r/sewhelp • u/Typical-Ad-430 • 1d ago

Help with sweater idea

Had an idea for a goofy sweater with a mouth on it a while ago and I’m trying to figure out how to make it. I was planning on making a black shape with reverse appliqué and leaving a little extra fabric on the front to nestle the teeth into, but I have no idea how I’d actually attach them. Using fleece for this if that makes a difference

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u/paratethys 1d ago

do you want to be able to wash the finished item?

personally, if i wanted to add a mouth to a sweater, i would do them as separate components. i'd find a good sweater, and then i'd make the mouth (at least the gums) separately, probably out of some kind of clay (oven bake or air dry, don't bake it with the teeth in), and glue the teeth into the clay gums. i'd use pin/brooch backs, velcro, or magnets to secure the sculpture to the sweater.

any textiles that go around the removable teeth and gums part, like lips or a tongue that comes out the middle, could be sewn to the sweater and washed with it.

the trick is that you take the part with the teeth off before washing it.

or you could get a teeny little drill bit, drill some holes through each tooth, and sew them on like beads. then the whole thing would be washable.