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Hi Sugarplum!

{DIY} Deer Head Applique Tea Towel

January 22, 2013

Texas doesn’t get much of a Winter, so I love to embrace all the shapes, fabrics and textures that accompany cold weather, as long as possible. Just because Christmas is packed away for another year, it doesn’t mean we have to remove all traces of the chilly season. I had a hankering to make a custom tea towel, so I decided on an appliqued deer head. As long as there’s no Rudolph nose, it’s more Winter than Christmas!

Reindeer Applique Tea Towel

The supplies are simple and inexpensive (isn’t that a given for me?!)…plain kitchen towel, fabric swatch for applique, and Heat-n-Bond Lite. I found this pack of Kitchen Towels for a few bucks at WalMart, and my fabric is actually an old plaid scarf I no longer wear.

Reindeer Applique Tea Towel

Ever since I made Faux Antlers, I’ve been smitten with deer heads, and thought the Wintery symbol paired well with the wool fabric. To get the shape, I searched ‘Deer Head Silhouette’ online, and traced it directly off the screen in the size I wanted, then cut it out.

Reindeer Applique Tea Towel

Using Heat-n-Bond gives your applique better shape, and prevents movement or puckering when sewing. First you adhere the Heat-n-Bond to your applique fabric, then adhere the applique to your towel. Sounds complicated, but it really isn’t.

Cut a piece slightly larger than your shape, lay the textured side directly on the back-side of your fabric, and iron the paper side to adhere the Heat-n-Bond. Then trace your shape on the paper side, keeping in mind it’s the reverse.  

Reindeer Applique Tea Towel

Cut out your shape, peel off the paper, and position the applique on your towel.

Reindeer Applique Tea Towel

Iron it in place, adhering your applique to the towel. To keep the edges of the applique from fraying in the wash, you’ll want to seal them with a simple zig-zag stitch.

Reindeer Applique Tea Towel

Your eyes are not deceiving you….this is indeed a sewing machine…and I’m the one operating it!! Painfully Very slowly, I sewed around the perimeter of my deer head. Had I thought this through, I’d surely have chosen a much simpler shape as my first applique attempt!

Reindeer Applique Tea Towel

Don’t look too closely, but you get the idea of how it should look. Hard to tell, but I was indeed sewing sober.

Reindeer Applique Tea Towel

And to further punish myself, I opted to add pom-pom trim to the bottom edge of the towel. Pom-poms are like frosting is to cake.

Reindeer Applique Tea Towel

Considering this was only my second attempt at sewing (read my first tearful experience here), I think it’s not too shabby. Granted I won’t be opening an Etsy shop anytime soon. An experienced sewer could probably knock this out in about 30-minutes.

Reindeer Applique Tea Towel

Reindeer Applique Tea Towel

I pat myself on the back every time I see it hanging in my Kitchen. I’m already dreaming up applique options for the next season…or dare I attempt a monogram?!

Reindeer Applique Tea Towel

Reindeer Applique Tea Towel

The Ikea sewing machine I had went bye-bye, and I’m making friends with a big-girl machine (thanks for the recommendation, Courtney, I loooove this one!) Hopefully that means I’ll finish those Dining Room drapes I keep talking about. *snort* 

 Check out more fun and easy projects in the Project Gallery.


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by Cassie 
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Comments

  1. thedomesticfringe.com says: January 22, 2013 at 1:12 pm

    So cute!

    Seems almost easy enough too. Love this project, and it looks beautiful in your kitchen.

    ~FringeGirl

    Reply
  2. Jenna says: January 22, 2013 at 1:17 pm

    Great job, Cassie! Love the deer and the Burberry-esque fabric you chose! Heat n Bond is like, the greatest thing since sliced bread… Love that stuff! I recently did an owl on a tote bag which turned out so cute.

    Reply
  3. Simply LKJ says: January 22, 2013 at 1:37 pm

    Love it! And, you did a great job sewing.

    Reply
  4. the undomesticated wife says: January 22, 2013 at 1:49 pm

    Very cute! See, sewing is super easy, as long as you aren't doing pleats, button holes and zippers (and even then, those aren't *too* bad, but can be very frustrating!).

    I just sewed a felt heart garland for my valentine tree. 😀 Now that's as easy as it gets. haha

    Reply
  5. Kristin Cadwallader says: January 22, 2013 at 2:19 pm

    Cassie, I just love this! So great! xo Kristin

    Reply
  6. ournextgreatadventure says: January 22, 2013 at 2:38 pm

    Such a cute idea!!! I love the fabric you chose for the deer head & the pompoms are perfection. They are definitely the icing on the tea towel!
    FYI the one time I attempted applique I set my sewing machine on a really tight zigzag which did a better job of hiding my wandering stitches.
    Sarah

    Reply
  7. sarahgolden says: January 22, 2013 at 3:20 pm

    Good job! it looks soo cute! 🙂
    greets from germany!
    sarah

    Reply
  8. Courtney {a thoughtful place} says: January 22, 2013 at 3:23 pm

    How cute is this. And I am so impressed you zig zagged your way around that. That is not for the faint of heart. Thanks for the shout out. So happy you like your new machine. xo

    Reply
  9. home-with-heather says: January 22, 2013 at 3:28 pm

    Wow Cassie!!! If you do open an etsy shop…I would like to be your first customer! So impressed that you've conquered your fear of sewing machines. You totally inspired me! xo

    Reply
  10. Sarah Tucker says: January 22, 2013 at 4:25 pm

    This is adorable! I would say I could makes these as gifts for people, but my sewing skillz would have to greatly improve!

    Reply
  11. Dana Frieling says: January 22, 2013 at 4:29 pm

    Look at you getting all fancy with your stitches! I'm impressed. Intimidation is the word that comes to mind for me. The sewing machine and I are not very good friends.

    Reply
  12. Hannah says: January 22, 2013 at 5:23 pm

    This is adorable and would be the perfect housewarming gift for someone! I wish I could use a sewing machine!

    Champagne Lifestyle on a Beer Budget

    Reply
  13. Sheaffer {Pinterest Told Me To} says: January 22, 2013 at 5:38 pm

    Poms Poms make me happy.

    Reply
  14. Vel Criste says: January 22, 2013 at 6:44 pm

    cool! I love the checked pattern. Great job as always Cassie!

    Reply
  15. Jennifer {The Chronicles of Home} says: January 22, 2013 at 6:47 pm

    Very impressed with your sewing skills! Zigzag edging still intimidates me.

    Reply
  16. ccbirm says: January 22, 2013 at 7:12 pm

    My first thought was- "oh no she did NOT cut up an old Burberry scarf!" hahaha! That would be sacrilege darling. It looks great and I absolutely adore pom pom trim and have been searching high and low for a scarf with some- seems I'm late to that bandwagon. Can you get trim like that at places like JoAnn's or Hobby Lobby?? Love the blog- thanks Cassie!

    Reply
  17. Erin {Home Everyday} says: January 22, 2013 at 7:15 pm

    Totally making these. Also, might make pillows. This idea is adorable! Also, thanks for updating us on the IKEA machine… I'm in the market and wondering what to do.

    Reply
  18. Aubrey {All Things Bright and Beautiful} says: January 22, 2013 at 8:14 pm

    That is so awesome…and Cassie, you are giving hope to sewing challenged women everywhere (aka, ME) (c; It turned out so great!

    Reply
  19. Anna says: January 22, 2013 at 9:29 pm

    Very pretty! The pom-pom trim is adorable!

    Reply
  20. [email protected] says: January 22, 2013 at 9:47 pm

    This is so cute! I may need to look into making a few for friends!

    Reply
  21. Carmel @ Our Fifth House says: January 22, 2013 at 11:03 pm

    Check you out! Way to go girlie! I really need to bite the bullet and learn how to sew. I'm sceered!

    Reply
  22. Bette Creek says: January 23, 2013 at 1:23 am

    I hunk it looks fantastic for your first appliqué. Which reminds I have to look for my sewing machine.

    Reply
    • Bette Creek says: January 23, 2013 at 1:26 am

      Oh darn auto-correct on I-pad, I meant to say " think" not " hunk". 🙂

      Reply
  23. [email protected] says: January 23, 2013 at 2:11 am

    Hey Cassie! Love the Deer Head towel! You are so rocking the sewing machine lately. I also tried the same as you except I sewed a little elephant on a onesie for a friend's baby shower. It was so easy and turned out adorable. Keep sewing girlfriend!

    Reply
  24. amber-wills says: January 23, 2013 at 3:43 am

    I love it! I never got around to sewing the deer head to my pillow. I just let it sit there all through Christmas just hanging on. It was felt so it could have been worse.

    Reply
  25. ~ Darlene says: January 23, 2013 at 4:52 pm

    Whoa! Look at you go!! In such a short time tackling the sewing scene and you made this great project!! I must say that you did a fantastic job zig zagging around all those antlers and curves…stopping the needle in the right place is key!!

    Great project and great sewing! I was actually on my way to Walmart tonight to look for dish towels for a different project but now I will have to get more for this one too!!

    Keep on sewin'…
    ~ Darlene
    http://www.MyHoneyBunch.CO
    Facebook = My HoneyBunch

    Reply
  26. Jessica DecorAdventures says: January 25, 2013 at 5:05 am

    I love this! Think of all the things you can make on the sewing machine. I love mine. The possibilities are endless 🙂

    Reply
  27. iheartorganizing says: January 29, 2013 at 3:59 pm

    YAYAYAYAY! It looks incredible and I am so proud of you for doing something so amazing with your sewing machine! You are inspiring me to get mine back out!

    Love the towel!

    xo,
    Jen

    Reply
  28. Adam Levine says: January 31, 2013 at 1:10 pm

    You really did a great job on it. I can feel your happiness coming through the words when you walk by it!!

    Reply
  29. mwimp says: January 31, 2013 at 2:52 pm

    i luv it and you did amazing!!

    Reply
  30. Stephanie Jo says: August 6, 2013 at 7:27 pm

    I got the same sewing machine for Christmas and have used it twice. I better pull it out again. It really was easy to use, but the whole straight thing not so much. Can't wait to hear if you sew more stuff.

    Reply
  31. TMac says: October 9, 2013 at 12:12 pm

    Absolutely love this! Especially the re-use of the scarf, excellent.

    Reply
  32. frances says: August 30, 2018 at 4:17 pm

    can’t wait to go the store to get the bond paper to press on
    frances

    Reply
  33. Elly says: December 10, 2018 at 7:55 am

    I like this,nice job.I’ve used the button hole stitch to sew the applique edge,worked well as it is such a close stitch,takes a while tho.

    Reply
  34. Shelia Darlene Minor says: February 28, 2019 at 8:41 am

    My Husband and I are deer hunters and I have been wanting to make hand some towels for my kitchen and bathroom and I think this would be really cute and make each one a little different color . Love This Thank You !!!!!!!!!!

    Reply

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