Should I attempt to applique my daughter's T-shirts boden style?

[MonkeyChicken]

I am such a wanna be arts and crafters, but woefully unskilled. I read all the books and start projects but rarely finish them as they take me sooo long and look rubbish!

Anyway, trying to get my mojo back and thought I might attempt to applique a simple shape (animal probably) onto my DD (20 months) t-shirt in a boden style (hopefully coming in at way under the £14 price tag for boden). I had a quick look on you tube, to get the idea.

Is this a good simple project for an "all talk and no action" wanna be sewer? I don't own a sewing machine, but took a beginners class more than a year ago and made a bag. My mother in law has a sewing machine I could use at her house. Or should I try something else?

Try it on a cheap teeshirt first, or just practice applique-ing scraps of fabric onto bits of old sheet until you are happy you've got the technique right. No reason not to do it really...

There is a great product called BONDAWEB which will really help you. It's designed to join two fabrics together (irons on) & will ensure the applique will sit flat etc. Then you could either machine stitch or hand sew the edges, add a little embroidery etc

I did some of these (erm actually I ended up getting my mum to do it 'cos I was too lazy!) & they looked great. We used bondaweb & then went round the edge of the applique with a zig zag stitch on the machine. Keep the design really simple - letters are cute. You can get scraps of lovely fabric in quilting shops or second hand stores for next to nothing & H& M do great cheap T-shirts in all colours.

I've done some fake Boden appliques for DS with bondaweb - brilliant stuff! YOu do need to oversew the raw edges after, but it means it won't wrinkle or buckle as you sew. Use a satin stitch on your mum's machine - looks professional and neat.

just found this tutorial...

To carry on the Boden homages..I'm going to attemptDress and Headband New Look Sewing Pattern No. 6576 this dress in Boden style fabrics. It's a dead easy style, but you'll need to get over to MIL's to borrow that machine.

Forget Bondaweb! Try basting spray here. Soooo much easier and quicker. I just put a bit of newspaper underneath, spray the applique item then pick it up with a pin (to avoid sticky fingers).

Just to add to the info, I use a stabiliser like stitch n tear to keep everything nice and sturdy whilst doing applique. Satin stitch (or a very close zigzag) is what you need, and take your time. Turn the fabric regularly to make corners etc neater. Perhaps reduce the presser foot pressure too, if you can.
Good luck!