Rodeo and Western Themed Appliques

Last week, I showed you the bandana style skirt I made for my two-year-old daughter to wear on Go Texan Day, which is coming up on February 22nd. I promised to show you the top this week. It was an easy process that involved a $3 shirt, the fabric scraps from the skirt, some Steam-A-Seam 2 webbing, fusible interfacing, fray check, a cookie cutter, and, of course, my sewing machine and iron.

Did you know that when you cut the circumference from your skirt's waist, you had the perfect piece of fabric for the coordinating applique? How awesome is that?! You are welcome to use one of my western-themed patterns I created from cookie cutters here.  Just copy the picture by right-clicking on it and pasting it into a Word document. Enlarge it until it takes up an entire page if you want it the same size I used. Then print on a standard sheet of printing paper for your template.

Cut out your fabric and your webbing. Then use fray check around the edges of your cut fabric. Pull off the top paper layer of your webbing and carefully line up the design with your fabric on top and press together. Now peel off the back paper layer of your webbing and place your design on your shirt. Iron.

Next, cut your fusible interfacing, using your pattern as a guide. Just round out all your edges and make it about 1/2" larger on all sides. Pin it onto the inside of your shirt. This is an optional step, but I've started doing it for two reasons. First, it protects the t-shirt so it won't get a hole in it when you are stitching on it. Second, when using a zig-zag stitch, it can help make your stitches look more professional. Now sew a straight stitch along the edge of your design. I've often used a zig zag stitch, but because I used the fray check and because Texas has so many rough edges (darn those rivers), I wanted to use a straight stitch this time. If you look close, you'll notice my stitching ran into the Gulf of Mexico in a couple of spots even with the straight stitch.  

Isn't it just adorable with the bandana-style skirt? I know my daughter will have a blast wearing it to her brothers' school on Go Texan Day with her pink cowboy boots and pink cowboy hat! In fact, I let her go ahead and wear it this week. She was in a goofy mood, so this is the only picture I was able to get, but I had to show you the outfit with the pink hat and boots! She loved the ensemble, and I know she'll enjoy wearing it all through spring too. And since I made the skirt a bit big on her, I'm hoping (fingers crossed), we'll be able to use it again next rodeo season. I will, however, have to make a new shirt. Of course, I still have the center circle from the brown fabric, so perhaps next year her shirt will have a cowboy boot or a longhorn on it! 

By the way, I will be sharing this post with a wonderful new linky party at www.tumbleweedcontessa.com in addition to the others I always visit. The reason I'm telling you this is because I am going to co-host this linky party on Monday and invite you to stop by and share your recent projects, recipes, or weekend activities with us.  I look forward to seeing what all you have been up to!

I'll be sharing this post at some of these parties here.