DIY Christmas Applique Sweatshirt Using Cricut Maker
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It’s officially the holiday season and nothing gets me in the spirit quite like a cozy Christmas sweatshirt (and a good pair of fuzzy socks). Recently, I have started making fabric appliqués to go on various creative projects around the house. I’ve even made a few applique t shirts and applique sweatshirts that you can see here.
With Christmas right around the corner, I thought I’d put my Cricut Maker to use and create a Christmas tree applique sweatshirt to be extra festive. These sweatshirts would make excellent gift ideas as well! If you’d like to make your own fabric applique to ring in the most wonderful time of the year, follow these simple step-by-step instructions!
Here are the materials you will need.
Materials
- Festive Christmas or winter fabric of your choice
- A blank sweatshirt, pre washed (I prefer comfort colors or Bella canvas)
- Heat and bond or fusible webbing
- Quilting thread
- Quilting needles
- Sewing machine and thread (optional)
- Cricut maker or other cricut machine
- Cricut mat for fabric cutting
- Cricut rotary blade
- Access to cricut design space
- Scissors
The first thing we are going to do is create our iron-on appliqués by backing our fabric with heat and bond. Fire up your iron or Cricut easy press, and grab your fabric scraps. Place your fabric pieces right side down and lay your heat and bond face down on it. The paper backing should be on top. Using your iron on a medium high heat, press the heat and bond to the back of your Christmas fabric.
Now that our fabric is prepped, it’s time to grab your Cricut maker (Cricut explore will work as well) and cut out the Christmas tree shape. You can do this with any other holiday shape as well! Take the bonded fabric and lay it on your fabric cutting mat. Be sure that the pattern is right side up. Go to Cricut design space and select your fabric design. Cut it out as bonded cotton with a medium pressure to whatever size you’d like your Christmas tree applique to be. I believe I cut mine to 8.5 x 6.5 inches. You can tailor this to fit your project needs.
It is now time to attach our Christmas tree fabric appliques to our sweatshirts. Peel off the paper backing from your fabric and place your tree wherever you’d like it to go. Using your Cricut easypress or iron, press the Christmas tree onto your sweatshirt. It’s now time to sew your applique!
You can definitely use a sewing machine with a fun zigzag stitch or an embroidery machine to do this part, I just prefer hand appliqué. Take your needle and quilting thread, and stitch along the edges of your design. This is done to secure everything to the shirt. Pieces that are only ironed on will not stay attached through many wash cycles so strong stitching is key for best results in making a lasting piece.
I hope you enjoyed this easy Christmas Cricut applique project. If fabric applique isn’t your thing, you can also try this with heat transfer vinyl! For more on making appliques with your Cricut, you can read HERE. Merry Christmas and happy sewing!
