How to Make an Appliquéd Cuff

Are you bored with your clothing? Do you want to jazz it up without buying a new wardrobe? Try appliquéing your cuffs. It's amazing how much you can change something by cutting out small pieces of cloth like pieces of a jig saw puzzle, and sewing them onto anything: cuffs, coats, shirts, you name it. The best part is that appliquéing is fairly easy if you can sew, and this eHow will help. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Choose a shirt that has good cuffs for appliquéing. A button-down or oxford cloth short would work well.
2. Create a design in color that will compliment the cuff of your shirt. Do this on paper, and be as creative as you would like. You might want to consider your own ability as sewer, and allow that to limit your design.
3. Make a pattern of your design by cutting out the picture in pieces according to color. You will be rendering it into a jigsaw puzzle.
4. Pick out fabric from which to make your appliqué, as well as some fusible interfacing. You can find this at any sewing shop.
5. Trace around each pattern piece onto the back of the fusible interface. Cut the pieces out, and place them on the wrong side of the fabric that will make your appliqué.
6. Lay the fabric right side down on the ironing board, and iron the rough back of the fusible interface with the iron set on the silk setting. Apply more pressure with the iron until the fabric and the interface become fused together.
7. Cut out the appliqué pieces from the fabric and interface fused piece. Lay the shirt on the ironing board and open the cuffs so they lay flat. Place the fused fabric pieces that create the appliqué on the cuff in the design you wish. Iron the pieces onto the cuff. Do this to the other cuff as well.
8. Sew the appliquéd pieces either by hand or with a machine. If you use a machine, use the zig zag setting. You can use various colors of thread as you do so.
9. Decorate your appliqué design with buttons or beads—whatever you desire.
10. Wear your shirt with appliquéd cuffs with pride. you've created a work of art.