Do site www.craftpassion.com - Sewing: Hand Applique On Onesie

Difficulty level: Easy

Material:
1. Onesie or romper or any garment you would like to have the applique on.
2. Fabric scraps
3. Fusible web or heat ‘n bond
4. Pencil
5. Embroidery floss & needle
6. Erasable fabric marker
7. Fray check (optional, use with sewing machine’s option)

Tools:
1. Sewing machine (optional)
2. Iron
3. Scissor
4. Small embroidery hoop, I used 4″ dia. size.

Download the garden bug applique pattern (consist of Bumble Bee, Lady Bug & Caterpillar) in pdf format. {It will either open in new tab or open a small window asking you to save it as file. The default folder normally is under “/downloads”}
The pattern is in letter size paper, don’t scale the printing if you want the exact size like the one I made.
{If you can’t download the pdf pattern, probably you don’t have acrobat reader, download the latest version for free, here.}
Trace the applique pattern on the paper backing of the fusible web. You don’t have to mirror these patterns since they are in symmetrical shapes.
Choose your scraps for colors and sizes that suit the pattern.
(Now, you know why I seldom throw small little scraps away after each sewing projects and keep them all in my fabric scrap container when I did my craft room organization & storage They are indeed are my treasured trashes.)
Set iron to medium heat. Place the traced fusible web with rough side (adhesive) down onto the wrong side of the scrap.
Glide the warm iron on them to melt the adhesive of the fusible web and thus bond it to the fabric scrap.
Check the bonding after it’s cool and make sure the adhesion is good.
If you use sewing machine for the satin stitch, do this step now. If you hand embroidery the satin stitch, you can do this step later during the embroidery stage.
Set your sewing machine to the widest zigzag stitch (about 3/16″, 5mm wide) and near to zero stitch length (normally use for buttonhole). Try on your other scrappy fabric to test it out before the actual work.
Satin stitch 3 rows of black stripes on the bumble bee body, extend slightly out from the pattern’s outline.
Drop 1 – 2 drops of fray check on the satin stitch that intersect with the pattern’s outline. Leave it aside to let them absorb and dry for a few minutes.
Cut the patterns out from the fabric, preferably using a pair of small sharp tip scissors since the pattern is small.
Peel off the fusible web paper backing. Position the pattern on the onesie. Iron with warm iron to bond the pattern on. Again, check the bonding after it is cool.
Repeat the cutting and ironing for the bumble bee body after the fray check is almost dry. If the thread ends start to ravel after the cutting, add a few more drops of fray check on them.
Unscrew the embroidery hoop to its maximum, and put it on to the onesie. Don’t pull and try to straighten the onesie inside the hoop, this will stretch the knit of the onesie and thus cause the bonding to break and pattern to go off position.
Mark with fabric marker and embroidery the pattern as shown in the pdf pattern sheet.
If you use hand to embroidery the satin stitch instead of sewing machine, please do it now.
Lady bug has a satin stitch on its body too. If sew by sewing machine, either slowly decrease or increase the zig-zag width as you work your way from one end to another. Again, use fray check to stop the ends from raveling.
Caterpillar design is slightly wider than 4″. If you use 4″ embroidery hoop, you will need to do the embroidery by sections.
Besides the garden bug designs, you can personalize the onesie with letter or symbols.
I did it with double running stitch about 3/16″ apart.
A quick way of doing an applique is by cutting out the outline of the prints from fabrics. Then, embroidery the outline of each part to disguise it like the real applique.
Another quick way, see how the stem stitch on the ear give an impression that it is from another fabric stick on the puppy’s head.
By the way, the word “adorable” comes with the onesie and please don’t ask me how to do it