I’ve collected a few quick and easy free patterns for back to school sewing patterns (of course, you don’t have to be a kid to enjoy them either!) to hopefully make your life a little easier.

image: About.com

Fabric lunch bags are an easy way to “green” your family.  They’re washable, reuseable and customizable.  This pattern is from Sewing.About.

image: YMIB

I think water bottle carriers are such a handy thing – I’ve been using one for years.  They allow you to keep your hands free while you’re out and about, without misplacing your water bottle.  This cute fabric water bottle carrier pattern was designed by YMIB.

image: Instructables

Book bags or roomy tote bags are  a must for most students (and awfully useful for the rest of use too!).  This pattern is from Instructables.

image: Burdastyle

Simple fabric purses are great for girls – of any age.  The “Maya” bag from Burdastyle is an easy pattern to make a purse that can be customized to fit different ages and tastes.

Post from: Blisstree

Last-Minute Back to School Sewing Projects

Is there a special little girl in your life who would love to wear a tutu?

Hey, why not even make one for yourself!

Lynne Bruning has written a fantastic how-to for Instructables on how to make your own fantasy tutu.  The tutorial allows you to get as fancy and as detailed with different fabrics, contrast fabrics and trims as you’d like.  Of course, if you want to make a simple, classic tutu, you can as well!

There are lots of photo of finished tutus as well – great for inspiration for your next sewing project!

image: Stock.xchg

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How to sew your own tutu

b5media’s Lifestyle channel bloggers are a crafty – and romantic bunch!  Check out some of these great ideas for Valentine’s Day crafts for the whole family!

• Junk Creation has 10 different ideas for Valentine’s Day crafts and activities.
• Junk Creation also has an awesome tutorial for make-your-own candy message hearts!
• Layers Upon Layers has pretty mixed-media art ideas to give as gifts for your special someone.
• These heart-themed pieces of jewelry are sure to make some smile on Valentine’s Day from Jewelry & Beading.
• Tree Hugging Family has some great eco-friendly Valentine’s Day ideas for your kids.
• Tree Hugging Family also has some fun recipes, activities and crafts for the whole family.
• Want to make your own Valentine’s Day cards this year?  Play Library has found a bunch of free printables online.
• And don’t forget that I’ve got free Valentine’s Day crafts for kids, as well as free patterns for cross-stitch, hand-sewn and machine sewn Valentine’s crafts.

image: Stock.xchg

Post from: Blisstree

Valentine’s Day ideas from the Lifestyle channel

There are lots of patterns out there, but this free pattern from Jo-Ann is a great easy how-to.  Perfect for kids and beginners!  Of course, you can get as fancy as you’d like and add more embellishments or another layer of petals.

The instructions call for using a specific type of scalloped ruler, but if you don’t have one, just cut the scallop shape into the fabric free-hand.  You could even use something else as a template (cups, paper towel rolls etc).

To check out the pattern, just click on the flowers.  The pattern will open up as a PDF.

image: Jo-Ann

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free pattern for fun & funky fleece flowers

Are you making crafts for Valentine’s Day?

Did you know that there are lots of free patterns and tutorials for Valentine’s Day crafts, sewing projects and even cross stitch charts in the Tangled Thread archives?  I decided to make things easier for you and have got a bunch of the patterns for you here:

♥ Three patterns for hearts & roses cross stitch.

♥ Try sewing your own lingerie for Valentine’s Day.

♥ Here are two of my easy hand-embroidered felt “Heart Felt” cards.

♥ This is another Heart Felt card - this time it’s accented with French knots.

♥ I made these cute little embroidered felt “Sweethearts” last year for Valentine’s Day, here’s part one, part two and part three of the tutorial.

♥ Here’s a pattern for a free heart cross stitch bookmark.

♥ This project is for my machine sewing friends – Heart Softies!  Here’s part one and part two.

Happy crafting!

image: Stock.xchg

Post from: Blisstree

free patterns for Valentine’s Day crafts

There are quite a few new babies and mommies-to-be around here lately, so I thought it would be fun to have a project for them!

Do you want to make a hand-made gift for the next baby shower, but don’t want to make the standard bib or receiving blanket?  Check out this great free pattern for a baby swaddler. It’s sized for newborn to three month old infant.  There are so many cute ways you could customize it – just make sure the embellishments are washable and baby-safe!

image: Stock.xchg

Post from: Blisstree

Make your own baby swaddler – free pattern

Before you sew up the sides of the bag, cut your lining out, using the outside as a pattern.

Now you can go ahead and sew up the sides, right sides together.  I’m using a 1/2″ seam allowance here.

In order to make a flat bottom on the bag, we need to sew a straight line 1″ from the edge of the side seam.  Open up the bag and flatten out the bottom edges, like I’m demonstrating here.

This is how the seam looks after it’s sewn.

And a view from the front of the bag (we’re still working on the wrong side here)

Repeat the above steps with the lining.  Sew the side seams and the bottom This quilting cotton is pretty wild – but I love the burgundy & golds with the fall colors on the outside of the bag!

Turn the bag right side out.  Slide the lining into the bag, with the wrong sides together (you should see the right side of the lining when you look inside the bag)   Fold 1/2″ all the way around the bag & lining, towards the wrong side.  Pin the outside & lining together, matching seams.

Topstitch all the way around the top of the bag.  It should look like this when you’re done – all the raw edges are hidden & the top edge is even.   You could also use a decorative machine embroidery stitch instead of a plain straight stitch.

I used a decorative grosgrain ribbon to make a handle for the bag (I’ll show you how to make the knot on the next post!)   I just used a straight stitch to securely attach the handle.

And here’s another view   I think these would make great decorations for a Hallowe’en party or even as gifts (it’s taken longer to write the tutorial than it takes to make them!)

Happy embroidering

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part 3: mini Hallowe’en bag tutorial

I’ve fused a heavy weight interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric.  It makes it easier to handle & embroider.

Now you get to play!

I’ve drawn a simple moon using the pearl white, green leaves and a pumpkin.  I used the gold paint to outline the pumpkin and then filled in the middle using the two copper paints.

Feel free to play around – it doesn’t need to be perfect!  You can also use copyright-free clip art instead of drawing free hand.  Just trace it on using tailor’s transfer paper or use a heat transfer.

Let the paint dry overnight.  We’re going to embroider it tomorrow and you don’t want to get wet paint on your sewing machine

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tutorial: mini Hallowe’en bag

Simplicity offers some excellent free patterns, like this lunch sack:

Or how about a totebag?

Or even a cool pair of embellished jeans (for a lot less than stores sell them for!)

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back to school project