My cat Otis helped me upcycle one of my sweatshirts. Well, sort of. Otis loves me, but he can’t help me draw or sew. He was my model/muse for a patch project; I embroidered his cute face and stuck it onto my sweatshirt, making the garment feel brand new.
At the beginning of 2025, I challenged myself to only buy secondhand clothes or upcycle what I already own.
(I did make some exceptions, like underwear.) By and large, it’s been much easier than I thought and more fun than buying clothes new. And with some things in my closet, I discovered that it wasn’t that I didn’t like the pieces, it’s that they need a new lease on life. That’s where Otis came in.
Upcycling doesn’t have to be some huge project. Adding a cat patch to an old sweatshirt was just what the garment needed to feel fresh and be a total conversation starter.
Here’s how I upcycled a beloved sweatshirt with the help of my cat.
It's easier than you think! If you want to stitch your own pet portrait, I can design a kit for you! I offer Custom Pet Portrait Patch kits through my shop, Bear&Bean. I draw your pet and include everything you’ll need to transform them into a no-sew adhesive patch.
The steps:
1️⃣ I began by drawing a portrait of Otis on my iPad using the Procreate app. In my work, I’m not as concerned with an exact likeness and opt for some stylization. But that's me!
2️⃣ Once I was happy with the portrait, I converted my drawing to an outline. My patterns are paint-by-number style, and I fill in the shapes with thread. The outline is my pattern.
3️⃣ I printed the outline onto Sulky brand Stick N Stitch Stabilizer. This is a wash-away stabilizer. I stuck the design on felt (I stitch on felt because it doesn’t fray!) and then embroidered over it like normal.
4️⃣ Once I was done embroidering, I washed away the white film (aka the stabilizer). The stitching is all that remains.
5️⃣ I trimmed around the portrait and mounted it onto a second piece of gray felt.
6️⃣ I cut around the second piece of gray felt. My patch is done!
7️⃣ To make this a no-sew, stick-on patch, I added adhesive to the back of it. This is essentially an extremely sticky double-sided tape with a permanent bond. And it really works. I wear my Otis sweatshirt often and launder it, and the patch has stayed put.
To get a video peek into my patch-making process, check out the video I made about this project. And if you’d like a Pet Portrait Patch Kit, visit Bear&Bean!
Talk to you next week,
|
|
Sara Barnes
Embroidery illustrator and writer
|
