Anthro-knock-off tutorial!

{Based on the response to my teaser post yesterday...the pressure is SO on!! I hope that I don't let you down! hehe}

So I have this folder titled "Inspiration" that I save stuff in constantly...I mean every single day. It includes everything from ideas for our new house, to creative inspiration, to garden layouts, to party planning. It's almost getting out of control...seriously. There are just SO many talented people out there and SO many beautiful things.

I've had this blouse from Anthropologie in there for a few months amongst many other things from the website. I don't see it anywhere on there anymore...lucky I saved it. I'm pretty sure it was priced something outrageous...as most lovely things on there are always out of my price range.

I loved it so much that I decided to knock it off. Yes, I'm jumping on the Anthro-knock-off bandwagon and you can too! Here's what you need:

A tank or blouse, whatever floats your boat. I got this on sale at Target for like $6

Fabric with a large floral print...the simpler the better, again on sale.

Heat'n Bond Lite...only like .99 a yard or something

Embroidery floss or yarn (only 1 color, unless you choose to mix things up)

Beads or sequins

Scissors -good sharp ones

Pins

1 Needle thin enough to go through your beads

1 Needle with a large enough eye to thread the floss through (a yarn need works well)

Thread -I used an invisible thread that I had on hand but any kind will do.

Ironing board

Iron

Scrap fabric

Start out by cutting out your flower leaving about 1/4 inch border all the way around. Lay it on your top to figure out the best placement. I made sure to pin it in place and try it on before taking the next step. I didn't want the middle of the flower (where I was adding some beads) to be in the wrong place, if you know what I mean.

Then add the details. I added beads in the middle of the open flower and on the top leaf, etc. Sequins and embroidery would be really pretty too! The Anthropologie version had alot of beads...so you could really go all out with it.

After you have all of your details sewn on you will create an applique. This is mainly so that you don't have to sew the entire piece down to the shirt and to create a bit of stability for the flower. Lay your Heat'n Bond shiny side up on the ironing board. Then lay your flower right side up (the front-side) on top of that. Lay a piece of scrap fabric down on top of that. Press following the instructions for the Heat'n Bond. You could do this without cutting your flower out first and not have to use the scrap fabric...but I didn't want to waste any of the pretty floral fabric.

After ironing you will have one side paper and one side scrap fabric. 

 

Start trimming around the flower and eventually you will be able to just peel the rest of the scrap off, leaving the paper on the back of the applique.

Trim the rest of the way around and now you have your flower applique. 

Peel the paper off of the back to reveal the shiny bonding agent..or whatever it's called.

Lay your applique on your top, shiny side down. Lay a bit of scrap fabric over the top of that (I doubled the layer to protect the plastic beads) and press following instructions for the Heat'n bond.

Now that you have on your applique, thread the embroidery floss through your large-eyed needle and do a running stitch all the way around it...leaving a border.

Be careful not to pull too hard because your applique will bunch up.

After adding the floss you can sew around the edges. I wanted it to look very hand-sewn so I just did a small zig-zag stitch all the way around...backing up here and there and letting it be a bit messy...not trying to be perfect at all.

And there you have it!!  I want to do this to everything I own. Seriously. *As with all things handmade hand washing is highly recommended.*

I would love to see how yours turns out!!! ♥ ♥