Are you ready to declare your fandom? Two of my favorites are Stargate and Star Trek (and Sanctuary, but you try appliquéing this.) I couldn’t make a teeny TARDIS, so you can declare you Doctor Who fandom with a wristlet like this one. I made these the right size for the earbud pouch and easily traceable for you. Download the applique template here and refer to the original Circle Zip Earbud Pouch tutorial here.

In additional to all the materials you need for the earbud pouch, you will need:

• A printed template (or your own design… but you’ll need to print it reversed)
• A scrap of fabric for your applique design
• A square of *sewable* paper backed iron-on adhesive like HeatnBond Lite
• A circle of fusible interfacing

Place the paper backed adhesive over the template, paper side up. Lightly trace the outline onto the paper. I use a pencil, but just use something that won’t smear or come off when you iron it. Ballpoint pen, sharpie but let it dry, that sort of thing.

Do not cut out the design yet. Place the bumpy, glue side down on the WRONG side of the fabric. If you’re using solids it probably doesn’t matter which side. Make sure the fusible piece is smaller than your fabric. Cover this with a press cloth and lightly press with your iron to adhere.

Flip over to the right side of the fabric and press well with steam. (This is what I do, but read the directions for the product that you use.)

With the paper still attached, cut out the piece(s) with the sharpest scissors you own.

Peel off the paper. You should now have a custom shaped applique with the glue on the back.

Apply the circle of fusible interfacing to the wrong side of the exterior back piece.

Center the applique design and place it glue side down on the exterior back piece. Keep in mind that you need a 3/8″ seam allowance and then you will topstitch, so make sure each corner is 3/4″ away from the edge to allow for this.

If you have tear away embroidery stabilizer, place a square behind the fabric. Use a sharp needle like a Microtex 80/12 or an embroidery needle for this. I always go for a thread color that matches the applique. You don’t have to but it will stand out if you don’t, so you’ll need to be more careful. My second choice would be an accent color, rather than matching the background fabric color. I like to use a narrow, short zigzag stitch. You could use a satin stitch or a blanket stitch too. The important thing is that you cover most of the raw edges of the design. A good zigzag stitch length is between .3 and .8 with a width of 2.5.)

Start with the needle in the right side position, and lower it down right where the edge of the design meets the fabric. Start sewing slowly and go all the way around, pivoting and the corners. (Click to enlarge.)

  

Taper your stitches to the edge by narrowing the stitch width. Hand crank the last few stitches just to make sure they are where you want them. Stitch all the way back around to where you started and overlap 2-3 stitches. Pull all of your threads to the back and tie them off.

  

You can see how I used a shorter stitch length for the one on the left, and a longer stitch length for the one on the right, but the same stitch width. Now you can tear away the stabilizer if you used it.

 

To stack them so the symbol is right side up when it’s hanging from the loop, assemble with the tab at the top. Layer with the appliquéd piece right sides together with the zipper, cover with batting and then place the lining piece right side up on top.

      

Make sure you topstitch outside of the applique. Clip on your bag and go!

 

  Which would you choose? Command? Operations? Sciences? Camo or blue for the puddle for Stargate would be fun. My friend wanted a pink one, so anything goes! Fat Quarter Shop has every color you could possibly want and zipit probably has every color zipper too.

 

The two on the right are mine. :D