We are baking, sewing & crafting up a storm, preparing handmade gifts for this holiday season. I am sharing 30 wonderful sewn gifts from 30 amazing bloggers! Head on over to According to Kelly for 30 fabulous crafty gifts. A Southern Fairytale is spotlighting 30 edible yummies & holiday-inspired recipes.You definitely don’t want to miss a day! Check out ALL of our creative projects HERE.

How To Make A Fabric I Spy Book

Hi! I'm Bonnie from Fishsticks
Designs. I have been having a wonderful time following along with the Holiday
Bake, Craft and Sew-Along, and I'm really excited to jump in and share a little sewing
project with you, too!
This Fabric I-Spy Book is a perfect gift for toddlers to preschoolers, and it's a great way
to use up those scraps that you've been hanging on to! The book is folded accordionstyle
so your little one can read it like a book:

or unfold it to seek and find on multiple pages all at once:

Can you find a white measuring tape? a dalmation with spots? #18 celebrating? two
barbecue grills? a swimming dinosaur with rainbow dots? a mama with six little babies?



Ready to get started? You'll need plenty of small pieces of busy, colorful fabric, some
freezer paper, a pencil, fusible fleece, a metal snap or hook & loop fasteners (like Velcro
or Aplix) and all your regular sewing notions. You'll be using ¼" seam allowance
throughout.
Your book will need 12 pages. I used 6 simple one-piece pages of fabric with plenty of
things to spy. Each unfinished page measures 6 ½" x 6 ½":

Then I added 6 pages that I pieced together using smaller scraps for even more things to
find.

The pieced pages use a simple freezer paper piecing technique. Start by measuring and
cutting out a piece of freezer paper that is 6 ½" square.

Use a pencil and a straight edge to draw the design that you'll use for your page on the
matte side of the freezer paper. I used various angles to make the finished pages have a
fun, wonky look to them. I also labeled my pieces to help me with putting them in the
right order and keeping them right-side up.

Cut out your freezer paper pieces.

Position one freezer paper piece on one piece of fabric with the shiny side down. You'll
be able to see through the freezer paper so that you can position it just how you want it.
Iron the freezer paper to the fabric.
Lay your quilting ruler so that it overlaps the one edge of the freezer paper by ¼" and cut.
Repeat on all four sides.


Repeat for the remaining fabric pieces.

Peel away the freezer paper and sew the smaller pieces together using ¼" seam
allowance. Press the seam allowance open.

Peel away the freezer paper and sew the larger piece to the smaller pieces using ¼" seam
allowance. Press the seam allowance open.

Trim page to 6 ½" x 6 ½".


Repeat until all your pages are ready to be sewn together.
Decide on a layout for your book. You'll need two sets of six pages. I alternated pieced
pages with one-piece pages and tried to keep similar colors apart. The page at the far
right in the bottom set will be the cover of your book.

Once you've decided on your layout, sew each set of six pages into a strip.

Iron fusible fleece to the back side of the bottom strip of pages.

Measure and mark the center point ¾" from the right edge of your cover page. If you'll
be using a metal snap, apply the stud side of the snap to this point. If you'll be using
hook & loop fasteners, cut a ½" square piece of hook and sew it here.

Cut a 2 ½" square for the tab fastener.

If you're using hook & loop fasteners, cut a ½" square of loop and sew it ½" from one
corner of the tab fabric. (If you're using a metal snap, you'll apply the socket side when
you're finished assembling the book.)

Fold the tab fabric over right sides together and sew along one short edge and the raw
long edge, leaving the edge furthest from the loop fabric open.

Trim the corners, turn right side out and press.

Center tab with ¼" overhang on the page at the opposite end of the strip from your cover
page and baste in place about 1/8" from the page edge. I'm using snaps to fasten this
book, so the tab is bare. If you're using hook and loop fasteners, the loop fabric that you
sewed on the tab should face up.


Place page strips right sides together and pin in place. Sew all the way around, leaving a
4" opening in the center of one edge of one page.

Trim corners and turn book right side out through the opening. Push corners out neatly
and press well.


Neatly topstitch the opening shut 1/8" from the folded edge.

Stitch "in the ditch" along the seam that separates each of the pages.

Fold your cover page in towards the page next to it and press the fold very well with a hot
steam iron.

Fold the next page in the opposite direction and press the new fold well.

Repeat this process until your whole book has been folded accordion-style and pressed so
that the pages lie neatly.

If you're fastening with a metal snap, apply the socket to the tab fastener.

And, you're ready for hunting!

I hope you are enjoying all of these wonderful sewn gift tutorials. We have been baking, sewing & crafting up a storm, preparing handmade gifts for this holiday season. Don't forget to head on over to According to Kelly for 30 fabulous crafty gifts. A Southern Fairytale has 30 edible yummies & holiday-inspired recipes for you to try. You definitely don’t want to miss a day! Check out ALL of our creative projects HERE.

You might have seen this pleated pouch here before, but I think it is worth posting again because it makes a perfect handmade gift! They sew up quickly so you can make a bunch at one time.  Slip in a gift card to make it extra special!

Download pattern pieces and print with no scaling selected on your printer. Cut out two of each piece from your favorite fabric. You will also need 1 - 7 inch zipper.

Pleated Pouch Pattern Download

How to make a pleated zippered pouch

Mark fabric from pattern where it should be pleated. Bring one mark over to the next. Pin.

Place outer top piece face down on pleated piece, line up edges and stitch across 1/4 inch from the edge. Open up and press. Repeat with other two pieces to make the other side.

Make a zipper sandwich. Place 1 piece of outer fabric face up, then the zipper and then the lining right side facing down. Line up the three edges.

With a zipper foot sew across the top between the edge of your zipper sandwich and the zipper teeth (closer to the zipper feet).

Bring lining and outer fabric to the same side.

Make another zipper sandwich on the other side of the zipper.

Open up and it will look like this. You can top stitch at the edge of the fabric along the zipper now, if you like (I didn't).

Bring both pieces of lining to one side and both pieces of the outer fabric to the other side. Un-zip zipper at least halfway so you can turn it once it is stitched. If you forget to un-zip the zipper you won't be able to turn your pouch right side out.

Pinch zipper towards outer fabric, making sure it is laying nicely as you pin.

Using 1/4 inch seam stitch all the way around the pouch leaving a two inch opening in the bottom of the lining for turning.

Turn right side out. Hand stitch (or machine stitch) opening in lining closed.

Push lining inside the pouch and it is finished!

You might also be interested in making a Lined Pouch.

It is super easy to make a matching tote for your pouch with this simple tote tutorial!

You might also like these 10 Tote Tutorials.

We are baking, sewing & crafting up a storm, preparing handmade gifts for this holiday season. I am sharing 30 wonderful sewn gifts from 30 amazing bloggers! Head on over to According to Kelly for 30 fabulous crafty gifts. A Southern Fairytale is spotlighting 30 edible yummies & holiday-inspired recipes.You definitely don’t want to miss a day! Check out ALL of our creative projects HERE.

Hello all! I'm Carrie from This Mama Makes Stuff, where I blog about refashioning & running, raising comapssionate kids & crocheting, thrifting and triathlons. I am so happy to be part of the Holiday Bake, Craft and Sew Along again this year! More than anything it reminds me that it's time to get going on all my own handmade holiday gifts. I never leave myself enough time. The great thing about the gift I'm sharing with you today is that it's super fast and super easy, only requiring minimal sewing skills.

"Shape Stretchies" were some of my favorite things to play with at my sister's house growing up. She was a modern dance teacher and always fun ideas to promote creative movement for kids. She introduced my kids to "stretchies" and they also fell in love.

With only a minimal amount of sewing, you can create something that promotes creativity and movement. Make four "stretchies", include a few "game cards" to help get the creative juices flowing and a bag to keep it all together and it's a unique gift for the cool kids in your life.

Bag:

This one was made from an old pair of jeans, but you could reuse one you have laying around or buy a small bag.

Stretchies:

For each "stretchy", cut two strips of swimsuit lycra 4" X 45". Sew them together at both short ends to create a long, skinny circle (measurements depend on fabric stretchiness & size of child.) You can leave the long ends of the circle unfinished since the knit won't fray and it will begin to curl in. Swimsuit lycra can be expensive at the local fabric store (especially in the "off-season") so make sure to save your coupons if that's your only source for fabric.

Activity Cards:

Download HERE. Don't be afraid to add your own cards to the mix.

If you're looking for a cozy gift for the little snuggler in your life, check out my Mini Snuglet tutorial HERE.

Or maybe you're looking for an heirloom quality gift for a new baby in your life? I think you'll love my Hankie Baby Bonnet Tutorial.

Good luck with all your handmade holiday sewing!

We are baking, sewing & crafting up a storm, preparing handmade gifts for this holiday season. I am sharing 30 wonderful sewn gifts from 30 amazing bloggers! Head on over to According to Kelly for 30 fabulous crafty gifts. A Southern Fairytale is spotlighting 30 edible yummies & holiday-inspired recipes.You definitely don’t want to miss a day! Check out ALL of our creative projects HERE.

Hi everyone, I'm Melanie over at Crafty Cupboard. I love to sew and craft my way through life! Today I'm here to share a real winner of a gift for the imaginative child in your life! Make two! I did

One thing we don’t have a lot of is space, so it makes sense to utilize every. single. spot in our condo the best we can.  Doorways aren’t just for doors anymore… it is all about this cute Puppet Theater.

How to make a puppet theater

Begin with your cut fabric pieces:
POLKA DOTS (or top of theatre): (1) at 14” x 36”, (2) at 8” x 13”
STRIPE (or bottom of theatre): (1) at 29” x 36”
CURTAIN: (2) at 12” x 14”
DOWEL POCKET: (1) at 1 1/2” x 34”
**You will also want 1 yard of decorative trim that is at least 1" wide, and some ribbon to complete this look.

Make a double 1/2” hem on one 13” side of your two 8” x 13” pieces.

Pin the hemmed piece with it’s 8” side to the long side of your large polka-dot piece with raw edges even.

Stitch it down, and repeat with the other hemmed piece on the opposite end of the long polka-dot piece. I finished my edges with my serger, which I strongly recommend finishing yours in whatever way you can (serger, zig-zag, rolled hem, etc.).

Iron your finished edge toward the long piece

and top-stitch it down nice and pretty.

Now, with your bottom stripe piece, do the same steps as above, pinning the 8” pieces, sewing, finishing, and top-stitching.

Now, make your side and bottom hems.  I did a double 1/4” hem.  Next, work on the top.  Your top hem (I used a separate piece of fabric, so ignore my top) is going to be a rod pocket for your café curtain rod.  Iron down a 1/4” hem, then a 2” hem.  Stitch it down, and you’ve created a rod pocket.

Now, pin your two curtain pieces to the top of your “window.”  Use lots of pins!  I used some fun crushed panne fabric for a more theatrical look. Carefully top-stitch right over your existing stitching.

Next, finish the sides of your dowel pocket.  I used muslin so it would be fraying everywhere if I didn’t serge it.

Pin any decorative trim or ribbon to the bottom of your “window” while at the same time pinning the dowel pocket on the back.  Carefully stitch your trim down, using two rows of stitching about 3/4” apart.  You will tackle two birds with one stone doing this:

Next, attach some ribbon 3” from the top of your “window” on both sides.  This will hold your curtains open.  I suggest using Velcro on your ribbon for little kids, but I didn’t have any on hand!

Place a café curtain rod in your top pocket, and a 1/4” dowel in your dowel pocket (you might want to trim a tiny bit of your dowel, I think I will), and hang that doorway theatre up!

You have now created a fun place for kids’ imaginations.

If you are looking for something for the grown-up friends in your life, how about business card/gift card holders?

The baker in your family would love a hand-made oven mitt.

I hope you have fun with all the fun ideas for a handmade Christmas! Stop by any time to visit me at the Crafty Cupboard.