Easy Sewing Projects

5+ Sewing Projects for One Yard of Fabric

April 12, 2018 by Jackie Leave a Comment

Whether you’re a beginning, intermediate, or advanced sewer, you most likely have fabric leftovers taking up room in your sewing bag. Today’s post has great ideas to help you use those fabric scraps. Here are 5+ sewing projects that are perfect for just one yard of fabric! Better yet, they are all perfect for gift-giving {or to keep for yourself!}.

1. An earbud wrap is a clever item that the teens in your life will especially adore. It will keep their earphones neat and tidy in their backpack, or wherever they stash them while they’re at school.

2. Have you got a yard of fabric that would make a cute headband? Try this easy sewing project for beginners!

3. Be prepared for your next baby shower with some handmade baby burp cloths. These are awesome because they have a decorative side and a more absorbent side. You’ll need a fat quarter to make 3 burp cloths, plus some terry toweling for the absorbent side.

4. Why spend a lot of money on a fashionable men’s bow tie when you can make one yourself with just one yard of fabric? It’s not hard to do–a beginner can do this project!

5. This easy sew cosmetics bag makes a great handmade gift idea. With less than a yard of cute fabric and a zipper, you’re ready to sew it up!

6. One of my daughters loves to wear a sleep mask at night. With this free pattern, I could make her a different one for every night of the week!

Here is where you’ll find free patterns and tutorials for the easy sewing projects featured in this post:

Craftsy earbud wrapper

So Sew Easy headband

Craftsy Perfect Baby Burp cloth

Sew Like My Mom Men’s Bow Tie tutorial

Craftsy Easy Cosmetics Bag

So Sew Easy oversized sleep mask pattern & tutorial

Sewing Your Own Body Pillow

March 1, 2018 by Jackie Leave a Comment

Let’s talk body pillows. Have you ever tried one? Mine was a total lifesaver when I was pregnant, but they aren’t just for that. Whether you need more support when you sleep, or just love to have something to relax on, a body pillow is a great thing to have. Sometimes the choices in ready-made body pillows are lacking–but a great option is to just make your own. So today’s post is all about how to sew your own body pillow. Stick around!

So the best thing about sewing your own body pillow is that you get to choose your fabric from a multitude of choices. Solid or print, cotton or fleece, it’s all up to you and what you like best. Start by choosing and purchasing two yards of your favorite fabric. {Try Fabric.com!} You will also need:

pillow filling {find it at Michaels}
matching thread
additional fabric for a cover {if you want a separate cover for your finished pillow}

A standard body pillow is about 20″ x 54″. You can make yours a standard size, or you can cut it a little wider, narrower, shorter or longer. Determine how you want yours, and then add an inch for seams. Cut your chosen fabric to these dimensions. For example, cut your two yards of fabric into a sheet measuring 41″ x 55″.

Fold one short end in about 1/2″ and iron it down.
Now fold your fabric sheet in half lengthwise, right sides together.
Stitch three sides closed, leaving open the short end that you previously ironed over 1/2″.
Turn the pillow shell right sides out. The open end leaves you access to stuff the shell with pillow filling.
Stuff the pillow so it is your desired level of firmness.
Stitch the previously ironed edge closed using a 1/4″ seam. For durability, stitch twice. You’re finished!

Note: To make an extra cover for your pillow, measure your chosen fabric to be 2″ wider and 4″ longer than your finished body pillow, plus one inch for seams. For a standard size body pillow, cut your fabric 45″ x 59″. You can pretty much follow the above directions, minus the stuffing. Hem the folded edge instead of stitching it closed.

Find more sewing projects here:

12 Free Sewing Patterns for ANY Seamstress

12 Simple Sewing Projects for Beginners

15 Adorable No-Sew Pillow Projects

Pretty Easy Dress Patterns for Girls

August 22, 2017 by Jackie Leave a Comment

If you are a sewer, you will really enjoy today’s post. I’ve rounded up a collection of some pretty easy dress patterns for girls. As a big plus, these patterns are all free! Take a look and decide which one you’d like to try first.

Crafterhours has a free pattern for this adorable knit racerback dress. Because it has no closures, it’s super easy to sew. The pattern is also a PDF, so that’s a plus.

Even if you don’t have a little girl of your own, you can sew for charity. This pattern was designed with that in mind, and is named The Good Deeds Dress.

This may be the easiest dress you’ll ever make! The play-all-day-dress is easy to sew and easy to wear.

Most 3-6 year olds can wear this darling MuuMuu dress with only an easy adjustment to the length.

Vintage looks are pretty on little girls and big girls alike. Sew this vintage sundress from Simple Simon.

This peasant dress pattern from Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom {with both a short sleeve and a long sleeve option!} is simply darling.

Empire waist dresses are some of the cutest, and this one is no exception. Get the pattern at The Stitching Scientist.

A little girl’s dress with a matching doll’s dress is always a great option for a birthday gift.

Finally, a dress with cute bubble sleeves from Elegance and Elephants.

12 Simple Sewing Projects for Beginners

May 25, 2017 by Jackie 4 Comments

Have you always wanted to learn to sew, but aren’t sure where to start? Well, I’m here to help! Today I have a list of 12 simple sewing projects for beginners, and they’re so fun and so easy that {seriously!} anyone could do it. Take a look and see which one you’d like to do first.

1. If you’re like me, you like to have two things on hand when you leave the house: your keys and a chapstick. This project is for you! Make a cute keychain chapstick holder that will help you easily carry both.

2. Summer is the perfect time for this project. Make a beach towel tote that’s as cute as it is easy to sew.

3. Yes, you can make a baby blanket {or two!}. Namely, these jumbo reversible receiving blankets. See Happy Hooligans for a step-by-step tutorial.

4. Celebrate a next birthday in style. Create this easy birthday banner!

5. Make the weather feel a little warmer by sewing this DIY ear warmer headband.

6. Pajama pants are one of the easiest projects a beginning sewer can make. See how at Living Well, Spending Less.

7. If you can sew a baby blanket {and believe me, you can} then you can also sew some matching burp cloths. You’ll be set for your next baby shower gift!

8. Get some cute fabric and stitch up this adorable mini messenger bag. What will you carry in it?

9. Take your Kindle on vacation in style with a simple Kindle case you can sew in minutes.

10. This bib is just a flat-out necessity for any toddler you know. And it’s quick and super easy to make!

11. Why buy a key fob when you could make one like this? Any of these would make a great gift, too.

12. Tote bags are so easy to make, you could make a new one every week if you wanted.

20 Ways to Reuse Fabric Scraps

January 26, 2017 by Jackie Leave a Comment

1. It doesn’t take much of a scrap to make this handy little coffee {or hot cocoa} cozy. This one is actually put together from several coordinating scraps. Love the button detail!

2. Put together some colorful scraps and turn them into this adorable flower pillow. Love!

3. Isn’t this about the cutest rag rug you’ve ever seen? See the tutorial here.

4. These plush alphabet letters are SO much cuter than the alphabet magnets you can buy.

5. I know I’d love fabric scrap potholders in my kitchen.

6. Wouldn’t these DIY fabric scrap magnets be adorable on a magnet board or even your refrigerator?

7. Here’s a really unique and cute idea: turn those fabric scraps into key chains! What a great homemade gift idea, too.

8. Reusable pocket warmers. The little hands in your family will thank you every winter!

9. Make some easy fabric scrap bows. They look great as headbands and bowties.

10. Your favorite book lover will love a fabric bookmark.

11. Turn some cute scraps into DIY Headbands. Craft Snob shows you how.

12. Who thought of making fabric scrap bandaids? Easily cover a plain bandaid with cute fabric, using just 3 glue dots.

13. How about some cute potholders that protect your fingers but leave the rest of your hands free?

14. Turn your cute scraps into an even cuter belt. Little girls will love this idea!

15. Make a quick and easy sunglass case and stow it in the car to protect your sunglasses when you’re not wearing them.

16. You can’t go wrong with a cute DIY banner. This one was made for a girl’s nursery.

17. Take a plain muslin or canvas tote, and make it your own by adding fabric scraps cut in hexagon shapes.

18. Another pillow project brought to you by DIY Joy.

19. This is probably the cutest wallet that money cannot buy! Tutorial from Modest Maven.

20. Finally, turn plain bobby pins into a cute accessory by adding a fabric scrap button to the top.