevents the edges of the appliqué from fraying. You can also hand-stitch an appliqué using embroidery floss.
• Always wash an appliquéd shirt inside out.

Resources

• Find free appliqué patterns