Easy No Sew Mickey Mouse Applique Tshirt (Tutorial)

Easy No Sew Mickey Mouse Applique Tshirt

A One Night Project: I’ve been making applique tees for several years now and they couldn’t be easier. Whether you are planning for a Disney World vacation, want to make matching tees for a Mickey Mouse birthday party, or just want a simple and fun Disney shirt, this DIY No Sew Mickey Mouse Applique Tee couldn’t be easier to make. No need for expensive special orders and no experience with a sewing machine necesary.

Finish in one night – the best part of this project!

While I have my mom’s old sewing machine, I’m still learning how to use all the “fancy” stuff, so I much preferred to do a quick and easy, no sew applique project.

Inexpensive: Applique shirts are adorable, but can be quite pricey if you buy them online from specialty shops.  Making them at home saves money. The cost of the shirt can be your biggest expense, but keep your eyes peeled as you can find simple tshirts for $5 or under with sales and coupons.

No sewing machine is needed. Love that!  If you want to get a bit fancier, feel free to add stitching around the edges, but it’s not necessary to look great.

(Affiliate links in post where a small commission may be earned at no cost to you for any purchases made.)

This Mickey Mouse tshirt was the very first applique I did. Not bad, huh?

We were heading to Disney World for a big family vacation and I had found a cute zebra skort at a local store. I didn’t particularly care for the matching shirt, but I thought it would look adorable (maybe at Disney’s Animal Kingdom). So, I found matching zebra material at a local fabric store (such a small amount needed – 1/8 yard) – and voila!

Instant matching outfit! Mulan was impressed!

Supplies for No Sew Mickey Mouse Tshirt

SHIRT:

I start by buying basic cotton t-shirts.  I like the shirts I’ve found at Old Navy and The Children’s Place – WITHOUT pockets.  I usually grab a few with a great coupon.

• FRUGAL TIP – For seasonal projects, be sure to buy a shirt that is a bit larger than the child currently wears.  I do that in the hopes (usually works), that the shirt will last 2 holiday seasons.

DESIGN:

I decide on a design. This time it was going to be a simple Mickey Mouse head.

You can use stencils or even a cookie cutter (for this project I used the official Mickey Mouse cookie cutter which is 5 inches wide and 4 inches long to compare, but this one is less expensive and about an inch less in width). Another option is to google Mickey Mouse shapes in different shapes and sizes and print your favorite off. Use any of these to create a simple pattern on paper. Cut the pattern out.

MATERIAL:

For most shirts, you’ll need just small pieces of fabric – 1/8 of a yard.

I discovered that JoAnn’s Fabrics will actually let you purchase as little as 1/8 of  a yard (as opposed to my Hobby Lobby, where it is 1/4 yd).  Ask your local store…also know that you can ask for samples of material.

• FRUGAL TIP: Before throwing out your child’s pants or shirt that is stained or full of holes, cut the material that you can use from it on future projects.

For this project I wanted the zebra print to match the skort bottoms I bought, but get creative and think about the Disney theme parks. I also bought red with white polka dots, yellow with white polka dots, and black with white polka dots to be Mickey themed, but think outside the box. A trip to Disney’s Animal Kingdom might call for my zebra print or a fun giraffe print!

Applique Supplies:

I use Steam-A-Seam 2 Double Stick Fusible Web.

Instructions for DIY Mickey Mouse Tee

PINNING:

Simply pin your created pattern onto the coordinating fabrics you have chosen.

For my Mickey Mouse, I kept it simple and used only one fabric. If you want to get fancy you can add different fabric pieces. More on that later.

CUTTING and FUSIBLE WEB:

I then cut out my fabric using the pinned pattern. I keep any small scraps for the future. Just think how little material you need for things like noses, eyes, etc.

Instead of sewing, I use Steam-A-Seam 2 Double Stick Fusible Web. It comes with several sheets within it. Mine came with 5 sheets, each 9″ by 12″.

For each project so far, I’ve used only 1/2 a sheet.  So you see how inexpensive this is.  Price of shirt, investment of Fusible Web, and small amount of material if you don’t have scraps.

Follow the instructions on the Fusible Web. I was a bit confused the first time, but really it works easily.  I placed my material on the sticky fusible web,  then peeled away the back side.

• TIP – I prefer to create my own pattern (this time Mickey Mouse) on paper, so I don’t use the step on the packaging where you trace your pattern on the fusible web.  Instead, I place my material directly on the sticky part, my pattern was gone long before.

If you’ve never used Fusible Web before, you can see my Fusible Web Applique Tutorial from a Thanksgiving Shirt post I did. I have more pictures from the process.

PLACEMENT:

Now for the fun part. I place the material/fusible web on the shirt.  If you get it in the wrong spot, the fusible web easily picks up.

Iron it for 10-20 seconds.  If adding any embellishments to the Mickey Mouse head see below.

FUN ADDITIONS/EXTRA STEPS:

You could easily turn this Mickey Mouse into a Minnie Mouse by adding a bow or other fun embellishments on top. When using more than one item or fabric piece for applique be sure to see my Thanksgiving Turkey Shirt Applique Tutorial . There I made a turkey shirt, where I had many feathers, eyes, beak, etc. It was a multi-step process yet still super easy.

LAUNDRY:

There might be some threads on the outside after laundering. I think it gives it a cool shabby chic look.  But, if you prefer, I have used a bit of Fray Check to go along the edges before wearing the first time. Prevents fraying really well. Found online or at the fabric store.

It couldn’t be easier! Have fun!

DISCOUNTED Walt Disney World TICKETS –> Grab discounted tickets here from a Disney authorized seller.

Did you know there’s a brand new Disney resort? Read all about Disney’s Riviera resort!