Be A Police Officer Appliqué T-Shirt
There’s something special about making a project that sparks a child’s imagination. Seeing their excitement when they put it on, watching them step into a story they’ve created—it’s the kind of sewing that feels just as rewarding as the finished piece itself.
The Be A Police Officer Appliqué T-Shirt is this month’s exclusive Pattern Club project, and it’s all about bringing creativity and play into something they can wear. With just a t-shirt, fabric scraps, and a few simple techniques, you’ll create a design that’s not only fun but also a great learning experience for sewing on stretch fabrics.
How to Appliqué on a T-Shirt Without Puckering
Sewing on knits takes a slightly different approach than quilting cotton, but with the right prep, it’s easy to get crisp edges and smooth stitching.
✔️ Use a stabilizer – A lightweight fusible interfacing or Therm O Web’s T-Shirt Adhesive keeps the fabric from shifting without making it stiff.
✔️ Lower presser foot pressure – Reducing pressure helps prevent the fabric from stretching under the needle.
✔️ Use a ballpoint needle – This glides between fibers instead of piercing them, avoiding snags or holes.
✔️ Choose the right stitch – A zigzag or blanket stitch allows flexibility. If using a straight stitch, keep the appliqué in a low-stretch area of the t-shirt.
With these adjustments, sewing on knits is simple and rewarding!
Want to Take This Further?
Inside Pattern Club, we’re applying these techniques to this month’s project:
📌 Be A Police Officer Appliqué T-Shirt – A playful, beginner-friendly project that turns a plain t-shirt into a wearable play experience.
What’s included?
✔️ PDF & SVG Templates – Cut by hand or with a cutting machine
✔️ Step-by-Step Video – Learn raw-edge appliqué on knits
✔️ Bonus Play Extras – Printable mission cards, a pretend police radio, and a Junior Officer Pledge to bring the t-shirt to life
This pattern is only available to Pattern Club members.
📥 Sign up now and get access to this month’s pattern & tutorial!
Materials & Supplies
To make this t-shirt, I used:
✔️ Fabric: It Takes A Village Fabric Collection
✔️ Be A Police Officer Pattern : Shop it HERE
✔️ Sewable Adhesive - HeatnBond Lite Iron-On Adhesive
✔️ Sparkle Paste by Jennifer Long: Shop it HERE
✔️ T-shirt Blue Base
This project also pairs perfectly with the Be A Police Officer Quilt, available in Pattern Club or the shop, and the Police Officer Dolls, which can be found in the Modern Rag Doll Membership.
Sign up, download your pattern, and bring this project to life!
