- Machine washable felt squares (available at any craft store)
- Disappearing ink fabric pen or washable tailor's pencil
- Machine washable lightweight yarn
- Large-eyed sewing needle (repair needles are suitable for this)
- Plain sweatshirt or t-shirt
- Straight pins
- Scissors

MATERIALS NOTE: Not all felt is machine washable. Kunin Felt makes a good quality washable felt that won't fray or fade in the wash. It costs about 25 cents per square. Kunin also makes a fun product called Felt Plush. It is generally used to make stuffed animals, however it would work great for an applique project like this as well. Kunin products are available at most craft stores. To learn more go to www.kuninfelt.com.

STEP 1:

Decide what your shirt will say and which color you'll use for each letter/applique. For this demonstration I will be making a shirt that says simply, BOY in red. Use your fabric pen to draw the letters on the felt.

Be careful to size your letters according to how much space you have and how many letters you'll need. If you aren't good at drawing letters freehand, you can print them out in the desired size from your computer, cut them out and pin them to the fabric.

STEP 2:

Carefully cut out each letter, including the "openings" in letters like 'A,' 'B' and 'O'.

Note: If you enjoy sewing projects, a fabric scissor is a wise investment. You can get a good one for between $20 and $30 at your local fabric/craft store. A good fabric scissor will cut even the heaviest fabrics with ease and give you a nice clean cut. Never use your fabric scissors to cut paper, cardboard, plastic or anything else except fabric, yarn, and thread. And, fabric scissors are VERY sharp so keep out of reach of children.

STEP 3:

Arrange your letters on the shirt. Be sure to center them appropriately. A good idea is to use a temporary stitch with needle and thread to keep them in place.

STEP 4:

Now you're ready to start sewing. Thread your large-eyed needle with about an arm's length of thread, depending on how large your letters are. If you have trouble getting the yarn through the eye, try moistening the end of the yarn and squeeze it tightly, then push it through the needle. If you absolutely can't get the yarn through, try a larger-eyed needle.

Tie a knot in the end of the yarn. Just one knot will do.

STEP 5:

Begin applying your first letter. Push the needle through the back of the shirt fabric so it comes through the felt about a quarter of an inch from the edge. You may have a bit of trouble getting the needle and yarn through the fabric, but pull hard and it will come. Then push the needle back through the shirt fabric only, right at the very edge of the felt. Be sure your yarn isn't pulling too much, or else your letter and shirt fabric will pucker.

Be sure to sew the "openings" of your letters as well.

Note: When sewing letters with large openings, such as 'O' or 'Q,' apply the opening first, as shown. This keeps the letter in place better and prevents puckering when you sew the outside edge.

STEP 6:

When you have finished your first letter, tie a knot close to the fabric to secure. If you wish to make it extra strong, you can run the needle under a nearby stitch and secure with an extra knot. I like to start a new thread with separate knots for each letter and each "opening." This keeps the backside of the shirt fabric neat and I think it holds up better.

STEP 7:

Apply your new custom-made garment to the person for whom it was intended! I bought the blue sweatshirt at Target with a pair of red sweatpants. I plan to applique something to the pants in blue to finish the outfit.