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Need something sweet for the kids to wear on Valentine’s Day? This easy applique Valentine’s Day DIY shirt goes together quickly with fabric scraps and is easy enough for the beginning seamstress. I’ll even show you how to make this tee with a “Disney-twist”! Oh so special to wear on your next Disney vacation to show your Mickey-Love! I’ve included a free printable applique for the hearts and silhouette.

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This post was originally published on Jan 25th, 2016 and has been updated and republished.

Easy Applique Valentine’s Day DIY Shirt

I love having a quick and easy method of design that takes minimal time and can be put together in the matter of an hour or so. You’ll love this layered method of applique because it goes together fast, requires no special stitches and no hemming…and it’s totally unique. You decide the look based on the colors and the fabric mix you choose.

This is also a fairly easy project for kids to help with. Younger children can choose the fabric combinations and cut out the shapes. Older kids can assist with ironing and sewing as well. Consider making each family member a Mickey Valentine’s Day DIY shirt in a different color!

Valentine’s Day DIY Shirt Essentials

• T-shirt. This is a chance for you to use a tee that might have a stain on it as you’ll be able to “save” the shirt by placing an applique over the stain. For kid’s shirts I love Primary.com for their sturdy cotton and variety of colors. Click through to get 20% off your first order at Primary.com with code AFF20PCT.
• Applique pattern. I used hearts in various sizes as well as a small Mickey silhouette. You can use the PDF applique here: Heart Tee Applique
• Scrap fabrics in various sizes and colors (choose cotton or cotton knit)
• Sharpie Fine Point Marker
• Fusible bond, like Heat’n Bond Lite Iron-on Adhesive
• Thread in matching colors. Gutermann thread is my favorite brand as it’s strong (doesn’t break mid-project!), wide range of colors and holds up to wash and wear.
• Bobbin thread in color to match the shirt
• Sewing machine needle (jersey or Ballpoint Machine Needles give the best results for applique)
• Disappearing ink pen, like this one from Dritz
• Iron

Instructions for Sewing a Valentine’s Day DIY Shirt

1. Trace The Design – Place a piece of fusible bond (bumpy side down) onto your design and trace out each individual shape using a Sharpie marker (ball point pens or pencils will smudge or smear off onto your iron, so a Sharpie is best).

2. Cut – Cut out and set aside the Mickey silhouette.

Warm Up Your Iron

3. Pick Fabrics – Choose your fabrics and iron out the wrinkles on each piece.

4. Ironing – Pull out the fabric that you want to use for the largest heart. Keep in mind that only the outer edge of this heart will show. Iron the fusible bond heart (bumpy side down) onto the WRONG side of the fabric.

5. Cut out the large heart – Cut out only the largest heart on the Sharpie line. Peel off the fusible bond backing. Save the backside of the fusible bond to use for the next heart.

6. Iron Shirt – Lay your shirt down and iron out any wrinkles in the design area. Lay the large heart down on the tee, make sure the design is centered and straight. Iron on securely.

Sewing Your Valentine’s Day DIY Shirt

7.  Sewing Heart to Shirt – Using a straight stitch, sew with a small hem (1/4″) around the edge of the fabric, securing the first heart to the tee.

8. Cut Next Heart from Template – Using the heart template (leftover from the backside of the fusible bond), carefully cut away to the next size heart.

9. Trace Using Template – Lay template down onto the wrong side of the next piece of fabric and use your disappearing ink pen to trace this outline onto the wrong side of the fabric.

Sewing More Hearts

10. Cutting & Sewing Next Heart – Cut out heart shape from fabric and lay down, centering on top of the first heart that was ironed onto the shirt. Carefully pin to the shirt, smoothing out fabric so there aren’t any bumps.

Carefully sew with a small hem (1/4″) around the edge of the fabric, securing the second heart to the tee.

11. Repeat for Next Heart – Repeat steps 7 and 8 with the third heart.

Adding the Mickey Details

12. Disney Detail – Iron the Mickey fusible bond silhouette onto the WRONG side of the fabric. Cut out the shape on the line, peel off backside of fusible bond and center the design in the middle of the third heart. Iron on securely.

13. Sew on Mickey – Using a straight stitch, sew with a small hem (1/4″) around the edge of the fabric, securing the silhouette to the tee.

Straight Stitch Applique Advice

Because the edges of the applique pieces are not covered, the edges of your cotton fabric may fray or curl slightly after a wash and dry. As long as you’ve properly stitched the pieces securely, slight fraying or curling should be fine and create a fun look to your design.

Taking Applique To the Next Level

Once your practiced straight stitch applique, try using a satin stitch (aka: a very close together zig-zag) around the edges of your applique pieces to secure them. This will create a more smooth and polished look. You’ll be able to add more detail and the look will last a long time. Cover the stitches inside (because they will be thicker and potentially more itchy to the wearer) with a soft fusible Poly-mesh backing.

For details on what the satin stitch applique looks like, see this Snow White DisneyBound t-shirt DIY.

Applique Mickey Heart Valentine's Day DIY Shirt

Yield: 1 shirt

Easy applique technique for a Mickey Heart Valentine's Day DIY shirt.

Print

Materials

• T-shirt, washed and dried
• Printed applique pattern (see blog post for printable)
• Cotton or cotton knit scrap fabrics
• Fusible bond

Tools

• Sharpie pen
• Thread in coordinating colors
• Ballpoint sewing machine needle
• Iron

Instructions

1. Trace The Design – Place a piece of fusible bond (bumpy side down) onto your design and trace out each individual shape using a Sharpie marker (ball point pens or pencils will smudge or smear off onto your iron, so a Sharpie is best).

2. Cut - Cut out and set aside the Mickey silhouette.

3. Pick Fabrics – Choose your fabrics and iron out the wrinkles on each piece.

4. Ironing – Pull out the fabric that you want to use for the largest heart. Keep in mind that only the outer edge of this heart will show.

Iron the fusible bond heart (bumpy side down) onto the WRONG side of the fabric.

5. Cut out the large heart – Cut out only the largest heart on the Sharpie line. Peel off the fusible bond backing. Save the backside of the fusible bond to use for the next heart.

6. Iron Shirt – Lay your shirt down and iron out any wrinkles in the design area. Lay the large heart down on the tee, make sure the design is centered and straight. Iron on securely.

7.  Sewing Heart to Shirt – Using a straight stitch, sew with a small hem (1/4″) around the edge of the fabric, securing the first heart to the tee.

8. Cut Next Heart from Template – Using the heart template (leftover from the backside of the fusible bond), carefully cut away to the next size heart.

9. Trace Using Template – Lay template down onto the wrong side of the next piece of fabric and use your disappearing ink pen to trace this outline onto the wrong side of the fabric.

10. Cutting & Sewing Next Heart – Cut out heart shape from fabric and lay down, centering on top of the first heart that was ironed onto the shirt. Carefully pin to the shirt, smoothing out fabric so there aren’t any bumps.

Carefully sew with a small hem (1/4″) around the edge of the fabric, securing the second heart to the tee.

11. Repeat for Next Heart – Repeat steps 7 and 8 with the third heart.

12. Disney Detail – Iron the Mickey fusible bond silhouette onto the WRONG side of the fabric.

Cut out the shape on the line, peel off backside of fusible bond and center the design in the middle of the third heart. Iron on securely.

13. Sew on Mickey – Using a straight stitch, sew with a small hem (1/4″) around the edge of the fabric, securing the silhouette to the tee.

More Quick Applique Projects to Try!

• Peppermint Mickey Holiday T-Shirt Disney DIY
• DIY Handpainted Finding Dory T-Shirt
• Halloween DIY Disney Mickey Pumpkin Appliqued Tee

    

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Looking for more Valentine’s Day crafts?

• The Delightful Life | Valentine’s Day Love Bugs
• Home is Where the Mouse Is | Disney Hand-print Valentines
• Mom Rewritten | 50+ Inexpensive and Lovable Valentine’s Day Ideas for Kids