Valentines Heart Applique Tutorial

I'm going to be upfront and completely honest about this project. I still think it's a great idea, but it definitely wasn't as simple or as fast as I was expecting to be.  However, I think it still ended up pretty great :).



And really, the premise is easy and would probably have been what I was expecting if I hadn't chosen the die I did. It made it a little more difficult. But I'll get to that in a minute.



Here are the supplies I used (remember, you can use the code MISSYDEAR for 20% off your orders from WeR Memory & Lifestyle Crafts):

Evolution Die Cut Machine (or any die cut machine would work as well)
Contrast Fabric
double sided Interfacing
Heart Insert Shape Die
Heart Nesting Dies



First you need to attach the interfacing to your contrasting fabric.  I didn't want to make a trip out to the fabric store so I stopped into the thrift store and found a super cheap little red onesie that was exactly what I needed.

Now, cut out the dies.  I showed them in this picture as cutting from the interfacing side, however, I found later that cutting from the fabric worked much better.  Another tip is to remove the foam inserts from the die.



Here is one of the problems I ran into.  I think, because the hearts in the insert die are backed and not open, they didn't  fully cut through.  So I had to go back through with an exacto knife and finish them off.  It was super tedious and time consuming, but it worked out ok in the end.



Now, just iron the applique onto the blank shirt.  I had also planned to sew around the edge and little hearts to fully secure it on, but the spaces between them all are too little.  Hopefully the interfacing will be enough.  I may still go back later and add some stitching.  maybe some messy zig zag stitching so the narrow spaces don't matter so much.



And Abi seems to like it.  We went out to the yard for pictures and she just started posing.  No prompting from me, nothing. I just clicked away.  She's just a little diva through and through :).



Disclosure: I am a member of the fabric team for LifeStyle Crafts/We R Memory Keepers. I receive products of my choosing in exchange for tutorials and projects shared on MissyDear.

This post may also be linked up to some of these parties.