Mastering The Art Of Sewing Appliqué On T-Shirts

Sewing an applique on a T-shirt is a simple project, perfect for beginners. It is a wonderful way to customize T-shirts and showcase all kinds of designs, including letters and numbers, and beautiful floral patterns. The process involves two main steps: preparing the design and sewing it onto the T-shirt. Before beginning, it is important to prewash the T-shirt and applique material to prevent puckering due to shrinkage. The design can be cut from fusible interfacing or fabric, and then attached to the T-shirt using a sewing machine or hand stitches.

Choosing the right fabric for your applique

Type of Fabric

The best fabric for applique is one that has some structure and body. Quilting fabric or fat quarters are excellent choices due to their wide range of pretty prints and affordable prices. You can also opt for thicker fabrics or felt, ensuring they are safe to iron. If you're using fabric scraps, ensure they are large enough to cover your template.

Fabric Stretch

When choosing a t-shirt for your applique, select one with minimal stretch. Highly stretchy fabric can be challenging to sew on and may require the use of a stabilizer. Look for a high-quality t-shirt that is thick and not see-through.

Colour and Design

Consider the colour and design of your fabric to create a visually appealing applique. You can choose a fabric that contrasts or coordinates with your t-shirt. If using fabric scraps, play around with different colours and patterns to create a unique design, such as a stripey lightning bolt.

Iron-on Capability

Ensure that the fabric you choose can be safely ironed. This is crucial if you plan to use an iron-on adhesive like Heat n' Bond or Wonder Under to attach your applique to the t-shirt. These products typically require you to iron over the fabric to activate the adhesive.

Sewing Ease

Select a fabric that is easy to sew and compatible with your chosen stitching method. Some fabrics may be too thick or delicate for certain stitches. Test your stitches on fabric scraps before starting your project to ensure they work well with your chosen fabric.

Remember, the key is to choose a fabric that complements your t-shirt, is easy to work with, and creates the desired visual effect. Don't be afraid to experiment with different fabrics and techniques to find what works best for your applique project.

Using an iron-on adhesive to keep applique pieces in place

Using an iron-on adhesive is a great way to keep your applique pieces in place while you stitch them onto your T-shirt. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Prepare Your Applique Pieces

First, decide on the shape(s) you want for your applique design. Print out your design and cut out the individual pieces. Place an iron-on adhesive, such as Heat 'n Bond Lite, over your printed design. Lightly trace each piece of the image onto the adhesive paper. To save adhesive, you can place the pieces close together with minimal white space between them.

Step 2: Cut and Iron the Adhesive

Cut out the adhesive pieces loosely, just enough to iron them onto the wrong side of your fabric. Place the adhesive on top of the fabric with the wrong side facing you. Follow the instructions on your adhesive, and lightly press over the pieces with an iron. Do not move the iron around; simply lift and press.

Step 3: Trim and Peel

Once the adhesive has cooled down, trim the pieces out of the adhesive. Then, lightly peel off the backs of the adhesive. You should now have applique pieces with a shiny residue on them, which will help them stick to your T-shirt.

Step 4: Position and Iron Your Applique

Gather your T-shirt and ensure it is free of wrinkles. Lay it flat, with the front side facing up. Position your applique pieces on the T-shirt to get an idea of how you'd like to arrange your design. Start with your main piece (the background) and keep it on the T-shirt. The shiny side of the adhesive should be facing down. Gently press down with the iron, lifting and pressing rather than moving the iron around.

Step 5: Layer and Press

Continue layering the design with each piece, pressing down and lifting with the iron as you go. Your applique design should now be set in place on your T-shirt and ready for stitching.

Tips:

• It is recommended to use a tear-away stabilizer to help your applique keep its shape and make your final product look more professional. Cut a rectangle of stabilizer that covers the applique area, and pin it in place.
• When sewing, remember to use a ballpoint needle for knit fabric to avoid tearing the fabric loops and creating holes.
• Always know where your next stitch is hitting, especially when you need to make turns or go around curves. Leave the needle in the fabric and raise your foot to pivot.

Now your applique pieces are securely in place, and you can start stitching them onto your T-shirt!

Using a tear-away stabiliser to add volume and consistency to the fabric

When sewing an applique on a t-shirt, using a tear-away stabiliser is crucial to achieving perfect applique stitches on knit fabric. A tear-away stabiliser is a temporary stabiliser that is easily removed by tearing it away after stitching an embroidery design. It adds volume and consistency to the fabric, making it easier to sew.

To use a tear-away stabiliser, start by cutting out a piece of stabiliser that is slightly larger than your applique area. Then, turn your t-shirt inside out and pin the stabiliser to the wrong side of the fabric, ensuring it is positioned correctly. You can use straight pins or safety pins, depending on your preference. Once the stabiliser is secured, turn the shirt right side out again and add more pins to keep it in place.

The stabiliser will provide a stable base for your stitching, preventing the fabric from shifting and ensuring your stitches are even and neat. After you have finished stitching your applique, gently tear away the excess stabiliser. Be careful not to tug too hard on the threads. For small areas, you can use a pair of scissors to carefully cut away the excess.

Using a tear-away stabiliser will give your applique a more professional finish and make the stitching process easier. It is an essential step when sewing an applique on a t-shirt or other stretchy knit fabrics.

Using the right type of sewing needle to avoid piercing the fabric

When sewing an applique onto a t-shirt, it is important to use the right type of sewing needle to avoid piercing the fabric. The type of needle you should use depends on the fabric of the t-shirt. If you are working with a knit fabric, such as a jersey t-shirt, it is recommended to use a ballpoint needle. This type of needle has a blunt tip that separates the fibre loops in the fabric instead of piercing them. Using a needle with a sharp point can tear the loops in the fabric, creating unwanted holes.

On the other hand, if you are appliqueing onto a woven fabric t-shirt, you should use a needle designed for woven fabrics. This type of needle has a sharp point that can easily penetrate the tight weave of the fabric. Using a ballpoint needle on woven fabric may result in skipped stitches and uneven stitching.

It is also important to consider the size of the needle you are using. The needle should be thin enough to pass through the fabric without creating large holes. A good rule of thumb is to choose a needle that is no larger than the thickness of the fabric you are sewing.

Additionally, the type of thread you are using will also affect the needle size. If you are using a heavy thread, such as embroidery thread, you will need a larger needle to accommodate the thickness of the thread. Conversely, if you are using a fine thread, such as silk thread, you will need a smaller needle to prevent the thread from pooling in the needle's eye.

Finally, it is always a good idea to test your needle and thread combination on a scrap piece of fabric before starting your project. This will allow you to adjust your needle size or thread type if needed and ensure that your stitching will be even and secure.

Stitching the applique to the t-shirt

Now that you have your applique design ready, it's time to stitch it onto your t-shirt! Here is a detailed guide on how to do this:

Before you start stitching, it is important to prepare your t-shirt and applique design. Prewash both the t-shirt and the applique fabric to prevent puckering due to shrinkage. Cut out your design from fusible interfacing, and then cut your fabric slightly larger than the interfacing. Iron the fusible interfacing to the back of your fabric. If your design has curves, clip the edges of the fabric. For intricate designs, you may also want to baste the edges in place with hand stitches.

Next, decide on the type of stitch you want to use. Most machines will allow you to change the width and spacing of the stitches. You can use a ladder stitch, satin stitch, zig-zag stitch, or a dedicated applique stitch if your machine has one. If you are sewing by hand, whip stitches or blanket stitches are a good option. Practice your chosen stitch on some fabric scraps until you are happy with how it looks.

When you are ready to start stitching, position your applique design on the t-shirt and use pins to keep it in place. If you are using a sewing machine, remember to remove the pins as you sew and be careful not to catch any extra fabric in the presser foot. Sew slowly and carefully, especially when stitching curves. When you reach a corner, leave the needle in the fabric, lift the presser foot, and pivot the fabric to stitch along the next edge.

If you are sewing a curve, keep slowly turning the fabric as you sew. For sharp curves, you may need to stop with the needle in the fabric, lift the presser foot, and turn the fabric slightly. Sew a few stitches, then stop with the needle in the fabric and sew slowly again, turning the fabric as you go. This technique will help you achieve smooth stitches on curves.

Once you have finished stitching, remove any pins and trim any excess threads. If you used a tear-away stabilizer, gently tear it off by pulling it to the side rather than straight up. If you used an embroidery stabilizer, cut or tear it away from the back of the design. Finally, press your t-shirt with a hot iron to flatten out any wrinkles or waviness.

And that's it! You have now successfully appliqued a t-shirt. Congratulations on your new creation!

Frequently asked questions