Appliqued T-Shirt Tutorial

Not long ago I posted a rant about my misadventures in applique along with some ideas for machine applique on a burpcloth.  Several of you had questions about how to use those techniques on a t-shirt or onesie bodysuit instead, so I've decided to follow up.  Did you know you that you aren't allowed to call it a onesie if it's not Gerber brand?  Well, in case you didn't - you aren't!  So, now ya know!!  And don't ask me how I know.  Just trust me on this  - ha! 

Anyway, appliquing on ready-made garments was indeed one of the biggest reasons I wanted an embroidery machine, but darn it if there isn't much out there in the way of how-to's or tutorials, at least there wasn't when I started two years ago.  So, today I thought I would walk you through MY process (because I'm sure there are others) for machine applique on tees and bodysuits, in hopes that you might benefit from some of my mistakes lessons learned!

 And right about now seems the appropriate time to give a big shout out and thank you to my own mentors (and friends), Michelle @ Cutesy Cloths (is on vacation right now btw), Anne @ Anne Michelle Designs and Emily @ LePetit Poisson, who still answer my calls for 'HELP!'

OK, so you've picked out your garment and you've dowloaded your design and put it on your jump drive so that it's on your machine.  But how exactly to get that fabulous design stitched out . . .

Step 1:  Find the center of your garment by folding it in half and ironing it, pressing in a crease along the vertical center.  You will determine your horizontal center in the next steps.

 Step 2:  Use the height of the design (in this case 185 mm) and divide by 2.  This is how far down on the grament you will need to go from where you want the top of your design to be.

Step 3:  Measure from the top placement of your design to the center of your design from above and mark with a washable fabric pen.

 Step 4:  I attach my hoop at this point and use my machine to determine (and adjust if necessary) where the center point of my design is and make a hole through the stabilizer to mark it.

Step 5:  Turn your garment inside out and place your first pin through the center mark and into the center mark on the stabilizer.  I do this on my ironing board so that i can just stick the pin in and line it up with the hole in the stabilizer beneath.  Then straighten and pin your shirt well above and below the design area to hold it in place on the hoop.  I never hoop anything, even flat things like burp cloths, but this is how I do it.

Step 6:  Cut out your fabric using the dimensions from the design, allowing some extra just in case.  Cut out a similar sized piece of double sided fusible web (Wonder Under on the roll) and fuse to the underside of the fabric following the manufacturer's instructions.  Let cool and peel off the backing.   the fusible web prevents fraying during machine applique and wrinkling of your applique fabric after washing.  I think it's a must have!!

Step 7:  Machine stitch your fabric to your garment, using your hands to hold your garment out of the way.  By the way, I use a BALL POINT embroidery needle to applique on knit fabrics like tees and bodysuits.  I found that regular point needles puncture the fabric, rather than slipping in between the weave, and in some cases actually cause the applique to pull away from the garment.  That was bad.  Go ball point.

Step 8:  Use a pair of curve tipped snippers to trim your applique design.  This pair is spring loaded and I bought them in the Viking Store at Joann's.  I LOVE them!! 

Here's what your trimmed design will look like.  See how closely these little snippers trim - awesome!!

 Step 9:  Once your machine has finished the applique, turn your garment right side out and press, using a pressing cloth and steam, to fuse the appliqued design to the tee itself.  I use a spray bottle to wet my pressing cloth so that I don't have to worry about switching back and forth with water in my iron.  I will be the first to admit that I am not the neatest crafter in Texas, and working with so much fusible products greatly increases your chances of getting something sticky on your iron at some point.  I have gotten to where I always use the pressing cloth so I don't accidentaly ruin a great design with something sticky from my iron right at the end - uugh!

Step 10:  No picture of it, but depending on the design and how it stitched out on the back (were thee any rough spots, tangles of thread from a break, etc.) I fuse a Pellon thin, mesh interfacing to the back, covering the stitching of the design.  On onesies and small children's garments, I take extra care to include this for comfort's sake.  On lettering,  I also use Fray-Check where I cut the jump stitches.

Just in case.

So now you know!  Happy Applique-ing!

Showing off my Sassy Pants at Mine for the Making and It's a Hodgepodge Life

That's One Tough Cookie!

It's that time of year again!

You've probably already had them casing your neighborhood - knocking on doors and smiling while they wreak havoc on your new year's resolutions with their tasty temptations.

Yes folks, I'm afraid so . . . It's GIRL SCOUT COOKIE TIME!!

Last year, my very first year selling cookies as a girl scout MOM, I was terrified of the goals being laid before me.  And there were plenty of phone calls and much wringing of hands while I tried to figure out if all this focus on funds was something I wanted my daughter (or myself) involved in.  After all, isn't the purpose of selling cookies to teach our girls lessons about manners, financial responsibility, leadership, and blah,blah, blah . . . you get the idea.  And I was worried!

Weeeeell, it is - but it's also about the money!

One year later and I now find myself in the position of co-leader for this fledgling troop and let me just say, "Helping Girls Grow Strong ain't necessarily cheap!"  So this year I vowed to get off my soapbox, ignore my moral high road and take the road MOST travelled instead. 

Uuugh!

Luckily, Sheep is one year older (and wiser) and has caught the cookie bug this year, so she's willing to help!  Last year she set her sights on a journal that required selling 200 boxes of girl scout cookies.  And she did it!!!!  And when I say she did it - I mean SHE did it!  I was not working (outside the home) last year and Speed was working from home, so mom and dad did not have offices.  No break rooms tables to simply throw the form out on and wait for the orders to come rolling in over lunch.  Instead, she had to go door-to-door and person-to-person.  She made lots of phone calls as well.  Speed is a salesman by day, so he helped her with her pitch and she got quite good at it if I do say so myself!

I guess I have my mom (a former girl scout leader herveryownself) for my insistence that she sell them herself.  My mom always made us call up to her office to sell cookies or other school things rather than taking the forms to work.  At the time I thought it was torture.  Now I see it as a stroke of genius!!  It is sooo much harder to say no to that tiny voice and that earnest little look!

This year, she has set her sites on the LARGE stuffed penguin plush toy that requires selling 650 boxes (what the . . .?)!!  Can she do it?  Probably not.  Don't tell anyone, but girl scout leader/mom doesn't really want to deliver 650 boxes of girl scout cookies either.  But I am LOVIN' the effort I am seeing from this girl!!  And even though we've 'officially' gone cookie crazy this year with a troop goal of 2200 boxes, I am secretly smiling to see her using her math, HER MANNERS and making change like a pro!  I'm also impressed with her practicality (which I have never been accused of having - ha!), because she has assessed her initial goal and revised it now that she's been pounding the pavement this week.  So we'll see . . .

Either way, thanks to girl scouts she's already growing into ONE TOUGH COOKIE!!

P.S.  If you need a connection, Sheep can hook you up!!

P.S.S.  In additon to everything else,  I also fight with own an embroidery machine.  I put this design together using the varsity feltie font from Planet Applique and a donut design (I don't know about you, but that looks like a Samoa to me!) from Stitch on Time.  Check these ladies out - they both have great ideas and products!  This was my first try at a 'raggy' alphabet.  Not too shabby - ha!  Sometimes, I crack myself up!