Applique is a wonderful way to customize t-shirts. And a very easy way to do it. You can showcase all kinds of designs including letters and numbers and beautiful floral designs on to your fabric with applique. A t-shirt is the perfect blank-canvas for this. Here are some ideas.
There are 2 main steps in sewing an applique. First is the preparation of the design and the second is the sewing of the design to the t-shirt front.
Preparation of the applique design
First and foremost you should (ideally) prewash the t-shirt and the applique material – this will prevent the puckers due to shrinkage later. But you can get away with not pre-washing both the material if you are ready to take the risk.
There are many ways to prepare the design – this is the easiest way
Cut the design from fusible interfacing. Then cut the fabric a little bigger all around (1/4 inch or lesser enough to turn under)
Iron the fusible interfacing to the back of your fabric. Clip the edges of the fabric which is extra.
Turn this extra edge to the back and press in place.
If it is a complicated design with lots of curves you have to clip the edge a lot and also baste the edge in place with hand stitches (running stitches)
Knit fabric appliques – If you are using a design (logo or print) from another t-shirt you will have to interface the back as well as the design.
You do not need to cut extra from a knit fabric as you do not have to turn it to the back ; it doesnot fray – Just enough to accomodate a close zig zag stitch. (Read more about this below)
Now place the design on the t-shirt and stitch it in place.
Watch the video for the sewing machine settings for sewing applique on t-shirts:
Applique letters and numbers
If you are sewing letters or numbers the method of cutting the design is a little different.
First, take a printout of the design you want to applique on paper.
Cut out the inside of the design. You can use the cutout letters or the inside portion of the paper to mark the design on the fabric.
If you are marking the design on the front of your applique fabric you can simply place the cut-out letters on the fabric and mark around. Cut it out.
But if you want to mark on the back of the fabric you will have to reverse the letter (flip it so it looks like a mirror image) and then mark.
When you cut it out you will get the proper letter.
If you have cut the applique pieces from a non-fraying material (t-shirt knits, lycra etc) you need not think of turning the edges – you can simply place the design on your t-shirt and stitch along the edges without caring for the edges fraying.
Reverse applique.
In reverse applique you do not have to cut out the design – you will be cutting the t-shirt instead. The background fabric peeps out through the cut out and forms the design.
The reverse applique method works like this –
Print out the design. Cut out the inside portion. Trim the design to some 1 or 1 1/2 inches outside the design.
Keep it on the t-shirt and mark the inside using chalk – you can just drag the chalk inside filling the design.
Now using small scissors cut away the inside portion. (It will curl all over the place at this point, but do not worry- it will all come into place)
Now cut the background fabric in the size of your design.
Finish the edges of the background fabric with fray check or zig-zag stitches or cutting with pinking shears. You can interface this fabric for better stability.
Keep this background fabric under the cut out portion. Use fabric glue to stitch the curling t-shirt portions to the background fabric.
Use hand stitches to sew the edges of the cut portion to the background fabric – use a contrasting thread to make the design stand out (Your choice, of course).
Related post : Reverse applique; Back stitch.
Stitching the Applique
Hand sewing stitches, especially with the needle turn applique technique the design can look invisibly stitched. Whip stitches can be used to sewing your design – it is the easiest. Just use the same color threads as the applique material.
You can use blanket stitches for sewing the applique – in fact I think hand applique is associated with blanket stitches. These stitches just frames the applique design beautifully.
Related posts : Needle turn applique; Blanket stitches.
Sewing machine Applique for t-shirts
The t-shirt material is thin and stretchy; it is a little tricky sewing applique with a sewing machine on this material. Do not forget to interface the back of the applique piece and the t-shirt. Use thin fusible interfacing.
Cut the design carefully leaving a small lip enough for stitching.
Use thread of the color of the design to sew the applique in place with a close zig zag stitch.
You can use a Polyester thread and a Sharp or a Ballpoint needle (80/12, 90/14); You can also use embroidery thread (Rayon, Silk) and Metallic Threads for sewing the applique.
The zig-zag stitch is used to sew the edges of the applique pieces. If you have a computerized machine the tension will be automatically be adjusted for the perfect satin stitch.
If you have an ordinary sewing machine you may have to adjust the stitch width and stitch length and tension appropriately. A 3 Stitch width and .9 stitch length is what I use.
Sew carefully along the curves, stopping every now and then to pivot.
Sewing a simple straight design like a square is very easy – it is when you advance to complicated curved designs that you may have a little difficulty.
You will have to stop and stitch, pivoting slowly every now and then, following the curves (pivot with the needle down) – this is key in getting the satin stitch smooth on curves.
Sewing a few stitches and then stopping with the needle down and sewing very slowly again turning the fabric very slowly all the time is the key. Otherwise, you will find bunches of stitches in one place which is not attractive.
After you have finished sewing, cut off the extra interfacing from the back.
When sewing along an edge, it is better to start stitching the satin stitch in the center of a line rather than a corner.
Related posts : Sewing machine applique; DIY Hand applique tips. ; How to sew sheer applique ; Applique embroidery with letters
That was very well written, especially the satin stitch explanation. Thanks! I have always wondered about applying applique to my tshirts. Now I feel brave enough to maybe cut into one?