Easy Applique Shirts {Tutorial}

Today I thought I would share with you an easy way to add some flair to a plain t-shirt. I wanted to make the girls Easter dresses this year but I was running short on time (as always) and they already have a ton of cute dresses so I decided to make them cute little egg hunting outfits instead. They each already had plain white t-shirts and I had all the supplies on hand already for the applique so I went to work.

You will need:

plain t-shirt
fabric
iron-on adhesive like this one
iron
sewing machine to sew around the edges
hot glue gun
mini pom pom
ribbon

First, draw the pattern you want for your applique out on paper. I had a cookie cutter in the shape of the rabbits head so I traced it onto paper, made a few adjustments and this is what the finished product looked like.

Your adhesive will have directions as to how to attach it to your shirt. I’ll show you how I did it just to clarify.

Cut out a square a little bigger than your pattern from your fabric and from your adhesive. You will attach these pieces first before cutting out your shape. I put my fabric directly on top of the adhesive with the bumpy side of the adhesive against the wrong side of the fabric. I ran my iron on top of my pink face fabric to heat seal the two pieces together.

Then I turned it over and laid my pattern piece on top of the paper attached to the adhesive and traced it on. I made two at a time for both girls shirts.

Then cut them out. Next you will need to peel of the paper that is on the back of the adhesive. The adhesive should now be stuck to the back side of your fabric. If it did not completely adhere you can run the iron over it again until it sticks completely.

After you have peeled off the paper you will place the applique on the shirt where you want it to go.

I covered the front of my applique with a thin towel and ironed it over the towel. Start in the middle and work your way out making sure to iron out any wrinkles.

After it cooled down I sewed along the edge of my bunny with pink thread and hot glued the ribbon bow and tail to the front of the shirt.

And then do you know what I realized after I had already let the kids wear em??? If I was going to put a bow on a bunny, I would put it on the front of it’s head…not the back. So oops. I over embellished and should have left the bow off. That’s what I get for finishing these at midnight while half my brain was gone. Wait.. my brain’s not all there during the day either. =) So you can pick, bow or tail it’s up to you! Hmmm… wonder if anyone noticed?

I made these skirts to go with them and will be sharing that tutorial with you soon. So easy!!