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Easy Sewing Projects
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Want to know more about working with ready made patterns?
Here are a few tips and resources for your next sewing projects
which I hope you will find useful.
Free Patterns for Easy Sewing Projects
Look around! Free patterns for projects are everywhere.
If you can trace around an object or trace each piece of an object, and remember to add a seam allowance to each piece you have traced around before you cut, YOU can make your own sewing patterns for easy sewing projects. OR, you can make them up entirely!
Ok, now you're asking, "For what?"
Cute Door Hangers Don't limit yourself to purchased "in the hoop" door hanger embroidery designs. With your embroidery sewing machine, you can make your own easy to sew door hangers! They are "sew" simple.
Fabric Covered Koozies! If you like to use your machine embroidery feature, make some fun fabric covered koozies and personalize them or add some other kind of embellishment!
Cloth Napkins! A napkin is nothing more than a square piece of fabric, usually made from cotton or linen, and extremely easy to make. Add this to your stash of easy sewing projects. Get instructions here!
Headbands! With the 60's and 70's retro look back in fashion (did it ever really leave?) fabric headbands are showing up again on models and celebrities. Guess what? They are so simple to make! They are a super easy sewing project. Find some soft, stretchy knit material and pull it to see which direction gives you the most stretch. You will want to cut your pattern piece with the longest measurement going the same direction as the stretch for the most comfort. I cut mine 6 inches by 22 inches (again, the stretch needs to go with the longest measurement). You may need to cut yours a little longer, depending on your head size. After cutting, fold the fabric in half, with the longest edges right sides together and stitch or serge about a three eighths to half inch seam. (Your headband will now be about three inches wide.) With the right sides still together, stitch one end closed leaving the other side open. From the open end, turn the fabric right sides out. Stitch closed the open end or serge it closed. Put the two short ends together and sew or serge a narrow seam. Flip the material, so the stitching is on the inside where it doesn't show. It won't matter if the edge is not clean finished, it won't show if you wear it with the seam down under your hair. Enjoy your new headband! They are so easy and fast to make, you'll want to do several for yourself, family and friends!
Placemats! Do you look at the placemats on your table and wonder what possessed you to buy them in the first place? (“What was I thinking? They don’t go with this color scheme!") Make a pattern and sew new ones! Placemats are incredibly easy to make. You can even quilt them. The same goes for your potholders.
Pet Toys! Many of "Fido's" and "Miss Kitty's" toys are nothing more than two pieces of fabric sewn together and stuffed. Time for a replacement? Trace around the old one or be creative and draw a whole new shape. (Remember to add a seam allowance.) This is an easy sewing project that even kids can be involved in. Just be sure to use fabrics suitable for being chewed on and prewash to get all the excess dyes and chemicals out. (No, it probably won't hurt - after all they do eat dead things from time to time. However, I like to keep the barf potential to a miminum.)
Pillows! Are the decorator pillows on the sofa wearing thin? Take out the pillow form and make a new cover using the old one as your guide. Making pillows is another easy sewing project. Check the clearance and remnants section at your local fabric stores and the on-line stores. There are always fabulous home decor fabrics available at reasonable prices. (Want to have some fun? Tell your spouse or significant other that you had them made by an interior decorator and it only cost you $150, each.) Here's a fun idea for pillows from t-shirts as well as information on a couple of books for more t-shirt fun.
Heatpacks! Make them for yourself or for gifts. They are sew easy!
Turn a sweatshirt into a cardigan! You don't need to buy a sewing pattern for this one. This idea for an easy sewing project has been around for several years. I thought about it again when I saw a lady wearing one she had created. They are easy to make and very comfortable to wear. Sweatshirts are inexpensive to purchase and the decorative possibilities are endless. You can use fabric paint, hand or machine embroidery, applique, crystals, fringe, whatever!
See how here.
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Good!
Look over there! I think I see another easy sewing project.
ALSO - Don't forget to check the websites of pattern companies and sewing machine manufacturers for free easy sewing projects and patterns! Use the search bar below and visit Babylock, BerninaUSA, Janome (just to name a few) and the major sewing pattern companies.
Happy stitching!
