How to Applique Children's Clothes

Create cool appliques on plain t-shirts that your children will think are designer styles.

Craft your own adorable children's appliques by using your computer and sewing machine. Grab free templates for children's favorite animals, fruits and vegetables or characters from free template resources, and then trace your way to cute clothes. Appliques can seem like hard work and some directions can be quite confusing. Once you get the hang of the applique system, it can be an easy, quick way to spruce up a plain t-shirt or jumper for a designer look.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Desktop publishing program
• Tracing paper
• Heat transfer pencil
• Scissors
• Iron
• Webbing
• Stabilizer
• Sewing machine

Instructions

1. Choose a free template pattern. (See References 2, 3 and Resource 1). Right click on the pattern and save it to your computer's desk top publishing program. Set margins to zero, click on "File" in the publishing program and "print."

2. Trace your design onto the wrong side of tracing paper with a heat transfer pencil. Transfer the design to the fabric and cut out design. Cut out webbing in the same shape as the applique design.

3. Hold the steam of an iron over the applique and webbing side for a few seconds; press gently around the edges using your fingers to anchor it in place. Position your appliques on the clothing you are accessorizing. Cover with a cotton cloth and press with iron to fuse pieces.

4. Cut out a piece of stabilizer that is larger than the applique design. Turn the clothing inside out and iron the stabilizer onto the clothing directly behind the applique.

5. Thread your sewing machine with thread that matches the applique design. Place the clothing item under the sewing machine and zigzag stick the entire circumference of your applique design. (See Reference 1 Special Tips).

6. Turn your clothing item inside out and tear away the stabilizer. Wear or gift your applique clothes.

Tips & Warnings

• Adjust your sewing machine according to the sewing machine handbook in order to achieve a perfect zigzag.

References

• New Mexico State University: Sewing Machine Applique
• Img216.imageshack.us: Fruit and Vegetable Pattern
• Images.transcontinentalmedia.com: Soft Play Box Templates

Resources

• Freeeapplique.com: Free Applique Patterns