How to Applique on Boutique Clothing

Ad your own special touch to a boutique stryle dress

A boutique is a small shop that specializes in clothing not common in mainstream stores, and very often one of a kind. Even if you've found the most adorable outfit for your toddler, he may be going through a stage where he refuses to wear anything without a dinosaur or ladybug on it. You don't want to return it and you certainly can't wait for him to outgrow his latest fascination. You can hope he doesn't outgrow the outfit. With some basic sewing skills and a bit of iron-on fusible web you can add your special touch to almost any piece of boutique-style clothing.

Things You'll Need

• Paper and marker or pre-made image
• Iron-on paper backed fusible web
• Scissors
• Fabrics in the amounts and colors needed to create your applique.
• Hand needle and thread

Instructions

1. 

   Make an applique from one of your child's coloring book creations.

   Draw the design you'd like to applique onto your paper. If you are not confident in your drawing abilities, coloring books are a good source of artwork for children's appliques.

2. Place your drawing on your work surface and lay a piece of fusible web on top of it, paper side up.

3. Trace your drawing onto the fusible web. Be sure to draw all the individual parts, eyes, teeth, horns and whatever else you prefer.

4. Cut out each piece of your applique design and iron it onto your different fabric pieces.

5. Leave about a ¼ inch seam around each piece as you cut your applique pieces out of the fabric. Do not take the paper off the back of each piece yet.

6. Flip each piece of your applique over so it's paper side up, then fold the seam allowance to the back. Iron the seams so you have a nice crease on all sides. This way you will not have to take your seams to the back of each piece before sewing to your clothing.

7. Remove the paper from each fabric piece of your applique and arrange on your clothing. Be sure you are happy with the position of your design, then iron it to your garment. Once you iron it, it's there to stay.

8. Use the slip-stitch to secure the finished edges of your applique to your garment. Catch a thread from the garment with a single thread from the finished edge of your applique and continue around your applique. Sew small stitches evenly apart until you've stitched down all the finished edges of your applique.

References

• "The Encyclopedia of Needlecrafts"; Anness Publishing Limited; 1998