Monday, March 7, 2011
Applique and Embroidered Onesies and Toddler T's
This is one of my favorite projects! I love making cute applique t's for holidays, birthdays, gifts etc. Here are a few I've made recently for friends.
Here is my disclaimer: I am totally self taught. I've never taken any applique or embroidery classes, so I'm SURE there are better methods out there. With that said, here's what I've found that works! A lot of trial and error went into this. :)
First, print your letter or pattern off. I use wordart in word for any letters I do. You can google any clip art pattern - I've done pumpkins, starts, sailboats, turkeys, etc. using patterns I've found online.
Use your Steam-A-Seam fusible web. (they have really great instructions on the package for using this stuff). Iron on your pattern. I use a grid to help line my pattern up on the shirt and sometimes use an erasable fabric pen to make lines to help with getting the embroidery straight later on.
Since t-shirts (especially onesies and toddler t's are such a soft cotton a stabilizer is an absolute MUST for embroidering!). I actually use 2. Sulky makes some great stabilizers!!
For this project I use an iron on that's light weight and good for babies. It's super soft! I iron that on (rough side down). Next I use a tear away stabilizer that I will remove one I've sewn and embroidered. Here is what the inside of the shirt looks like with both stabilizers.
Next sew around your pattern. I have a Brother sewing machine that has a few different options for applique stitching. Here is my favorite:
Flip the onesie or shirt inside out and sew around your pattern.
This step takes me about 10 minutes depending on the intricacy of the pattern. I use embroidery thread to sew around the applique. It's shiny and I just think it looks better!
Now for the embroidery! I LOVE how my machine switches so easily back and forth from sewing to embroidery. In just a few minutes my machine looks like this:
I have the brother SE-350 embroidery and sewing. I got it at Wal-Mart for about $300! Such a great deal for beginner embroider/sewers.
Hoop your onesie inside out. For really small onesies sometimes I use clips to hold the fabric. I actually embroider through the neck hole.
The toughest part is getting everything lined up straight. This machine is AH-mazing. With a click of a button this is what you get!
Another great tip if you want super easy things to applique buy a fabric that already has the design in it! I found this fabric at joanns. So sweet for baby girls.
Here is another shirt I made out of this fabric.
I know that was a TON of info, let me know if you have any questions!
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Turned out cute! I love appliqued stuff!
ReplyDeleteSo cute!! I cannot believe you bought a sewing/embroidery machine for $300! I may need to look into this!
ReplyDeleteI love these! Congrats on the awesome machine!
ReplyDeleteSo cute!! :)
ReplyDeleteThese turned out so cute!
ReplyDeleteawwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThose are both beautiful shirts and will/would make fantastic gifts!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately my machine doesn't have an embroider feature. Or even the applique stitch. Booo! I posted today about how I'm saving up for a new machine! :)
So, wait a minute, you just typed in the name and the machine embroidered it? That's cool!
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