DIY Layering Flower Applique ~ Tutorial With Free Flower Pattern

 

 

Flower appliques are so fun and easy! They really can dress up skirts, dresses, jackets, purses … you name it. I already made a skirt from 2 pair of jeans tutorial. Now here’s a simple way to dress up your wardrobe at no extra cost! (click on the pictures to make them larger!)

1. It’s easy to make your own template for the applique. Simply draw the shape you want your appliques to be and cut them out. I find card stock is easier to use then printer paper. If you don’t want to draw your own template you can use a coloring page or search the web for that perfect design. Feel free to use my simple hand drawn flower template if you like!

2. If you want a vine for your flowers, cut out a 1/2″ strip. I don’t know how long this one is, maybe 25″-30″.

3. Lay the templates on the WRONG SIDE of the fabric and trace with a pen or pencil. Cotton fabrics are really nice for applique! I’m using the left over scraps from making my own skirt. This is a GREAT way to use up all those fabric scraps you’ve got stashed in your closet. You could make every petal and leaf different if you wanted! Be creative and have fun!

 

4. Cut out your flowers and stack them in layers. I don’t want to find out at the end of my project that I’m short a leaf or flower … ahem. This only takes a minute and to me it’s worth it to make sure I have all the right pieces before I begin sewing. I generally cut 2 leaves per flower bunch. I make some big flowers and some medium flowers to make it more interesting.

 

4. We will begin with a straight stitch.

5. Sew the top layers of the flowers to the bottom layer using a straight stitch. I sew approximately 1/4″ from the edge. (I want the outer edge to be able to curl up and fray later.) Its so much easier sewing them together NOW then later!! I normally use the same color thread as fabric, but I used a lighter color for the tutorial so you could see it better. I don’t worry about lining up the petals perfect or sewing perfect lines. Flowers aren’t perfectly symmetrical in nature. And using this technique the edges will fray, so you won’t see them anyway! I LOVE projects that don’t have to be perfect, don’t you!!

6. Place your skirt on your cutting board or table. Make sure you have a plastic cutting ruler (or you can use a cutting board from your kitchen). This helps you pin only the layers you want together.

7. Place the vine, flowers and leaves on your skirt and pin them down. This is the fun part! I make my designs a little different each time! Make the vine a little curvy. Wrap around the front and back. Start up high then go down low.  Make it unique and interesting! Don’t be afraid to try something new! (I don’t generally place flowers on the back pockets since I don’t want to draw attention to my behind. I try to place the flowers mid-thigh or lower)

 

8. I’m going to switch to a zig zag stitch for the vine.

9. Curl up the end of the flower, you want to sew under it. Sew a zig zag stitch through the center of the vine and under the next flower. Stop sewing, move your needle to the other side of the flower and continue sewing the vine. Remember to roll up the flower, you want to sew UNDER it! (If this step seems difficult you can remove all the flowers and leaves and sew straight through the vine. Then re-pin the flowers and leaves to continue.)

10. Remove your skirt from the sewing machine and cut all the threads. Don’t forget to turn it inside out and cut the strings on the back side.

11. Go back to your straight stitch now.

 

13. The leaves are the next layer to sew. In the same manner as step 11, roll back the flower so you can sew the leaves UNDER it. I sew both leaves around each flower, cut the strings then sew the flower. Then I move to the next flower cluster. ALWAYS sew the leaves first. It helps the layered look.

I’ve made a video of this step. I hope this helps explain better.

 

14. Clip all the loose threads, wash and dry your skirt and Voila! You’ve made your own applique’s! It will take several washes for the flowers to fully fray, but here is what it should look like after the first wash. Isn’t it just adorable!

 

Here are a few other skirts I have appliqued! Corduroy works great too!!

I didn’t use the vine for this skirt. Just randomly placed flowers on the skirt!

I hope you enjoyed my flower applique tutorial and give it a try yourself! It’s SEW Easy!

Sarah

 

I linked up today with: Raising Mighty Arrows, Our Simple Country Life, Deep Roots At Home, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, These 5 Of Mine Plus 2, Mom’s The Word, Ninth Street Notions, See Vanessa Craft, An Original Belle, Far Above Rubies, Growing Home,

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