DIY Sunflower Applique for T-Shirts, Towels, Totes & More

Create a cheerful, handmade look with a DIY sunflower applique sewn from colorful sunflower-print fabrics and coordinated patchwork cottons for aprons, totes, towels, and more.

Add Handmade Sunshine to Your Sewing Projects with Beautiful Multi-Size Sunflower Designs

Dear Readers and Subscribers,

There is something cheerful and welcoming about sunflowers that instantly brightens a sewing project. Whether appliqued onto a handmade T-shirt, tote bag, kitchen towel, bath towel, or apron, sunflowers add warmth, charm, and personality to everyday items.

One of the best things about sunflower appliques is their versatility. A single sunflower design can be created in small, medium, or large sizes and used on many different sewing projects throughout the year. They work beautifully for farmhouse decor, cottage-style sewing, summer accessories, fall decorating, and handmade gifts. Sunflowers aren't just for Fall; they are for year-round enjoyment.

If you enjoy using fabric scraps, applique projects like this are also an excellent way to turn leftover fabrics into something beautiful and useful.

Sunflower appliques are one of the easiest ways to brighten handmade sewing projects. They can be sewn onto T-shirts, tote bags, kitchen towels, aprons, bath towels, pillow covers, and many other fabric items to create a cheerful, handmade look.

One of the best things about sunflower appliques is that they can be made in many different ways. Some sewists prefer creating layered flowers from solid fabrics, while others use sunflower-print fabrics and cut out the flower designs directly from the fabric for fast, easy appliqué.

This project is beginner-friendly and also an excellent way to use fabric scraps creatively.

DIY Easy Sunflower Appliques in Small, Medium & Large Sizes Using Fabric Scraps or Sunflower Prints

Supplies Needed

Yellow cotton fabric scraps

Green fabric for stems and leaves

Brown fabric for flower centers

Optional sunflower print fabric

Fusible web

Lightweight interfacing (optional)

Scissors

Pins

Iron

Sewing machine

Thread

Plain T-shirt, tote bag, towel, apron, or other item for appliqué

Option 1: Making a DIY Sunflower from Fabric Shapes

Step 1: Draw the Sunflower Pieces

Draw simple shapes on paper:

Large flower circle

Petals

Leaf shapes

Stem strip

Flower center circle

You can keep the sunflower simple or add multiple layers of petals for a fuller flower.

Step 2: Cut Out Fabric Pieces

Cut:

Yellow petals

Brown flower center

Green leaves

Green stem

You can use:

Solid fabrics

Floral fabrics

Polka dots

Gingham

Textured cottons

For a farmhouse look, mix coordinating prints together.

Step 3: Apply Fusible Web

Iron fusible web onto the back of each applique piece according to the manufacturer's directions.

Then cut out the applique pieces neatly.

Step 4: Arrange the Sunflower

Lay the pieces onto the project before ironing:

Place the stem first

Add leaves

Position petals in a circle

Add the flower center last

Experiment with placement until the sunflower looks balanced.

Step 5: Iron Pieces in Place

Press the applique pieces onto the fabric using a hot iron.

Allow the applique to cool completely before stitching.

Step 6: Stitch Around the Edges

Sew around the applique edges using:

Zigzag stitch

Satin stitch

Decorative stitch

Straight stitch for rustic raw-edge applique

Slow stitching around curved petals gives the neatest results.

Option 2: DIY Sunflower Applique Using Sunflower Print Fabric

This is one of the easiest applique methods and works beautifully for beginners.

Step 1: Choose Sunflower Print Fabric

Look for fabric with:

Large sunflower blooms

Bright flower shapes

Clearly defined petals

Good spacing between flowers

Cotton quilting fabric works especially well.

Step 2: Cut Around the Sunflower

Carefully cut around the printed sunflower image, leaving a small fabric edge around the flower.

You can:

Cut individual flowers

Include leaves

Include stems

Combine multiple flowers

Step 3: Apply Fusible Web

Iron the fusible web onto the back of the cut-out sunflower.

Step 4: Position the Applique

Arrange the sunflower onto:

T-shirts

Tote bags

Towels

Aprons

Sweatshirts

Pillow covers

This method creates fast, boutique-style applique projects with very little work.

Step 5: Stitch Around the Design

Use a zigzag or satin stitch to secure the sunflower to the fabric.

For rustic farmhouse projects, a raw-edge stitch works beautifully.

Why Sunflower Appliques Are So Popular

Sunflowers have remained a favorite design in sewing and crafting because they feel:

Bright and uplifting

Rustic and cozy

Timeless and seasonal

Suitable for both modern and vintage styles

They also pair beautifully with:

Denim

White cotton

Natural linen

Gingham fabrics

Farmhouse prints

Cottagecore sewing styles

A sunflower applique can instantly transform a plain item into a boutique-style handmade creation.

Projects You Can Add Sunflower Appliques To

Clothing

A sunflower applique looks beautiful on:

Sleeveless tops

T-shirts

Sweatshirts

Denim jackets

Aprons

Children's clothing

Doll clothes

A medium sunflower centered on the front of a shirt makes a bold statement, while smaller sunflowers near the hemline or pocket add a softer decorative touch.

Tote Bags

Sunflowers are especially eye-catching on canvas tote bags. A large sunflower applique with a green stem and leaves creates a rustic market bag style that works wonderfully for:

Grocery shopping

Farmers markets

Library bags

Craft storage

Beach totes

Adding coordinating fabric lining inside the tote gives the project an even more professional finish.

Kitchen & Bath Towels

Appliqued towels are wonderful because they combine usefulness with decorative charm.

Sunflower appliques can be sewn onto:

Kitchen towels

Hand towels

Bath towels

Tea towels

A smaller applique placed near the lower corner of the towel creates a clean boutique look without making the towel feel stiff or bulky.

These also make thoughtful handmade gifts for:

Housewarmings

Birthdays

Mother's Day

Fall gift baskets

Holiday presents

Choosing Applique Fabrics

Sunflowers look best when paired with fabrics that have texture and contrast.

Popular choices include:

Yellow cotton prints

Golden floral fabrics

Orange tone-on-tone fabrics

Green cotton for leaves and stems

Brown textured fabric for the flower center

Even tiny scraps can be used effectively for applique projects, making this an economical sewing idea.

Small, Medium & Large Applique Sizes

One sunflower template can be resized for many different projects.

Small Sizes

Perfect for:

Pockets

Doll clothes

Hand towels

Cosmetic bags

Small accessories

Medium Sizes

Ideal for:

Adult T-shirts

Aprons

Kitchen towels

Medium totes

Large Sizes

Beautiful for:

Bath towels

Pillow covers

Large market bags

Wall hangings

Decorative fabric panels

Resizing appliqué templates allows you to create coordinated collections using the same design theme.

Fusible Web Makes Applique Easier

Many sewists use fusible web products to hold appliqué pieces in place before stitching.

After ironing the pieces onto the project, the edges can be finished with:

Zigzag stitching

Satin stitching

Decorative machine stitches

Raw-edge applique stitching

This helps secure the applique while giving the project a finished, handmade appearance.

A Wonderful Scrap Fabric Project

Sunflower appliques are an excellent scrap-busting sewing project because they use:

Small leftover pieces

Tiny fabric cuts

Coordinating scraps

Mixed textures and prints

Instead of throwing fabric scraps away, they can become colorful, handmade embellishments for future sewing projects.

Create a Handmade Sunflower Collection

One of the most exciting things about appliqué sewing is that it can easily grow into an entire handmade collection.

You could create:

Matching tote bags and towels

Coordinating T-shirts and aprons

Seasonal sunflower kitchen sets

Handmade gift bundles

Matching doll and child outfits

A cheerful sunflower theme ties all the projects together beautifully.

A DIY sunflower applique is a simple way to add color, warmth, and personality to handmade sewing projects. From T-shirts and totes to towels and aprons, these sunny designs can brighten almost anything they are sewn onto.

Best of all, sunflower appliques work wonderfully for beginners and experienced sewists alike. With a few fabric scraps, a sewing machine, and a little creativity, you can turn ordinary projects into cheerful handmade pieces that look unique and special.

At The Designer’s Needle, sewing is about more than fabric and thread — it’s about creativity, comfort, and bringing beautiful handmade ideas to life. Subscribe to The Designer's Needle in the sidebar for fresh sewing inspiration, practical tutorials, and unique projects every week.

Also, save this article to Pinterest in the sidebar so you can come back to it later and share the inspiration with other sewists and fabric lovers.

Enjoy and Happy Sewing!