Birthday Shirt Tutorial

I've made it a tradition to make a numbered birthday shirt like this one for my daughter each year. With her birthday fast approaching this Sunday, I thought it was high time I got my butt in gear and make one for her third birthday. While I was at it, I figured I would snap some pictures and put together a quick tutorial for those of you who might be interested in making one too.

Materials:
Blank T-Shirt
Coordinating fabric
Matching thread
Double Sided Fusible Web
Marker
Scotch Tape
Scissors
Iron
Sewing Machine

Once you have all of your materials, find a suitable font on your word processor with the number of your choice. Enlarge the font on the screen to the desired size. The font I used was Hobo set at 600, which measured approximately 3 inches across by 5 1/2 inches tall.

Take a sheet of your doubled sized fusible web and scotch tape it right to your computer screen. With a steady hand, trace your number right onto the fusible web's transfer paper. I find this method much easier than printing a gazillion copies to obtain the desired size and it also saves on paper. Go Green!

After tracing your number, rough cut the fusible web around your number. Do not cut on your trace lines like I did! It's much easier to cut both fabric and fusible web at the same time than to cut the fabric after you've already cut your web.  Remove the top layer of transfer paper and lay your number backwards on the wrong side of your fabric and iron according to manufacturer instructions. 

Now you can cut your number out on your trace lines and you will end up with a nice iron on applique that looks something like this:

Remove the transfer paper, position your applique on your t-shirt and iron into place according to manufacturer instructions.

Now head on over to your machine and set it to a appealing zig-zag stitch. I think mine was set at 3.5 stitch length and 1.0 spacing. Being very careful not to stretch your shirt as you sew, zig-zag close to the edge all the way around your number.

Remember to secure your stitches at the beginning and end. Snip your loose threads and you're done!

Whip up a cute little flower embellishment, hand sew in place and bribe cute little three year old to stand still long enough to take pictures.

Let me know if anything is unclear and I'll do my best to help. If you decide to try this for yourself, I'd love to see photos - just include the link in your comment. Happy Sewing everyone! :)