I am Traci from amazingmae. I love applique. I enjoy finding shirts for my kids on the cheap and then try to make them look like the ones from miniBoden, the Gap, Land’s End, etc. Sometimes I am successful and sometimes I am not. I also like to embellish onesies for babies. That’s super easy and fun. Since Bridget asked me to post on her blog, I thought I would share an applique idea. It’s simple and something that would add character to your child’s bed – a personalized pillowcase.
All you need is:
1. First, lay your fabric out and fold it in half width wise with the fold on top. Folded it should measure approximately 36″ across and 22″ down. Iron the top fold so the you can see it when pulled open – this will help you later as a guideline for measuring placement of applique.
2. Second, following the directions on the Heat n’ Bond package adhere a piece of Heat n’ Bond on the back of your peach/tan piece of felt. Then, do the same for your other pieces of felt.
3. With the pattern, cut out the face, hair, eyes, ears (for boys), and embellishments out of the felt.
4. With the yard of fabric folded in half still, place the circle for the face 11 1/2″ away from the edge of the side of the fabric measuring to the edge of the circle (not the center). Make sure it is also placed 5 1/2″ from the bottom. You can pick which side you want to measure in from. This will determine your opening of your pillow case – whether it is on the right or left.
5. Peel the backing off the Heat n Bond and iron on the face. If it’s the boy, make sure you put the ears behind the circle and iron on along with the face. Continue to iron on the hair, eyes, and hair bows (for the girls).
6. Now secure with a zig zag stitch around edges or a straight stitch just on the inside of the edge. I like to mix it up and do a little of both. For this one, I zig zagged around the face, but then used a straight stitch for the hair and eyes.
7. Add the nose and the mouth by tracing them on with a water soluble marker. I couldn’t find mine anywhere, so I used a piece of chalk. Then, using a straight stitch, sew over those marks a few times. I didn’t want the nose or the mouth to be too distinct, so I used a tan thread just lighter than the felt color. I think a light pink would work well too. You could also hand embroider them with a back stitch.
9. Also, applique on the letters of the child’s name. I centered them using the center of the face and my mid point, and placing them approx 4″ down from the top fold of the pillowcase.
10. Zig Zag stitch or serge all the edges of the fabric to help them stay secure and not fray.
11. With the fabric open and facing wrong side up, you are ready to sew the cuff of the pillowcase where the opening will be. Using the end of the fabric farthest from the face you have appliqued on (the opposite edge you marked 11 1/2″ for the face), fold and iron in 4″. Then, sew down the edge approx 3 3/4″ in (1/4″ in from edge).
12. Now it’s time to finish up and sew around two sides of the pillowcase. You will be leaving the cuff edge open. With it folded in half width wise (just like at the beginning), sew around the side and the bottom with a 1/2″ seam.
13. Turn them right side in and stuff with a standard size pillow form.
13. Now, lay them on your child’s bed and they will know where to lay their heads – right on their appliqued heads!
So Cute! Thanks for the great post!
These are adorable. I haven’t seen anything that Traci makes that I don’t love.
Such an adorable idea! Love it!
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have a nice weekend!