Pick, Patch, Play, Repeat

It’s becoming that time of year again. Besides those renegade 70 degree days, I’m afraid the
cold air is beginning to settle in Kansas City. I have resisted as long as I could but it is time to dig out the long sleeves and abandoned blue jeans and put the shorts and sundresses away….at least for a little
while.

As I’m plowing through the piles of clothes that I hung on to- “just in case they still fit”, I realize
two things.

Number 1: Despite not eating their veggies, my kids have grown!

Number 2: My kids play hard no matter what season it is!

I sort into piles of, “what can stay”, and “what has to go.” However there are a few items that
haven’t yet seen their nine lives! Some are too short, too stretched, or too faded for one more season,
but too hole-y or stained? This I can fix!

What was once considered a school picture worthy outfit will now have a new home in the play
clothes drawer. I will make these flaws go incognito, and I’ll show you how to do the same. Below is a
tutorial on how to send your kids back to the playground in style. It will be our little secret!

Step 1: Pick your garment

Step 2: Assemble your patch materials- scrap fabric, scissors, needle, coordinating or contrasting
thread, iron-on adhesive (Heat and Bond) for medium weight fabrics, iron, shape templates

Step 3: Trace your appliqué.  Get creative and use old cookie cutters, your child's drawing or print one of our free appliqué templates....coming soon!

Step 4:  Using a dry iron on cotton setting, iron traced appliqué to the wrong side of your fabric (rough side of Heat and Bond facing the wrong side of fabric) for just 2-4 seconds.

Step 5:  Cut out.

Step 6:  Peel off backing and place on garment you wish to appliqué.

Step 7:  If you iron over a silk screen, make sure to use a press cloth or scrap fabric over the top to protect your iron.  Iron for 10 seconds to glue to garment.

Step 8:  Sew or not to sew!  Its up to you!  If you used the Heat and Bond Ultrahold you an skip this step and go straight to embellishments!  Next, use a straight stitch on your sewing machine or pull out your embroidery thread and sew around your design.  

Step 9:  Embellish embellish embellish!!!  Get creative, use pom poms and string garland with a needle tread and embroidery floss.  Rosette trim can be your best friend!  You can use along the bottom of pant legs, as the trim across the top of a stocking or center of a flower.  Use lace to trim the bottom of pant legs.  You may also use to add an inch to the bottom of the pants your daughter out grew!

Step 10:  Send us pictures of your projects!!!  We hope you have as much fun as we do with our little ones!  Allow your child to chose his/her own fabric for his/her own appliqué!  Get them involved!  Most of all......have fun!

cheers!
S♥B