Upcycled sweatshirt

Breathe new life into an old sweatshirt with this scrap-busting sewing project!

Using simple appliqué techniques and free motion sewing, you can add lovely fabric flowers to an old or thrifted jumper made from leftovers in your sewing stash.  

This upcycling project is a great way to personalise your clothes, save fabric from going to waste, and create something unique.  

You can add this appliqué to an existing sweatshirt or a bag or a top too. We have provided free appliqué flower designs to download below. Or, you can get creative and create your own shapes!

Materials needed 

• Appliqué designs – download below 
• A plain sweatshirt (old or thrifted works perfectly!) 
• Scrap fabrics in different colours and patterns - craft cotton weight will work best 
• Heat-removable pen for tracing the flower shapes 
• Fusible web or interfacing: approximately 50 x 50cm  
• Matching thread for appliqué – I used variegated thread 

Equipment needed

• Brother sewing machine – I am using the Brother Innovis F560
• Open Toe Quilting Foot F061
• Scissors
• Pins 
• Iron
  
  
  

Download appliqué designs 

How to

Step 1

Download the free appliqué design using the button above and print them out. If you want to be creative, you can create your own designs using pen and paper.

Step 2 

Prepare your sweatshirt by turning it inside out and laying it flat with the wrong side of the front facing up. Press the centre front area. Cut a piece of interfacing a few centimetres larger than the design and press in place.

Step 3

Add fusible web or interfacing to the wrong sides of the fabric scraps to give your fabrics more structure. Fusible web has the added advantage that it will stick the parts of your design in place to your base fabric. No pins needed and no little moving pieces to keep in place! 

I didn't have any fusible web left, so I used fusible interfacing and pins. This can work just as well, but means you need to sew a little slower and more carefully, as the small pieces can move around a bit more.

Step 4

Step 5 

Step 6

Place the centre circle of the flower, the stem and the leaves onto the sweatshirt and pin (if using interfacing) or press the pieces in place if using fusible web. 

Step 7

Time to sew! Set up your sewing machine with a zigzag stitch between 2.5 and 3 in width.  

Drop the feed dogs and attach a quilting (open toe) foot. This is great for appliqué on smaller shapes, as you can freely move the project and stitch freehand.  

The thread I am using is Mettler Poly Sheen Multi, which is a pretty, multi-tone thread that gives the applique stitch a lovely decorative finish. Have a look in your sewing box or in the sewing shop for variegated thread that will blend in with your scraps.  

Go slowly around curves, pivoting at corners. When you have the feed dogs down, you will need to guide the project through the machine, so take your time. Don’t worry if your stitches aren’t perfect; a bit of wobble adds to the handmade charm!  

If you are unsure, do a little practice piece first to see if you like the thread and stitch selection – and to practice free motion sewing.

Step 8

First, sew around the edges of the leaves, stem and centre.

Step 9

Then, lay the flower petals in place and pin or fuse.

Step 10

Sew around the edges of each petal with matching thread. Sew a spiral on the brown flower centre.

Step 11

Once all the flowers, leaves and stems are stitched down, give your sweatshirt a good press with an iron. Try it on and admire your one-of-a-kind upcycled appliqué sweatshirt!