presents

Simple Christmas Crafts

4 FREE
SEWING
GUIDES

1 2 3 4

1 Comfort & Joy

by Ellen Marchant

2 Card Me
by Marla Stefanelli

3 Sweet Treats
by Linda Lee

4 Starry, Starry Skirt

by Amy Stalp
 Simple Christmas Crafts

4 FREE
SEWING
GUIDES

Discover how to sew fun and simple Christmas crafts to

decorate your home and delight your loved ones using these
simple step-by-step sewing guides. Add a playful touch to
your living room with creative reverse appliqué pillows featur-
ing glad tidings in “Comfort & Joy.” Present a gift card or
cash in a cute and unexpected handmade holder in “Card
Me.” Take inspiration from traditional holiday ribbon candy to
make the simple sachet featured in “Sweet Treats.” Complete
your Christmas décor with a quick and easy-to-make tree
skirt in “Starry, Starry Skirt.” These four handmade Christmas
craft projects will become wonderful keepsakes to display
and treasure every holiday season!
Happy sewing!

Beth Bradley
Associate Editor, Sew News

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Comfort & Joy...................................................PAGE 2

2 Card Me ....................................................PAGE 4

3 Sweat Treats...............................................PAGE 8

4 Starry, Starry Skirt ......................................PAGE 10

 comfort
& joy Ring in some holiday cheer with pillows that
do all the talking. Flip the pillows to say a new
greeting each time your guests enter the room.
MATERIALS
1 yard each of 60”- wide red and white fleece
(See “The Source” on page 81.)
Three 16”-square pillow forms
Computer & printer
Air- or water-soluble fabric-marking pen
Temporary spray adhesive (See “The Source.”)
All-purpose thread: red, white
Choose a pleasing font from a computer’s word-
processing program.Type the following letters,
keeping one to a page: H, O, F, A and L. Enlarge
the letters as big as possible; print each page.
Enlarge each letter using a copy machine until
the letters measure approximately 6”x 7”, mak-
ing sure they’re in proportion to each
other. Cut out each letter.The featured letters
try this! are a 72-point Curlz MT font, printed and
enlarged 140%.
Use a chenille Cut six 171⁄4” squares each from the red and
white fleece.
brush to
distress the
appliqué
raw edges
if desired.
2 sewnews
ELLEN MARCHANT
Center the letters H and O over one white
fleece square; refer to the picture at right for
placement. Outline each letter using an air- or
water-soluble marking pen. Cut out each letter
from the fleece. Repeat to cut out “HO” from
two remaining white fleece squares.
Spray one cut white-square wrong side with
temporary spray adhesive. Position the white
square over one red square so right sides are
facing up; align the corners and edges.With
white thread in the top and bobbin, stitch
approximately ⅛” around each letter. Leave
long thread tails and don’t backstitch at the
beginning and end of each stitching line. Pull
the threads to the wrong side and tie off. Fluff
up the fleece edges around each letter. Repeat
to adhere and stitch the remaining two cutout
white squares to two red squares.
Center the letters F and A over one red
fleece square; refer to the picture at right for
placement. Outline each letter using an air-
or water-soluble marking pen. Cut out each
letter from the fleece. Repeat to cut “LA” from
two remaining red fleece squares.
Spray one cut red-square wrong side with tem-
porary spray adhesive. Position the red square
over one white square so right sides are facing
up; align the corners and edges. Use red thread
to stitch around each letter, following
the previous instructions. Repeat to stitch the
remaining two cutout red squares to the
remaining white squares.
Position one “HO” rectangle over the “FA” rec-
tangle with right sides facing. Stitch around the
squares using a ½” seam allowance; leave a 6”
opening for turning along the lower edge. Clip
the corners, and then turn the square right side
out. Insert the pillow form. Blind stitch or slip-
stitch the opening closed. Repeat to create the
two remaining pillows.

sewnews.com 3
 card me MARLA STEFANELLI

4 sewnews
 Giving a gift card but want to make it
more personal? Stitch a holder that doubles
as a keychain and credit-card keeper, and
add your personal touch.

MATERIALS Draw the centerline on the outer layer right

Makes one gift card holder side and the inner layer wrong side, dividing
9”x 11” rectangle of felt (wool or craft) each retangle into two 2¾”x 4” sections.
or faux-suede On the inner layer right side draw a horizontal
1⁄4”-wide
basting tape (such as Wash-Away line across the right-hand section 1¼” from the
Wonder Tape) upper edge and ¼” from both the centerline
Chalk or air-soluble fabric marker and the right edge [1]. Cut along the line with
2 eyelets and installation tool small sharp scissors to create a slit. Apply basting
3⁄8” or smaller snap
tape to the entire rectangle wrong side along
the outer edges; set aside.
Matching or coordinating all-purpose thread
1”-diameter key ring

Cutting & Marking

mix it up
Cut the rectangles
The holder is constructed from two rectangles. from two coordinating
One rectangle is decorated for the outer cover,
and the other forms the gift card pocket and fabrics for an extra
conceals the embroidery wrong side. splash of color.
From the felt or faux suede cut two 4”x 5½”
rectangles.
Designate one rectangle the outer layer and
the other rectangle the inner layer.

1
23⁄4”

11⁄4”

4”
1⁄4”

sewnews.com 5
 Construction
Decorate the right-hand section of the outer
layer with embroidery or appliqué; see
“Embellishing,” below. Leave room to apply
a snap at the edge [2].
For the closure tab cut a ¾”x 2½” felt or
faux-suede strip. Fold the tab in half widthwise
and edgestitch the layers together. Attach the
male portion of the snap near the folded end.
Remove the paper backing from the basting
tape and place the inner layer wrong side up on
a flat surface. Place the closure tab on the same
side as the slit with the raw end centered and
overlapping the edge ⅜” and with the snap
right side facing up [3]. Position the outer layer
wrong side down over the inner layer with the
embellished section to the right. Align the edges
and encase the closure tab; finger-press the
edges together.
Stitch the marked centerline through both layers,
and then edgestitch around the holder perimeter.
Apply the female portion of the snap to the
front right-hand edge, aligning it with the tab.
Mark the eyelet placements on the holder
outside ¼” from the upper edge and on either
side of the centerline [4]. Cut a tiny “x” at
each mark no larger than the eyelet opening.
Insert the eyelets from the right side. Use the
installation tool to set the eyelets following the
manufacturer’s instructions.
Insert a gift card through the slit.Thread the
key ring through the eyelets.

2 3 4 1⁄4”
Basting tape
Snap placement 1 ⁄4 ”

DECORATE THE GIFT-CARD HOLDER with any

design that measures about 2”x 3”, or use the
featured designs supplied on pattern sheet A. Center 1
the design within the space.
To appliqué a design, cut out a shape from felt or faux Lazy daisy
suede. Use basting tape or a glue stick to hold the stitch
2
appliqué in place. Use a decorative, buttonhole or
straight stitch to sew around the appliqué edges.
3
To embroider a design, copy it on the fabric right side
using chalk or an air-soluble pen. Use three stands of French knots
embroidery floss to embroider the design. The stitches Stem stitch
used for the featured design are the stem stitch, lazy
daisy stitch and French knot.

6 sewnews
embellishing
ornament
holder
Create a gift-card holder that hangs
on the tree as an ornament. Use
1⁄ 8”- wide ribbon for a hanging loop

and for a closure to fasten over a

small button.
u Follow the previous directions up to
and including embellishing the holder.
Place the inner layer wrong side up
on a flat surface.
u For the hanging loop cut a 41⁄2”
length of ribbon, and then fold it in
half. Position the raw ends at the
centerline on the inner layer wrong
side, overlapping the edge 1⁄2”.
u For the closure loop, cut a 21⁄2”
length of ribbon, and then fold it in
half. Place the raw ends on the
left-hand section center, overlapping
the edge 1⁄2” [A].
u Place the outer layer wrong side
down over the inner layer. Edgestitch,
catching the ribbon in the stitching.
u Sew a 3⁄8” button on the outside
front edge aligning it with the closure
loop. Loop the ribbon over the button
to secure.

A Basting tape 1⁄ 2”

1⁄ 2”

sewnews.com 7
( CHRISTMAS )

Traditional holiday ribbon

candy inspired this fun and
fragrant sachet. It looks and
smells good enough to eat—
and it’s the perfect quick
stocking stuffer.

Sweet LINDA LEE

Treats

8 sewnews
 1

11⁄4”

3”

MATERIALS
Use 3⁄8” seam allowances. fast fix!
1⁄8 yard of silk doupioni If you find a
1⁄2 yard of 1”-wide fancy wireless ribbon wired ribbon that
2
Silk pins you really like,
3 small beads simply pull each
Beading needle wire out to make
Matching polyester thread wireless ribbon for
Potpourri this project.

Sachet
From the fabric, cut two 4”x 6” rectangles.
Beginning about 3” from one end, fold the ribbon to create a 1¼”-long
inverted box pleat. Pin the pleat in place [1]. Create two more consecu- 3
tive inverted box pleats. Pin the pleats in place so that all the folded
edges are touching one another.
Stitch down the center of the pleats [2].
Thread the beading needle with polyester thread. Pinch together the
center long edges of the first pleat. Hand stitch the edges together using
two or three small stitches at the center point.
String a bead onto the needle. Secure the bead to the pleat center
edges with a few more hand stitches [3].Tie off the thread. Repeat for
each pleat. Set the ribbon aside.
4
Pin the fabric rectangles together with right sides facing. Stitch around
the rectangle perimeter, leaving a 2” opening along one long edge [4].
Turn the rectangle right side out. Fill the sachet with potpourri. Fold
the opening seam allowances to the inside. Slipstitch the opening closed.
Center the pleated ribbon over the sachet; pin. Hand stitch the ribbon
in place, tacking it to the sachet between each pleat.
Trim the ribbon ends in a “V” shape, allowing them to extend about 1” 2”
beyond the sachet ends.

Linda Lee is the owner of The Sewing Workshop Pattern Collection, a group of
patterns for distinctive garments using innovative sewing techniques. As a licensed
interior designer and member of ASID since 1974, Linda has written thirteen books.
Visit sewingworkshop.com for more information.

sewnews.com 9
( CHRISTMAS )

Starry,
Starry
Skirt
AMY STALP

10 sewnews
 Folds
1

Mark
Center

Fold
This whimsical tree skirt
stitches up in a hurry, so
you can make one and 1
still get your shopping
2
done on time. To change
it up, experiment with
more non-traditional
2 21⁄2”
colors.

22”
Star

Finished size: 45” diameter

MATERIALS
11⁄3 yards of red fleece 3 Fold
1⁄4 yard of green fleece
4 yards of trim
Four 7⁄8” to 1” buttons
Fabric-marking pen

44”
To avoid shifting, fold the red fleece right sides together, and pin the
selvage and cut edges together. Fold the fleece in half again, and mark
the corner that’s in the center of the fabric yardage [1]. 5”
Mark two arcs on the folded fabric. Measuring from the fabric center,
mark one arc 2½” away and the second one 22” away from the fabric
center [2]. Back opening
To make an opening, cut along one fold from the fabric edge to the
center. Cut along the arcs [3].
Using the star pattern above, cut the desired number of stars from the
4
green felt. (The featured skirt has 13 stars.)
Randomly position the stars on the tree skirt right side; pin. Stitch
around the perimeter of each star to secure.
Evenly space and mark four buttonholes along the left side of the back
opening; stitch. Overlap the opening edges, and mark placement for the
buttons. Stitch the buttons in place [4].
Position the trim around the skirt outer edge on the fabric wrong
side; pin. Baste the trim in place, turning under the trim ends. Stitch
to finish.

sewnews.com 11
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