Easy (No-Sew) Applique Turkey Thanksgiving Shirt – Soooo Cute and Inexpensive!

One Night Project: This Applique Turkey shirt has been on my to-do list for a while…..and finally was finished Friday night! Just in time for Thanksgiving.

While I have a sewing machine (my mom’s), I’m still learning how to use all the “fancy” stuff, so I learned this past year how to do an Easy, No-Sew, Applique project.

Inexpensive: Applique shirts are adorable, but quite pricey if you buy them online.  The cost of the shirt is the biggest expense, and you can get simple t-shirts for $5 or under with sales and coupons.

No sewing machine is needed. Love that!  If you want to get a bit fancier, feel free to add stitching around the edges, but it’s not necessary to look great.

SHIRT:

I start by buying basic cotton t-shirts.  I like shirts I’ve found at Old Navy and The Children’s Place – WITHOUT pockets.  I usually grab a few with a great coupon.

• FRUGAL TIP: For seasonal projects, be sure to buy a shirt that is a bit larger than the child currently wears.  I do that in the hopes (usually works), that the shirt will last 2 holiday seasons.

DESIGN:

I decide on a design, this time it was going to be a simple turkey for Thanksgiving.

I then found some stencils I had from my scrapbooking supplies and traced several ovals for the turkey feathers.

For the turkey’s body, I actually used 2/3 of a Mickey Mouse head…..can you tell?

MATERIAL:

For most shirts, you’ll need just small pieces of fabric.  Having access to some one’s stash of scraps is perfect….unfortunately, I don’t have but a few scraps here, so I do occasionally have to buy material.

I discovered that JoAnn’s Fabrics will actually let you purchase as little as 1/8 of  a yard (as opposed to my Hobby Lobby, where it is 1/4 yd).  Ask your local store….also know that you can ask for samples of material.

FYI.…..Did you know you can purchase Fabric on Amazon from Fabric.com – I just saw it! Clearance fabric too!

• FRUGAL TIP: Before throwing out your child’s pants or shirt that is stained or full of holes, cut the material that you can use from it.

PINNING

Simply pin your created pattern onto the coordinating fabrics you have chosen.

CUTTING:

I then cut out my fabric using the pinned patterns. I keep any small scraps for the future……just think how little material you need for things like noses, eyes, etc.

Instead of sewing, I use Steam-A-Seam 2 Double Stick Fusible Web…..available at fabric stores, hobby stores (I got mine at Hobby Lobby w/a 40% off coupon), or online.  It comes with several sheets within it.

Full price at Hobby Lobby was $4.99 – I had a 40% off coupon though.    Mine came with 5 sheets, each 9″ by 12″.  Each project I’ve used 1/2 a sheet so far.  So you see how inexpensive this is.  Price of shirt, investment of Fusible Web, and small amount of material (hopefully you have scraps).

Follow the instructions on the Fusible Web….I was a bit confused the first time, but really it works easily.  I placed my material on the sticky fusible web,  then peeled away the back side…………

NOTE: I prefer to create my own pattern on paper, so I don’t use the step on the packaging where you trace your pattern on the fusible web.  Instead, I place my material directly on the sticky part, my pattern was gone long ago.

PLACEMENT:

Now for the fun part. I start to place the pieces on the shirt starting with the lowest layers, if there will be laying of material on top of material, as in the turkey feathers. If you get it in the wrong spot, the fusible web easily picks up.

When the first layer is done, Iron them for 10-20 seconds.  Then repeat for the next layer.

With the turkey shirt, my first layer was 2 feathers.  Second layer was the tallest feather, and the third layer was 2 more feathers.

I ironed after each layer.

FUN TOUCHES:

I then added white circles for the eyes – following the same instructions as above…using the fusible web.  Ironed.  Then followed up with the black circles.

Beak and Gobbler (?)….I admit I don’t know what that is called! 

LAUNDRY:

There might be some threads on the outside after laundering……I think it gives it a cool shabby chic look.  But if you prefer, I have used a bit of Fray Check to go along the edges before wearing the first time. Prevents fraying really well. Found online or at the fabric store.

So, what do you think?

I’m already thinking of Christmas Ideas!