Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

By Sewing Contributor Jessica, from the blog Life Sew Good. 

Rag wreaths have been done since…well, I don’t know how long. Here’s one I couldn’t resist though! After seeing one similar on Etsy last year, I had to try making my own. It’s simple, quick and inexpensive.

You’ll need:

• ½ to ¾ yd. fleece (your choice of color—I used cream)
• Scrap of coordinating colored fleece
• Wire hanger
• Scissors
• Measuring tape/ruler

Cut fleece into 2″ x 4″ pieces. Stretch your hanger into a circle, then twist the top into a loop so you have a way to hang it.

Begin tying your pieces of fleece onto your hanger.

Make sure to push pieces close together. You want to tie as many on as possible so you get a full looking wreath.

Take your coordinating piece of fleece and make a bow around the top, or be creative and decorate however you wish! This could be part of great table centerpiece.

By Sewing Contributor Jessica, from the blog Life Sew Good. 

We typically get a tree to decorate our living room, but this year we added a little tree to our family room, which meant we needed another tree skirt! I had fabric, so I decided to make my own. Here’s how to make yours! Note: This is for a SMALL tree skirt. You will need more fabric for a larger skirt and will probably need to make a pattern to do so.

You need:

• 1 ¼ yd. fabric (I used corduroy)
• 1 Fat Quarter or other scrap fabric
• Grosgrain Ribbon
• Heat & Bond
• Thread
• Scissors
• Pinking Sheers

1. Cut your fabric 44″ x 44″. Fold into a square.

2. From the center corner, where all the corner is all folds, measure down 4″ marking in several places.  If you connect the dots, you should have a curved line.  Cut the curve.

3. Measuring from the curve down your fabric, mark 18″ down in several places. If you connect the dots, you should have a curved line. Cut the curve.

4. Make one cut all the way from the bottom to the top.

5. From your fat quarter, cut out a design or designs you want to appliqué.

6. Attach your design: Click HERE for a tutorial on how to appliqué.

7. Finish your edges. Normally, I would serge my edges or fold under and sew, but since I was in a hurry to put it under my new tree, I just used my pinking shears this time!

8. Add your ribbon: Cut 4—8″ pieces of ribbon. Place your ribbon 2″ and then another 6 ½” down from the center back along the “slit” and sew. Repeat on other side of slit.

Place under your tree!

By Sewing Contributor Jessica, from the blog Life Sew Good. 

My mom was the genius behind this. (Thanks, mom!) I love these stocking silverware holders, especially because they can be decorated nicely for an adult crowd or fun for a kid crowd. I used fleece to make this one, but I think making them out of linen would be a nice formal touch. Also, for a more formal version, you could use white napkins inside the stocking instead of sewing in the white fleece. So many ideas…so little time.

You need:

• Red Fleece or Felt (or linen or whatever you like!)
• White Fleece or Felt (again, up to you!)
• Ribbon
• Stocking pattern (make your own or google it)

1. Trace stocking pattern onto your red fabric, placing the straight side on the fold. I used this little green stocking for my pattern!

2. Cut stocking out.

3. Using the measurement for the width of the stocking, cut a rectangle from your white fabric that measures width x 3″.

4. Open red stocking and place white piece on the left inside of stocking. Sew directly into the stocking, close to the edge.

5. With right sides facing, sew curved side of stocking. Flip right side out.

6. Decorate with ribbons, bells, or other festive things! Insert silverware & you’re done!

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By Sewing Contributor Jessica, from the blog Life Sew Good. 

Dear Santa,

As you know, I have so many plans to sew. My closets and dressers overflow with fabric and my thread holder is stocked. I have pens and rulers and even sharp scissors. All I need now is some time, so that’s all I really want for Christmas. Here are some of the projects I want so badly to complete:

The Chloe Party Dress

My little girls need this dress, preferably before Christmas. I have the fabric and the pattern. The pattern is absolutely amazing—color photos and easy to read directions.

I also am dying to make…

The Ruffled Tee: tutorial by Robin at All Things Heart and Home

…for me.

Santa, who really needs a new t-shirt, when I can just re-create one of my own? The tutorial is free and the result is so cute. Please, Santa, more time, please!

I also am in need of some home decor, so I would like to make some . . .

Pillows: tutorial by Elizabeth at E Tells Tales

It’s just that this particular pillow is cute PLUS it looks cozy enough to actually lie my head on. Cute, but functional, and again, with the free tutorial and my overflowing stock of fabric, I definitely need time to make this. Or maybe this would be a good idea for a gift for someone else?

Finally, I really need to make more…

Bitty Booties: a free pattern by Heather Bailey

I’ve made these before & they are sooo cute! I’ve been meaning to make some for a friend, but time is ticking away and the wee one is growing. I’ve gotta get myself some time to make these before it’s too late! Santa, surely time isn’t too hard for you to bring me, right?

By Sewing Contributor Jessica, from the blog Life Sew Good. 

My goal was to create a few simple pieces that would work together to make a cohesive, warm & cozy Thanksgiving table. Each project was designed to take less than an hour. I first made the Wine Glass Charm, then a Holiday Votive, and last week I showed you how to make a Thanksgiving Table Runner. In continuing with our theme, here’s a simple way to add decor and mark your wine bottles.

You need:

• Burlap
• Thread & sewing machine
• Leather cord
• Felt
• Leaf Template (Google “leaf template” and choose 1!)
• Scissors
• Crafter’s Glue or Craft/Button Thread & Needle
• Cut 2: 3 ½ x 3″ pieces of burlap for each wine bottle

 

Cut 2: 9″ strips of leather cord for each wine bottle.

Sew a seam all the way around your burlap, just to keep it from unraveling.

Fold top over ½” on each piece. Sew a seam close to the edge.

Thread leather cord through top of each piece of burlap.

Cut 1 leaf out of felt. If desired, hand embroider “Merlot” or “Pinot”, etc., as appropriate on leaf.

Attach leaf to outside of burlap by either a) using Crafter’s glue OR b) hand stitch it together.

Tie leather cords together on the sides and slip over wine bottle.

Project 4: Complete! Bring on the food.

By Sewing Contributor Jessica, from the blog Life Sew Good. 

Day 3:  The Table Runner or Banner

You have table cloths, so why not just use what you already have and make it more special with a handmade runner? You don’t need a sewing machine for this one; all sewing is done by hand.

You Need:

• Felt
• Scissors
• Craft/Button Thread
• Needle
• Pins
• Fabric Pencil (optional)
• Leaf Template or Cookie Cutter (optional)

If you want, google “leaf templates” and you will have plenty of options to print for this project. You will need a bigger leaf and then littler football-shaped leaves. I used a Wilton leaf cookie cutter for my template.

Cut leaves out of felt. I used 10 “big” leaves and 6 “little” leaves. However, you can make as many as you want to make it longer, shorter, or fuller.

If desired, you can hand embroider words that represent what you are thankful for (i.e., family, friends, faith). If may be easiest to use a pencil to draw the word you want, then hand stitch over the top.

Lay out leaves in the order you like and pin together.

Using a running stitch, sew leaves together. It’s helpful to occasionally lay it out to make sure it’s straight!

If you want to make it a banner instead of a table runner, stitch a piece of hemp cord onto the ends and hang.

Project 3: Complete!

By Sewing Contributor Jessica, from the blog Life Sew Good. 

Day 2:  The Votive Holder

I think it’s really pretty when each setting has its own small candle. There are 2 ways you can make a simple candle really pretty for your table. The first involves a small amount of sewing; the other does not. Choose your favorite, or judge how much time you have a go for it!

You need:

• Burlap
• Felt
• Cheese cloth (or gauze)
• Hemp Cord
• Crafter’s Glue
• Scissors
• Crafting/Button Thread
• Needle
• Thread & sewing machine (for sewing option)
• Votive Holders (I used prefilled votive holders)

Option 1: Sewing option

Measure your votive holder.

Cut a piece of burlap that will fit around the holder, just barely overlapping. Cut for as many votive holder as you have or will need for each place setting

Cut a long piece of gauze that is the same height as the burlap you cut. Cut the number you need for each votive holder.

Using a basting stitch (long stitch), sew down the middle of your long pieces of gauze. It should gather easily. If you need more gathers, pull on the bobbin thread to create more gathers. Repeat for each piece.

Place the gauze on top of the burlap, centering it, making sure they are the same length. Sew a regular-length stitch through the middle to attach the gauze to the burlap.

Using your crafter’s glue, attach your burlap pieces to the votive holder.

Option #2: No-sew option

Measure your votive holder.

Cut a piece of burlap that will fit around the holder, just barely overlapping. Cut for as many votive holder as you have or will need for each place setting

Using the same measurements, cut the same number of pieces of gauze. Fold top of gauze over ½ way down.

Using your crafter’s glue, attach the burlap to the candle holder. After it dries, place the gauze on top of the burlap. To make it stick, use glue sparingly.

For Both Options:

Use the tutorial from the wine glass charms to finish the votive holders. The only difference will be that you will need a little long hemp cords to tie around the votive holders. After you’ve tied your leaf charm on the holders, you’ve completed Day 2!