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.
Things You'll Need
- Cotton shirt
- Cotton fabric
- Tracing paper
- Scissors
- Pins
- Fusible web
- Sewing machine
Instructions
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1
Wash and iron both the shirt and the fabric used to make the appliqué.
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2
Trace the appliqué design onto a sheet of tracing paper, and cut it out.
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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.
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4
Fuse the appliqué to the shirt with fusible web, following the directions on the package.
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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.
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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.
