Putting Your Own Heart on Your Sleeve
A couple of years ago this super cute sweater popped up in my social media feed. It was a photo of a sweater with hearts as elbow patches. I was smitten and had to buy it - until I saw the price. So, what does a sewist do? Utter the quintessential phrase, “I can totally make that.”
Thanks to a great clearance sweater from Target, it finally came to life! This project takes a couple of hours, at most, and can truly be applied to any shirt, sweater, sweatshirt in any shape you can imagine. There are so many possibilities
Give it a go and I can’t wait to see your version!
Supplies:
Sweater to Apply Elbow Patch On
Scrap Fabric for Elbow Patch
Appropriate Interfacing for your Elbow Patch Fabric
Step 1:
Draw your heart (or trace one) onto a piece of paper. Look at sleeve/placement and size. Is it in the right place? Do you like the size? Pin the top center of the heart. (Photo 1 & 2)
Tip: Bend your elbow to make sure that it sits where you want it to. This step is easier if you have someone model for you or to help you hold and pin it in place.
Step 2:
Interface the backside of your fabric. I used Pellon SF101.
You may choose a fabric that doesn’t need reinforcement, but since I used a section of an old sweater, the interfacing helped hold it together, as well as make it not so see-through. (Photo 3)
Step 3:
Trace your heart onto your interfaced elbow patch fabric and then cut out. (Photo 4 & 5)
Step 4:
Check placement. Is it still the right size? Does it fit the sleeve the way you want it to?
My favorite product for marking fabric is the Sewline Styla Water Erasing Pen. It has never let me down and works like a gem every time. (Photo 6)
Step 5:
Zig-zag stitch the edge of the patch. This is mainly to prevent fraying. If you are using a non-woven, you can skip this step. (Photo 7)
Step 6:
Pin in place and start stitching! I used a blanket stitch, but this step is pure personal preference.
Things to think about when planning your stitching: Do you want the thread to match the sweater or the elbow patch? How do you want the stitches to look? You can get so creative here! You could do stitching over the entire elbow patch if you want!
Because you are hand stitching inside of a sleeve, this can get a little awkward. Feel free to reposition yourself often to get the best angle on your stitching. Sometimes I had one arm down the neck and another arm coming up the sleeve, it sounds odd, but it worked! (Photo 8 & 9)
Step 7: Wear it proudly!
Send me your photos of your heart on your sleeve - I would love to see how your made this your own!
Ciao!
