Supplies:

Felt in a variety of colors

scraps of fabric

embroidery thread

bigger fabric pieces for lining

buttons

We came up with this idea basically for a cell phone cover and from there it just grew. We ended up making iPad covers, iPod touch covers and Nintendo DS covers. They are fairly easy, but can be time-consuming depending on how much detail you go into. Only basic sewing skills required though.

First measure your electronic gadget and allow some extra room for seams, then cut two felt pieces in the size you need.

Choose your outer design. This is the fun part. We drew off designs of owls, cats, horses and birds. Find a silhouette on the computer, print it and trace it. Cut your design out of felt and embellish it with embroidery thread, buttons, and scraps of fabric. Sew your design to what will be the front of one your squares of felt.

Also sew on a button near the top for fastening.

Cut two pieces of lining fabric, fold down the top edge of your lining so you can hem it while you attach it. Pin the lining to your felt pieces, pop a hair band or string to act as a closure in between the felt and the lining, and sew it together on the top edges.

Stack your felt pieces with the lining inside and sew around the edges. Using felt made it easier on my daughters. There was no sewing inside out and turning.

Emeline came up with this Razorback design all on her own and made her daddy an iPad cover for the iPad we got him for is 40th birthday.

You’ve got to know someone who can use a gadget cover or two.

I’m sure you’ve seen this done before, but when my mother specifically asked for dishtowels from the girls, I thought why not fancy them up.

We bought a pack of six white dishtowels from Walmart and ripped strips of scrap fabric. You’ll need a longish piece of fabric because you’re going to ruffle it up.

We only folded under and sewed down the edges on each side and left the top and bottom frayed. But, you could hem all sides if you’re so inclined. We’re the lazy sort of crafters.

The girls did this freestyle so nothing is terribly even, but it turned out pretty cute. The girls did a Gussy-inspired ruffle, tucking as they sewed up one side, then again up the other.

A couple of these and some measuring spoons and cups would make a nice little teacher’s gift. Don’t you think?

Are you planning to make any Christmas gifts this year? My girls love doing it. They always want to give practically everyone they know a gift at Christmas and if we start early enough I can satisfy their need to give.

While looking for ideas for our homemade Christmas gifts, I had a couple of things in mind: I wanted the kids to be able to do it themselves and we needed to use stuff we already had on hand.

Of all our homemade gifts, this one fit those criteria the best.

Supplies:

1 solid color fabric or denim

ribbon

several other small scraps of fabric

Heat and Bond

sewing machine

Cut out many small scraps of fabric. I cut them about an inch on one side and angled them. Iron on Heat and bond to a rectangular solid colored fabric, we used a linen, but I think denim would work well too.

My daughter then arranged her scraps the way she wanted them and added a folded ribbon at the top under one of her first scraps. Iron this down.

Then go crazy and sew all over the top of it.

This is perfect for learning to sew because they don’t have to sew straight and it’s fun.

I made sure to sew over the top edge where the ribbon is to secure it, but other than that, just try to hit all the scraps at least once.

If you wanted to spend more time on this project you could hand embroidery a verse or name on the back before you add the scraps.