Sew Cute: Heart-Patched Top

It’s February, and we all know what that means: Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Boxes of chocolate and candy are everywhere, and the card section of the store has turned alarmingly pink. I for one am all for celebrating love of all types, even if I don’t necessarily go for all of the trappings of the holiday (except all of the chocolate, of course). Classic hearts, though, never fail to charm me, and they were the inspiration for this week’s project.

I got in a bit of an appliqué zone after updating my scarf, so I decided to add some flair to a basic long-sleeved tee with some heart-shaped elbow patches. I used classic cherry red fabric to create a more “Valentine-y” feel, and to give a nice contrast to the cream-colored shirt. These patches would also look cute on a cardigan or sweater—they provide such a fun, girly update on the school uniform look!

Materials:

  • Long-sleeved tee, sweater, or cardigan in any color
  • Fabric in a complementary color to the tee
  • Thread in a corresponding color to the fabric
  • Basic sewing needle
  • Straight pins
  • Scissors
  • Piece of paper
  • Ballpoint pen

Craft away:

  • Fold the piece of paper in half and sketch a half-heart shape, about 1 inch across. Cut the shape out and unfold to make a template.
  • Trace the template on the fabric twice, and cut the two hearts out.
  • Pin the hearts onto the elbows of your shirt, centered on the back of each sleeve. To do this, I found it easiest to try the shirt on, then have a helpful assistant (carefully!) pin the hearts into place. You can finish pinning the patches after you take the shirt off.
  • Cut a couple of feet of thread and fold it in half, then thread the needle and tie a knot.
  • Stitch each heart patch into place using a looping motion. Keep your stitches as close together as possible—this gives a more uniform look.
  • You’re finished! Put on your revamped top and show off your sweetheart style.

Related posts:

Sew Cute: Appliquéd Scarf

Sew Cute: Crafty Coin Purse

Sew Cute: Custom Lined Jacket

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