Sewing: Applique: Birthday Tee Shirt

This week we have a big birthday, so I wanted B3 to have something special to wear for his birthday party. I am going to try my hand at applique and make him something cute.  I'm cutting out the word "two" to applique on a tee shirt. I spoke with my mom and read up a bit to find the technique that was right for me. I used my sewing machine manual for the basic steps. I wanted to create a cute colorful shirt for his special day. I chose three different, but coordinating patterns for the letters. I love randomness that works. 

I used an iron-on adhesive for my backing. I bought a yard so that I would have plenty for mess ups or other projects. (Sorry about the lighting I couldn't get it to do my shirt justice, but it will have to.) 

• On a separate piece of paper I drew out the size of the space I had to work with and just free hand some letters. I say, don't be afraid of free handing, you can always erase if you need to.  Appreciate the imperfections and just say "it's supposed to be that way".  
• I cut them out and and flipped them around and traced them onto the paper side of the heat n bond. 
• Then again, cut out the letters on the heat n bond.
• Placed them on the back of the different fabrics. Iron them on, following the instructions for the heat n bond. 

(My letters don't looked flipped in the picture because they are letters that can be either way). 

• Cut out the cooled letters from the fabric

• For the applique, I used black thread and a zigzag stitch, so I could get good contrast.  I practiced on a scrap piece of fabric. I found that the curves where the most tricky. But, I went slow and the results were good. I will keep practicing, I have a few more ideas up my sleeve I will try and perfect my techniques. Don't be afraid to try this, I cant believe I let my fear keep me from all the possibilities of applique!

How to Mend a Hole in Blue Jeans

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say, that my pile of clothes to mend is mounting. I have three boys so you can only imagine why. When I decided to sit down and tackle one of the smaller jobs that had been nagging at me, literally "Mom, when are you going to fix my pull over!", I started to think about a poor pair of really nice blue jeans that had a blown out knee. I had painfully pulled them out if circulation, the hole was getting too big and he wouldn't wear them anymore. So I came up with a few ideas to get the hole under control and still look good. Now, I'm no seamstress, so don't give me too hard of a time if my terms aren't totally correct. But you should be able to get the idea. 

What you need:

• Needle - at least as long as the widest part of the hole
• Thread - I used about 2 arms lengths of white upholstery thread, for extra durability
• Basic knowledge of sewing 

Steps:

1. Secure the thread at the base of the smallest part of the hole on the backside, then insert the needle back to the front side of fabric.

Tip: Work on a flat surface keeping the hole and fray laying in its natural position, so that it will lay flat and not be warped or bunched.

2. Starting on the topside of the fabric, so that you can see how the work is looking and get a feel for it.  Then weave the needle across the white fray, so that its not very visible.  Going across from one side to the other of the hole.

Tip: Try not to take too much across the top of the fray at one time so that it's not very visible.

-Insert the needle from the top to the bottom side and then bringing the needle slightly over and back up to the top.

-Make sure that the stitch is all the way into a secure part of the fabric, without taking it too far out of the fray. It might be more visible and look a little odd.  When I got to a place where the fabric was pretty compromised, I inserted the needle through the thickness, so it couldn't be seen.  Just check your spot before pulling it all the way through.

Tip: When pulling the string through keep a finger on the fray, so that it stays in place when you pull it.  Making sure the tension is just right so that it lays flat and there is no bunching. Periodically comb the fray straight. 

-Continue making your way down the hole till the hole gets to its widest point and there is no longer enough fray to fill and cover the tear and the stitching. 

Tip: This is not an exact science, just keep checking to make sure you are keeping track of how it looks and what is working best for you.

3. Then you'll start your way back to the beginning.  Turning the fabric inside out, continue the same weave across, except inserting the needle from the outside to the inside, so it will look more fluid.  Still keeping your finger on the fray when your pulling the string through.

Tip: Make sure you weave in all the loose fray at some point down the line, this will help it be more secure. You will see more of the string across, but that's OK cause its on the underside. 

Tip: Periodically look at the front side to check that not too much of the thread is showing.

Tip: It got a little tricky as the hole started to close up, I found myself sticking my hand up the pant leg at times.  Just take your time and do what works best for you and the results will be worth it.

4. When you get back to where you started, run the needle through the string a couple of times to knot its self and secure the thread.

- Yes there is still a hole left on mine but I couldn't sew where the fray was missing.  Luckily holes are in. 

Please let me know what you think and how it worked out for you.