There are several things I can do to add excitement to clothes that are boring or just need an extra 'pop'! Applique is one of those things.
I made shirts for my son to celebrate each month of his life. Here are a couple of examples of the numbers appliqued on shirts for him.
First, is his first birthday shirt. I used the Spanish word "uno" meaning "one."
The next shirt is his 11 month shirt. This shirt has the number 11 along with appliqued chevron stripes.
I can add an applique for $5-$15 depending on the complexity of what you want appliqued.
This romper was made from a company polo complete with logo. I added the stripes to cover the logo. I used the existing neckline and sleeves...just scaled them down to fit a 1-year-old. It snaps in the crotch to make for easy diaper changes.
These knit shorts were made from an old long-sleeve t-shirt that had holes in it. I actually used some of the brown fabric for the letters in the first birthday shirt also. I added a back pocket, two front pockets and a fake fly!
Another decorative touch that I have used is to bleach a design on the shirt. This can also be a picture or letters or numbers. The design can't be extremely detailed or intricate because the bleach will bleed some as it works.
Another embellishment that can be done to shirts is freezer paper stenciling. This gives the shirt a screen printed look. This can be done with any combination of letters, numbers, or pictures. The possibilities are endless!
