Handprint Reindeer Shirt Applique - Christmas Keepsake

This handprint Reindeer shirt applique is so easy to make and it's such a cute keepsake! I decided to make a fabric applique one, but you could also use painted handprints instead.

Handprint Reindeer Shirt Applique Tutorial

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To make the shirt, I used HeatnBond, an old pair of brown corduroys, and I bought him a plain, red shirt from Wal-mart ($3).

I made a template by tracing my son's hands on paper & cutting them out. To start, follow the directions on the HeatnBond and iron the wrong side of the fabric to the non-paper side of the HeatnBond. When it cooled, I peeled the paper off and pinned the handprint templates to the fabric. The ironed-on HeatnBond makes the fabric stiffer and easier to cut.

Next, place the cut-out handprints on the shirt with the right-side of the fabric facing up (see photo below). The shiny part where you peeled the paper off should be facing down. Iron the fabric handprints on according to directions. I took brown thread and stitched around the edges by hand (I just have a cheap sewing machine that doesn't do all the fun stitches).

To finish, I used black fabric paint to turn the hands into reindeer (see 1st photo). I made antlers, hoofs, and wrote in his name & the year.

He loves wearing his hands on his shirt!

→ Check out more Reindeer Crafts here.