Scrappy Heart Sweatshirt

Get ready for the month of love with this Scrappy Heart Sweatshirt project! It’s a great way to use up some of your fabric scraps and create wearable art.

Image contains a coral colored sweatshirt embellished with an applique fabric heart. It says on a wooden table near a pair of scissors, a spool of thread, and a rotary cutter.

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How to Make a Scrappy Heart Sweatshirt

This is a fun and easy project that anyone can create – even if you’re new to sewing. Just grab some small fabric scraps and fusible adhesive, and let’s get started. In less than an hour, you’ll have a unique and festive sweatshirt.

Image contains a pink sweatshirt with an applique fabric heart laying on a wooden table. A wooden tool caddy sits nearby with scissors, thread, and rotary cutters.

Materials

Fabric scraps (I used scraps from my Bloom & Sew collection)
Sew Light Fusible Adhesive
Rotary cutter and mat and/or scissors
Iron
Pen or pencil
Thread
Sewing Machine

Instructions

Cut your fabric scraps into strips that are 3/4” wide and at least 6” long.

I used a rotary cutter and ruler for this step, but you can also use scissors. The strips do not all need to be exactly the same size – embrace the “scrappiness” of the project!

Image contains a piece of white and pink floral fabric laying on a clear cutting mat. Amy’s hand holds a yellow ruler on top of the fabric, and a rotary cutter is positioned at the bottom.

Sew the strips together to form a rectangle, pressing the seams to lay flat.

To do this, start by placing the first two strips right sides together and sew a 1/4” seam along one long edge. Open it up, then lay the next strip face down on top, and sew a 1/4” seam. Continue, repeating the process until you’ve sewed all your strips.

Image contains six strips of fabric laying on a wooden desk along with a rotary cutter. Amy’s hands hold two of the strips, which have been sewn together.

Iron a piece of fusible adhesive to the back of your fabric.

The textured side should go against the back of the fabric.

Sketch or trace a heart on the adhesive’s paper backing.

Remember that if your shape isn’t symmetrical, the shape you’re drawing will be backwards from what it will look like on the sweatshirt. I free-handed mine, but you can also use a template or trace any shape you like.

Image contains Amy’s hand holding a black pen and drawing a heart shape onto the back of a fabric rectangle with fusible adhesive on top.

Pro tip: My heart measured about 3” wide by 4” tall, but you can make yours any size. If you like, you can even make it much larger (ie: 8×8”) and position it in the center of the shirt instead of the left chest area.

Cut out the heart shape.

Image contains Amy’s hand holding a heart shape made from seven fabric strips sewn together.

Peel off the adhesive backing and iron the heart onto the front of your sweatshirt.

Sew a 1/8” seam inside the edges of your shape to secure it to the sweatshirt.

Image shows a closeup view of a pink sweatshirt on a sewing machine. The needle is sewing an applique heart in place.

Now your sweatshirt is ready to wear!

Image contains a wooden table holding a pink sweatshirt embellished with a striped fabric heart. Scissors, a rotary cutter, and white thread lay nearby.

Crafting Tips

Every project will look different as you combine a variety of fabric strips and your choice of sweatshirt. Try mixing and matching different color combinations for a totally different effect.
Not a fan of Valentine’s Day? Swap out the heart shape for any other shape you like, including a flower, an animal silhouette, or a monogram!
Rather than placing a small appliqué in the left chest area, you can make an even bigger fashion statement by making a larger heart or other shape and applying it in the center of the sweatshirt.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fabric did you use?

I used leftover scraps from my Bloom and Sew collection for Andover Fabrics.

Where did you get the sweatshirt?

The one I used was from my local Walmart. However, you can also check out thrift stores, yard sales, and your own closet to find one for an even better deal.

Do I need a sewing machine?

To do this project as pictured, yes. However, if you don’t have a machine, an alternative would be to use a single fabric scrap and cut a heart shape from it, rather than sewing multiple strips together. Then, you can iron it on and hand sew around it to secure it to the shirt.

More Valentine Projects

Here are some other craft ideas for Valentine’s Day that you might enjoy!

If you try embellishing your own Scrappy Heart Sweatshirt, I’d love for you to share a photo in the Amy Latta and Friends Facebook Group. It’s a great place to ask questions, share tips, and inspire each other. Hope to see you there soon.