DIY Bunny Applique

I feel like I'm still recovering from the holidays yet Easter is just around the corner! I'm not sure I'll ever get caught up but I did manage to eek out this really cute and *super simple* bunny applique. I'm not a huge fan of pastels so I decided to keep with the spring trend and go for a hot pink bunny. Of course, you can do this in any color you like. (This would be cute for the little guys too!)

What you'll need:

• Blank one piece, t-shirt, tank, etc. (pre-washed for shrinkage)
• Sheet of felt or piece of fabric in the color(s) of your choice - if you're using felt, I strongly recommend eco-fi felt by Kunin. It's made from recycled bottles and holds up really well in the wash.
• Heat n Bond or other fusible webbing (if you plan to machine sew the applique, be sure to use Heat n Bond Lite)
• Scissors
• Sewing machine *or* embroidery floss and needle
• Bunny template
  
  

Getting Started:

Since I use Heat n Bond, my instructions will follow Heat n Bond's instructions. If you are using a different fusible web, simply change out my instructions with the instructions on the package.

Print out your template and place it under your fusible webbing. Trace the pattern with a pencil. 

Next you'll want to iron your bunny webbing onto your felt or fabric. For Heat n Bond, set it on the "wool" setting (NO STEAM). Iron the design onto the felt or fabric for about 3 or so seconds so it looks like this:

Carefully cut out your bunny.

Take your bunny and peel off the wax paper layer from the back. Place the bunny exactly where you want it on the t-shirt with the glossy/fusible webbing side face down. Iron the applique on to the t-shirt pressing for about 10 seconds. I like to place a scrap piece of fabric over the applique while pressing just to be safe. Again be sure to use the wool setting with no steam. Check to be sure that the applique is firmly adhered to the shirt.

Now that your bunny is attached to the t-shirt, you're ready to start the applique process. You can do this with a machine or by hand. To stitch by hand, cut about 3-4 feet of your embroidery thread. Your skein of thread will have six strands. Separate two of the strands from the piece you've cut and thread them through your needle.

For this piece, I used a straight stitch. It's a basic stitch and great for a beginner. You basically bring the needle up through the t-shirt and back down making straight little stitches about 2 cm in from the edge of your applique.

Once you've finished the stitching, you're finished.

This little number won't take you long at all. Maybe 30 minutes or so depending on how long the stitching takes. It's well worth the effort when it can make your kid *this* happy!