Red is a big guy for his age (his cousin is a year older than him – they were the same size when Red was 8 months old!). That being said, it’s really hard to find outrageously cute outfits for him, like John-Johns, or other rompers…
Since it’s been so difficult to find local unique clothing, I decided to make one or two little things myself. I wanted to make a little chocolate Easter bunny applique. First of all, gather your fabric, as well as the other materials you need to make your shortall or John-John. (snaps, threads, trim, etc.)
I used a printout of a chocolate bunny photo and trimmed it to the silhouette I wanted. I traced it onto my brown fabric, and cut it out as well – reeeeeally carefully, since it was so small.
Heat n’ Bond is a great little tool for making patches or bonding two surfaces together. You can find it at your local Joann Fabrics, Hancocks, or other online fabric stores. It has paper on one side. I laid my rabbit down, traced it, and ironed my bunny down onto one side.
Then, peel your paper off the back. The adhesive will remain on the bunny, just as you traced it. Be careful – if you oversize your Heat n Bond, it will glue itself to your iron or press cloth!
After peeling your paper, place the bunny down on your backer fabric. Iron firmly with little steam until the bunny fully adheres to the fabric.
Find your shortall front and iron it properly! This is where we will apply the entire Easter applique. Cut your backer fabric (white in this case) into a proper square, making sure that your bunny is aligned and evenly set. Once again, cut some Heat N Bond to match the size of the backer fabric exactly. Iron firmly.
Peel the paper from the back of the Heat N Bond.
Place the backer fabric and bunny on the center front of your shortall.
Iron firmly! This will affix your entire applique to the shortall permanently.
After the applique cools, set your fabric in the sewing machine. You want a full zig-zag width with a near zero stitch length. Stitch around the entire perimeter of your applique. This will help the fabric to not only stay set, but not to fray.
The next step, take your trim (ric-rac, ribbon, anything you like) and lay it on the edge of the backer fabric, sewing a large zig-zag stitch around and on the trim in an appropriate color.
Yeah! Finished applique product! You are now free to finish constructing the John John, or turn it right side out and fit it.
Close-ups are hard to do 🙂 Try the macro setting on your camera. Made for close shots. It’s the one that looks like a flower.
Hope Lil’ Red is feeling better soon. I miss him! And you!
THank you! I think he gave me a little fever, but nothing else. Macro is turning out waaaaay better 🙂 Thank you and miss you, too!