Friday, December 31, 2010

Applique T-Shirts....My BIG Business

Ok, so I first saw these cute applique t-shirts at Canton and I thought they are the best FridaySpiritShirtWearWithYourJeansTeacher Shirts I've ever seen.  Then, I looked at the price tag and I wasn't really willing to pay $25-$30+ for a t-shirt to wear to work.  So, I examined them carefully and did a little research only to realize they are sew easy to make.  So, I got blank t-shirts, fuseable web and fabric and I was ready to create!  After making my own letter patterns to trace I was off and I made myself about 10 spirit shirts for the new school year for about $50 bucks.  Not too shabby.  Well, when I started wearing them to work all of the other teachers seemed to enjoy them as much as I did.  Several people asked me to make them one.  I agreed - now I would love to just give these away, but you've got to remember I am a teacher and my husband is also a teacher.  I'm sure you understand why that is not possible.  So, I decided to charge a reasonable fee and before I knew it I had a list of 30+ shirt orders.  And this has gone on for about a year and a half now and I continue to make them.  I have a stack of about 15 waiting to be delivered when we come back from the Christmas break and about a dozen more in the works.  Plus about 10 others that I have yet to start on.... see what I mean?  BIG Business!  I love making them too.  Here is a quick explanation of how it is done:
1.  Apply fuseable web to fabric using an iron.

Now, I did this fabric down b/c it was sequin fabric and if your iron is on that stuff too long it will melt and then when your husband wants to use the iron he might cry when that stuff ruins leaves a just a tiny, little residue on his work clothes....

2.  Trace shapes/letters on fabric and cut them out.
Sorry I don't have a pic of this step... I'm sure you can figure it out! 
3.  Use a damp cloth to wet letters on t-shirt and iron them on.

4. Sew around all of the fabric letters.

5.  I apply fray check around the edges of all the letters to prevent fraying and your DONE!


See?  Isn't it easy.... Just don't tell anyone - this is my BIG business after all!  ;)

2 comments:

  1. Hi there. I have been wanting to use that sparkly fabric but wasn't sure how to iron on. I see you wet the letters with a damp cloth. After that do you iron directy over the sparkly fabric?

    ~Courtney~

    love2sisters.blogspot.com

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