This project has been sitting around my living room waiting to get done for the last couple of weeks. I was constantly walking past it thinking today is the day it would get done, but work always got in the way.

After my shower I had a lot of extra Heat and Bond Ultra Hold and even more emails asking for me details on the onesie/bib decorating station. So instead of making a tutorial with a onesie I decided to make a design related post to keep everyone interested.

This project took at most 1 hr and I was able to do it all alone without shouting SOS for Jon’s help.

I have always loved the look of Leontine Linen’s Abigail fabric applique monogram:

I even toyed with the idea of splurging on some bedding a while back and had them do a mock-up for me with our initials:

Oh swoon, but once I added up how much everything would be I knew it wasn’t a right now purchase and I would have to wait. I didn’t want to waste that beautiful handmade monogram so that’s what I used for this little project.

Here is what you’ll need to recreate this project yourself or use the same set of instructions for a onesie/bib decorating station:

Supplies:
Mock up of your design/monogram or just use a stencil
Heat and Bond Ultra Hold
Iron
Two types of fabric
Scissor or exacto knife

Step 1: Apply Heat and Bond Ultra Hold to the fabric you want to use for the applique. Make sure you apply paper textured/glue side down on the back side of the fabric. You will be ironing over the paper backing.

Let cool.

Step 2: While fabric is cooling ( estimated time 1 min) you can go ahead and cut out your monogram/design and make a stencil out of it. For the shower we provided guests with stencils or the opportunity to free hand design anything they wanted. For this project I had the monogram, but no stencil so I made sure to print it out on cardstock so I could make a stencil myself:

Step 3: Now that your stencil is made the fabric has cooled you can apply the stencil to the fabric and trace out your design/monogram. When you are doing a monogram or lettering make sure you remember to place your stencil backwards so the letters appear properly. I also used painters tape to secure my stencil into the place, but not disturb the fabric/adhesive backing.

Step 4: Cut out monogram/design:

While using the exacto knife was really easy on the cardstock it didn’t fair as well on fabric so I switched to a pair of scissors. Make sure they are sharp and you shouldn’t have any issues.

Step 5: Prep area for application. In this tutorial I was recovering this stool that I found in the trash!

After removing the cushion and then removing the old yellow vinyl covering I simply stapled on some new fuschia velvet fabric:

I could have added the applique first to the velvet fabric and then stapled it on the stool, but with stapling fabric tends to move and I didn’t want it to end up off center. Recovering the cushion first was the best solution and then I just boxed out the center of the cushion so that I could have a guide for my letter placement.

Step 6: Applying Fabric Applique Monogram or design:

Simply place monogram/design where you want it. I then went and added little pen marks on all of the corners so I knew where everything went after I lifted up the letters to remove the paper backing.

Then apply iron on medium heat for 8 seconds:

Step 7: Almost finished! If you were using this technique to decorate a onesie/bib then you would be all finished. If you are doing it to recover a stool or make a toss pillow then you need a couple more steps to finish.

{So pretty, but something was missing.}

I love little details so when I found some orange piping stored away in my closet I knew I could use to finish off this project.

While the sewing machine and I are currently in a fight I’m not scared of the staple gun. To get the finished piping look I just needed to staple around my pre-made piping.

Step 8: Re-attach the cushion to the stool and enjoy!

Or maybe I’ll enjoy it here:

{I tried it out here first, without the orange piping.}

Note: Originally I was going to apply the monogram applique before I stapled fabric onto stool and have my seamstress do a nice stitch around the border of the letters, but the instructions on the Heat & Bond specially tell you NOT to sew.

Now I know not everyone has a hand drawn monogram so I searched high and low for a font that you could download that would give you a similar look. I came up empty handed, but when I searched for monogram embroidery fonts I found something similar:

You could easily use the font above as a guide for your own hand drawn monogram or place it in photoshop or even MS Powerpoint and play around with the letters and sizing to get the arrangement you like.

Of course I still have dreams of my beautiful one day Leontine Linens bedding, but for right now the itch is scratched and my wallet is intact.