I was up late in my sewing room working on some adorable garden bug applique patterns and designing a few cute onesies for my 7-month-old godson. I wanted to make sure he had them to take home after his long holiday with his mom.
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These garden bug applique patterns were created using simple symmetrical shapes like ovals and circles. With some fabric scraps, fusible web, and embroidery floss on hand, you should be able to finish them in an hour or two. The Garden Bugs Appliqué patterns include a Bumble Bee, Ladybug, and Caterpillar. Find the tutorial for creating these garden bug appliqués, as well as a quick how-to guide, below.
Garden Bug Applique Patterns
scroll ⬇️ to get the pattern & tutorial
There are a few methods for hand applique. You can use traditional needle turn sewing (edge hemming) or modern fuse/stick on, then embroider the edges. In both methods, you attach patches of fabric onto a garment to create the desired embellished pattern. The time required to complete an applique depends on the complexity of the pattern.
Learn more about the basics of applique if you are new to this craft.
Are you running out of time or need something quick to prepare the individual pieces? There is also a quick way to do applique by using ready prints on fabric (as shown in the last two pictures below). In addition to the normal patch-on applique, you can do applique in a reverse way. Click the link to go to the reverse applique tutorial.
For larger applique projects, feel free to try out our other free applique patterns, which can be made into quilts.
- Butterfly, Ladybug & Snail Patterns
- Songbird, Sun & Tree Patterns
- Flower Patterns
- “Secret Garden” Alphabet Patterns
- Cars & Traffic Sign Patterns
What’s Next:
- Start making and share your completed appliques on Facebook and/or Instagram. Remember to tag us, @craftpassion, so that we are able to see them.
- Pin it to Pinterest for future To-Sew List
- Share with your craft groups for a sew-along event.
- Learn more about the basics of hand sewing and how to choose a sewing machine for beginners.
- Browse more free sewing patterns to sew.
Garden Bug Applique Pattern
Running out of time or too lazy to prepare patch by patch? there is also a quick way to do applique by using ready prints on fabric (as shown in the last 2 pictures below). Besides the normal patch-on applique, you can do applique in a reverse way. Learn how to make with this reverse applique tutorial.
Enjoy sewing them!
Materials
- Onesie or romper or any garment you would like to have the applique on.
- Fabric scraps
- Applique fusible web
- Pencil
- Embroidery floss & needle
- Erasable fabric marker
- Fray check (optional, use with sewing machine’s option)
Tools
- Sewing machine (optional)
- Iron
- Scissor
- Small embroidery hoop, I used 4″ dia. size
Instructions
- Download the garden bug applique patternDownload the garden bug applique patterns (consisting of Bumble Bee, Lady Bug & Caterpillar) in PDF format. {It will either open in a new tab or open a small window asking you to save it as a file. The default folder normally is under “/downloads”}
The pattern is on letter-size paper; don’t scale the printing if you want the exact size like the one I made.
{If you can’t download the pdf pattern, probably you don’t have acrobat reader, download the latest version for free, here{If you can’t download the pdf pattern, you probably don’t have Acrobat Reader; download the latest version for free here.]
- a. Trace the applique pattern on the paper backing of the fusible web. You don’t have to mirror these patterns since they are symmetrical.
b. Choose your scraps for colors and sizes that suit the pattern.
(That's the reason why I seldom throw small little scraps away after each sewing project and keep them all in my fabric scrap container when I did my craft room organization & storage 😉 They are indeed my treasured.)
- a. Set iron to medium heat. Place the traced fusible web with a rough side (adhesive) down onto the wrong side of the scrap.
b. Glide the warm iron on them to melt the adhesive of the fusible web and thus bond it to the fabric scrap.
c. Check the bonding after it’s cool and make sure the adhesion is good.
- If you use a sewing machine for the satin stitch, do this step now. If you hand embroidery the satin stitch, you can do this step later during the embroidery stage.
a. Set your sewing machine to the widest zigzag stitch (about 3/16″, 5mm wide) and near to zero stitch length (normally used for buttonhole). Try on your other scrappy fabric to test it out before the actual work.
b. Satin stitch 3 rows of black stripes on the bumblebee body, extending slightly out from the pattern’s outline.
c. Drop 1 – 2 drops of fray check on the satin stitch that intersects with the pattern’s outline.
d. Leave it aside to let it absorb and dry for a few minutes.
- Cut the patterns out from the fabric, preferably using small sharp tip scissors since the pattern is small.
- a. Peel off the fusible web paper backing.
b. Position the pattern on the onesie.
c. Iron with a warm iron to bond the pattern on.
d. Again, check the bonding after it is cool down.
- Repeat the cutting and ironing for the bumblebee body after the fray check is almost dry.
If the thread ends start to fray after the cutting, add a few more drops of fray-check on them.
- Unscrew the embroidery hoop to its maximum, and put it onto the onesie.
Don’t pull and try to straighten the onesie inside the hoop, this will stretch the knit of the onesie and thus cause the bonding to break and pattern to go off position.
- BumbleBee Applique:
Mark with a fabric marker and embroider the pattern as shown in the pdf pattern sheet.
If you use hand embroidery on the satin stitch instead of a sewing machine, please do it now.
- Lady Bug Applique:
Ladybug has a satin stitch on its body, too. If sewing by sewing machine, either slowly decrease or increase the zig-zag width as you work your way from one end to another.
Again, use fray check to stop the ends from raveling.
- Caterpillar Applique:
Caterpillar design is slightly wider than 4″. If you use a 4″ embroidery hoop, you will need to do the embroidery in sections.
- Alphabet Applique:
Besides the garden bug designs, you can personalize the onesie with letters or symbols.
I did it with a double running stitch about 3/16″ apart.
- Tortoise Applique:
A quick way of doing an applique is by cutting out the outline of the prints from fabrics.
Then, embroider the outline of each part to disguise it as the real applique.
- Puppy Applique:
Another quick way is to see how the stem stitch on the ear gives an impression that it is from another fabric stick on the puppy’s head.
By the way, the word “adorable” comes with the onesie, so please don’t ask me how to do it. 😉
Notes
Get the full article at https://www.craftpassion.com/garden-bugs-appliques/
Anne Potter
Wednesday 19th of February 2020
Beautiful , so glad i came across your site and didnt have to puzzle how to find ans print the gorgeous applique patterns . Thank you for sharing
Craft Passion
Thursday 20th of February 2020
Sharing is caring. I hope you have fun making these appliques.
Kat
Monday 11th of June 2018
I wondered if the embroidery hoop stretches the fabric very much? Could it distort the finished product? Or do you leave it a little lose?
Craft Passion
Monday 11th of June 2018
I didn't stretch it a lot, the tension is just nice to make the knitted fabric firm for embroidery.
Ellyda
Wednesday 28th of August 2013
May i know where i cn find other paterns for applique.. Btw where is the shop in penang u r telling about..?? Im in penang too
Craft Passion
Thursday 29th of August 2013
Q-Gallery and Sin Seng Lee.
Katherine Summerlin
Sunday 21st of April 2013
I love, love, love your site, blog, and detailed tutorials!!! Thank you for sharing your brilliant ideas! What size embroidery needles do you use/recommend?
Dianna
Sunday 27th of January 2013
Great tutorial! I was wondering how this was done and your tutorial is very detailed! Thanks for sharing. I have one question, is there anything that goes through the inside of the shirt so that the stitching doesn't show? Thanks again!