No-sew crafts are popular with all types of crafters, even experienced sewers, for their ease to make and adaptability. If you grow bored of an ironed-on design on your clothing or home accents, you can more easily remove the no-sew design and start again. No-sew craft techniques are particularly effective for following fashion trends and updating items like jeans, bags and jackets. You can use no-sew techniques to add patches to lightly damaged clothing and extend their wearable life.
The pre-made patches available at fabric stores are pricey and often tacky. Why buy fabric patches when you can make your own for less? For one of my favorite no-sew crafts, here is how to make your own fabric decals at home.
Materials:
- Fabric (or fabric scraps)
- Iron-on Fabric Adhesive Paper- MiracleBond or Thermoweb HeatnBond Paper
- Iron and Ironing Board
- Sharp Scissors or Craft Knife
Instructions:
- Gather your materials and favorite fabric. Check the remnants bin at a local fabric store for small amounts of fabric. You will only need a small amount for this no-sew craft project. Look for a fabric with a larger design or motif, which can be easily cut out from the background.
- Set your iron to low heat, no steam. Place the fabric right side down on your ironing board and iron out any wrinkles. You will need a smooth, flat surface for the iron-on fabric adhesive. An iron is the key to all no-sew crafts.
- Take your iron-on adhesive paper and cut out a piece slightly larger than the motif you want to use from the fabric. Place the paper on the fabric over your design, adhesive side down. Iron over the paper backing until bonded. Allow to cool.
- Once cooled, cut out your image from the fabric with the scissors. For smaller, more detailed images, place the fabric on a mat and use a sharp craft knife to cut. Make your to keep a small fabric border around the image to seal your no-sew craft.
- Peel off the paper backing from the adhesive and place your fabric decal on your items (bag, jeans, etc.). Press the iron into the decal for a few seconds and then iron over the decal until bonded. Ironing times will depend on the thickness of the item.
- To remove the decals later, place a cloth or paper towel over the decal and iron on high heat. The decal will stick to the cloth or peel off more easily when warm. Use a solvent such as “Goop” or “Goo Gone” to remove any adhesive from the item.
For more no-sew crafts, see:
Christmas Jewels No-Sew Wall Quilt
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