Love that Tim Gunn, eh... Ok, back to the bunnies and pretty pastel things. Patchworked denim seems to be one of the upcoming summer trends. Cheap Monday introduced a 90´s spirited, flower patterned patchworked jean in their collection. I love the design as I spent my teens in the 90´s and to me this design style is very nostalgic. Pale colored pastels go well with worn light blue jeans, but of course this technique works also made with dark colors (in matching color harmonies). Sewing appliques is propably the easiest machine sewn DIY ever! When sewing appliques to jeans you can use either denim or fabric. Instead of buying new fabrics, I'd use fabric scraps or secondhand mens shirts or other cotton clothing you don´t use anymore. You do need also some fusible stabilizer fabric with lighter materials as the applique should be as strong as your garment material is. It also prevents fraying on the reverse side. If you dont have fusible stabilizer fabric, then loads of extra top stitching all over the applique to make it stronger.

Cheap Monday SS2010 floral patchworked denim by Ann-Sofie Back. Via Styletastic and NastyGal.





There are many applique techniques, but here are the two most used.

Classic applique First the applique fabric is strengthened with steam fusible stabilizer fabric and then cut to form. The piece is first attached with a straight stitch and finally sewn with a zig zag stitch ove the fabric edge. Tutorials at SewMamaSew. These were spotted at FaceHunter.




Sewing an Applique Stitch via eHow.com

Reverse applique First the applique fabric is strengthened with steam fusible stabilizer fabric and placed inside the garment and sewn to form with a straight stitch. Then the top layer is cut inside the sewn form to expose a second layer of fabric beneath. Tutorial at That*Darn*Cat. These Dolce & Gabbana jeans are done with reverse applique.





Inspiration, RRL / Buckleback Patchwork Denim. Via Hunky Dory Nagoya blog.



Trussardi 1911, Just Cavalli, Unique, GAP, Ralph Lauren and Balenciaga SS2010 jeans.











Dolce & Gabbana used also lace trims to decorate their SS2010 jeans.