DIY Receiving Blanket

Learn to make your own receiving blankets for a new baby.  They are SO easy and the cost is minimal. If you have a sewing machine, some thread and a yard of flannel, then you can make these DIY receiving blankets.

They make a great gift for new babies. Recently my sister had a baby, so of course, I had to make her some baby blankets.
Normally, I use my serger to make receiving blankets. But I realize that not everyone has a serger and they are kind of expensive.

So I decided to take this opportunity to make a sewing machine version.

How to Make a Scrunchie Bow

Scrunchies are so easy to make. They're cute and fun to wear. What makes them even cuter? A bow, of course. Make your own scrunchie bows today!

So my girls are still obsessed with scrunchies. I taught them how to make them over the summer and every couple of weeks they take over the sewing machine and make some more.

As much as they love to wear them, I think it's even more about the process of making them. Starting with a flat piece of fabric, and turning it into something fun and useful.

The process of creating is so fulfilling. I'm glad to be able to pass my love for creating on to them.

How to Make a 'Tie Quilt' Blanket

When we were kids, it seemed that my mom always had a quilt on the quilt frame. It was so fun to lay underneath and watch it be completed. There is just something special about a handmade quilt. I think it's because so much time and love are put into each one.

I've got the love, but I don't have the time. The solution: A tie quilt or blanket. You tie them with yarn instead of quilting them so they are super quick. I made a few of these back in January and one more last week.

I'm sure you've all seen tie blankets and probably even made a few yourself. But in case you haven't, I've got a little mini series for you. I'll be covering how to tie a blanket, how to bind a blanket and how to make your own quilt frames.

I taught my 8 year old son how to tie these and he loved it. If he can do it, then so can you!

How to Make a DIY Scrunchie

 Scrunchies are the perfect sewing project for beginners. The supplies are few and the technique is simple. Don't waste any more money on expensive boutique scrunchies. Make your own with this quick and easy tutorial.

This summer has been filled with sewing scrunchies. I taught my two younger daughters (ages 9 and 11) how to make scrunchies. They have really taken to it, and will NOT stop making them.

Every few days, they ask if they can make some more. By now, I think they have made a scrunchie with every scrap of fabric I have that is long enough.

The thing is, I really don't mind. The cost is minimal and it gives them something to do besides staring at a screen.

Free Pattern: Hanging Shoe Organizer

Learn how to make a hanging shoe organizer with this free sewing pattern!  Hold all your kiddo's shoes with this fabric DIY shoe holder.

How to Make a Quick and Easy Striped Quilt

Learn to make a simple striped quilt. This quilt couldn't be easier and you won't believe how quickly it comes together. It makes a great weekend project.

My oldest two kids have quilts on their beds, but for the longest time, my youngest two have just used blankets. Last spring, I finally decided to make some comforters for their beds.

Easy Throw Pillow Covers - Using Cloth Napkins

Lately I'm obsessed with creating new throw pillow covers. With Valentine's day approaching, I decided to make some Valentine's pillows using another new (for me) style. Enter cloth napkins. These pillow covers are each made with two napkins. You guys! These are so easy!

With just a few supplies and a small amount of time, you will be looking at a new set of pillow covers. This DIY is perfect for beginner sewers and crafters, or for anyone who wants to make a quick project.

I'm loving the fact that these pillow covers can be embellished for any holiday or season. I'm seeing some St. Patrick's Day pillow covers in the near future.

How to Make a Pillow Cover from a Dish Towel!

Learn to make an EASY pillow cover for any season. The secret? Decorative dish towels! The patterns, colors and styles are endless. Plus, dish towels are a LOT less expensive than a decorative pillow. Keep reading, you're going to love how easy these are to make!

I love the idea of having pillows for all the seasons/holidays of the year. I drool over Instagram (follow me!)  photos of perfect couches styled with perfectly mismatched pillows. BUT the reality is, where would I put all those pillows in the off season?

How to Make a Small DIY Tote Bag

Learn to make a small fabric tote bag with a lining. This easy-to-sew bag requires only a few supplies to make. One of the advantages to this pattern, is that you can easily make whatever sized bag you want by adjusting the size of the pieces of fabric you cut out. Make this your next sewing project!

How to Make a Christmas Tree Skirt with a Ruffle

Do you change your tree decor every year? I am on the 5-10 year rotation plan. Last year, I started the nativity tree theme and I foresee making a new nativity ornament each year for several years to come.

My tree for the 5-6 years before the nativity tree, was a white theme. I used white ornaments, each year making something new to add. For that tree, I used a white felt snowflake tree skirt {Go see the tutorial - it's no-sew!} I ended up using that white tree skirt last year, but I felt that I needed a red skirt this year to match the red bulbs and bows that round out my nativity tree.

I looked and looked for a tree skirt that would match and that I liked. I found nothing! So I decided to make one. I found the PERFECT fabric and there was EXACTLY enough left at the store to create the skirt. It was meant to be.

Today's project is part of this month's Inspire My Creativity Link Party. The theme this month is RED, which worked out perfectly since I wanted a new red Christmas tree skirt.

Super Easy Burp Cloths - a quick gift idea

A few months ago, my sister had a little baby girl. I decided to make her a few receiving blankets and some coordinating burp cloths. These burp cloths are so simple to make. Just a little bit of fabric, and a few minutes of time and you'll be ready to gift these burp cloths. I opted to leave mine plain, but you could totally add some trim to make them even cuter!

Fall Leaf Rubbing Pillow - a twist on a classic fall activity

This leaf rubbing pillow takes a favorite fall activity and turns it into pretty and easy fall decor.

Did you ever do leaf rubbing as a kid? I vaguely remember doing it. When trying to come up with a project for this month's challenge (leaves), I remembered doing leaf rubbing art. But I wanted a new twist. I came up with the idea to do the leaf rubbing on fabric and then creating a pillow.

12 DIY Cutoff Shorts to Make for Kids

Have you ever tried to find something online and just can't find what you're looking for? That's pretty much how this whole cutoff shorts thing started for me. I wanted to make cutoffs for my kids. I'm cheap and I wanted to utilize the jeans that had holes in the knees. But I wanted to add some fun details, so I turned to the internet for ideas.

I was pretty disappointed. The majority of cutoff short ideas that I found were WAY too short. I want my kids to be kids. I want them to be modest, not models. So that summer, I came up with my own DIY ideas for cutoff shorts.

This post brings all my cutoff shorts ideas into one place. Plus other's I have since found.  I decided to do a roundup of modest kids cutoff shorts in hopes that others can find what I couldn't.

How to Hand-Sew a Blind Hem Stitch to Create Cuffed Shorts

I recently shared how I made cutoff shorts with lace accents. Today, I'm sharing easy cuffed shorts made from cutoff jeans. I used a blind hemstitch to create the cuff without a visible seam. Sure, you could just roll them up, but then they come unrolled in the wash and fray unevenly. You guys, I have VIDEO to show you how to do the stitch!! {Keep reading to the end of the post}

You can do a lot of fun things with cuffed shorts. I've made ricrac and button cutoffs and painted cuffed shorts. Type shorts into the search bar on the right to see all the different cutoff shorts I've shared.

How to Hand-Sew a Blind Hem Stitch

Learn how to use fabric applique to add your own flair to your projects. Add a little hand stitching to create adorable one of a kind crafts. You will learn how to apply iron on applique with easy step-by-step pictures and instructions. Plus download this free tulips in a jar pattern!

Recently I shared my new envelope pillow cover tutorial. They're SUPER easy, so be sure to check it out.  Today I'm sharing the process of applying the applique to the pillows. It's pretty easy too, so let's get started!

How to applique fabric using iron-on adhesive

Supplies for fabric applique

You will need:

Pattern of what you would like to applique {You can find mine below}

Fabric - various colors, I used fat quarters for the applique and a white duck cloth for the pillow

Iron on adhesive

Scissors

Iron

Light box or window

Coordinating thread {Optional, if you'd like to add decorative stitching}

Affiliate links of supply items listed below. If you choose to make a purchase, I will receive a small percentage at no additional charge to you. 

If you'd like to try out my pattern, simply click on the image or the link below and you can print it out or download it.

Tulips in a Jar Free Pattern

Next we need to transfer the image to the iron on adhesive. You can do this using a light box if you have one, but I always just use my window. This is really hard to see, but I hope you can get the idea. I tape the pattern to the window and then tape the adhesive over it and trace away. I was about to trace the jar for this photo.

Keep in mind that the images that you trace will be a mirror to the end product. I placed my tulips with the printing facing the window because I wanted the end result to face the way I drew it. But really, since there are no words, it doesn't matter much.

Tip: Trace each piece separately so that you can easily cut out the pieces to iron on to different colors of fabric.

Iron the pattern pieces onto the fabric.

Next, cut out each piece of your applique and arrange it in place.

Piece by piece, remove the backing and iron in place. Begin with the bottom layers and work your way up. For this project, I did the jar first, then the stems, then the flowers and finally the leaves.

Lastly, I stitched around the pieces with coordinating thread. This is not necessary, but adds extra cuteness!

Have you done any applique projects? Do you have any tips you would like to add?

You may also like:

 Easy Envelope Pillows

How to Make a Drawstring Bag with fabric applique

Don't forget to pin it!!

How to Make an EASY Envelope Pillow Cover

Update your old throw pillows with this quick and easy envelope pillow cover tutorial. In about 10 minutes, using one piece of fabric and four straight seams you can learn how to sew these simple envelope pillow covers.

How to Make an Envelope Pillow Cover

Last summer I bought a few throw pillows for the bench on my front porch. I really wanted to have different pillows for the different seasons, but hated the thought of storing them all. I decided to make pillow covers with an envelope closure. They are easily switched out and take way less room to store. These DIY envelope pillows were so EASY and quick to make. Now I have some cute spring pillows!

How to Make an Easy Baby Receiving Blanket

 Learn how to make a very easy baby receiving blanket. This instructive tutorial shows you how to make a custom sized receiving blanket in no time.


This summer my sister had her first baby.  I made her some receiving blankets. These receiving blankets are so easy, that I just had to share.

I loved swaddling my little ones when they were small. However, my babies were large to begin with and soon grew out of the little receiving blankets that I had. I decided to fix that problem with these receiving blankets.

Easy Fabric Hot Pad - Beginner's Sewing Project

Learn how to make an easy fabric hot pad. This is a great project to teach kids {or any beginner} to sew. This is one of those projects that looks complicated, but in reality is quite simple to make. My 9 year old daughter made me one at 4H and I love it, so I had to share. 

Although the fabric is woven and looks complex, once you learn how to set up the fabric, it is really only 4 straight seams and you're done.

How to Make a Fabric Heart Valentine with a Pocket

Valentines is one of my favorite holidays to decorate for. I like to make something new each year. This year I made a cute little fabric Valentine heart, complete with a little pocket to stash a small note and treat. I'll show you how to make your own and walk you through each step. Note: I previously shared this over at A Glimpse Inside

I made one for each family member and they will hang on the mantle.
 

As I was making these for my family, I thought how nice it would be to fill up each other hearts with kind words. So the week before Valentines, we will write something nice about each person in our family every day.  I'm hoping that this will help us to focus on the good in each other. Then, on Valentine's, the kids can read them all and realize how much their family loves them.

Want to make your own Fabric Heart Valentine?

You will need:

pillow ticking {or other fabric of your choice}
coordinating felt
pelton {this is a very stiff type of interfacing}
heart stencil {you can draw your own or print one from the web onto cardstock if you don't have one}
sewing machine
thread
scissors
pinking shears
twine and clothespins- for hanging, if desired

 
Begin by tracing and cutting out your hearts. You will need two hearts from the pillow ticking, and one from the pelton that are the same size. Mine were about 5 3/4" from side to side. You will also need a smaller heart {about 3 3/4"} from the felt.

1 - Sew your pocket onto your heart first. I found that the easiest way to do this was to layer the pelton, one piece of fabric and then the felt, then sew just around the sides and bottom part of the felt heart. The pelton helps stabilize the fabric so stays flat and doesn't twist around as you're sewing. Make sure your fabric is right side up on your pillow ticking for this step.

2 - Sew on the back of the heart, with the right side facing out. I used a 1/4" seam allowance for this part.

3 - Using pinking shears, cut around the edge of the heart.

That's it! Make several and hang them on a piece of twine for a pretty heart garland.

You may also like:

 Easy Framed Heart Art 

 Personalized Valentine's Candles 

 Heart Bracelets 

 Wood and Vinyl Valentine's Art

For more Valentine's projects follow me on Pinterest.