Save Money, Make It Yourself: Four Easy Sewing Projects

Sewing is a great skill to have on hand when you encounter surprise rips and tears in your favorite clothes. Fortunately, basic sewing skills, like running and cross-stitch, can be easily learned from simple tutorials. Furthermore, not only is sewing useful for quick mending jobs, but it can lead to amazing arts and crafts projects too!

Along with synthetic fur, fleece, and other craft fabrics, you can create fully functional works of art! These ideas are perfect for memorable and unique gifts for special occasions or even inspiration for home decor. All you need for these projects is a needle, thread, pins, poly-fiber fill and a pair of scissors.

Fabric Painting

This new take on a traditional painting is a great project for novice and expert sewers alike. To start, think about the image you want to make, and select fabrics that will help realize your idea. If you want to create some rolling hills or a green pasture, consider green paisley fabric for your trees and epic hills!

Using just a simple running stitch with green thread, stitch your cut-outs directly onto a piece of circular or rectangle-shaped fabric. For a more 3D effect, leave a small opening for some poly-fiber fill before closing that last stitch.

Make Your Own Frame

Believe it or not, you can even stitch together your own fabric painting frame. Simply cut out two rectangle rings large enough to fit around your painting. For that classic look, select a metallic gold fabric or brown fleece, and use a simple running stitch to create grooves and texture.

This project is ideal for those favorite family photos as well. Using poly-fiber fill and colored fabrics, decorate your frame with handmade flowers and leaves. For an added splash of sparkle, back-stitch a few sequins on there too!

Liven Up Dinner With Unique Place Mats!

Your fabric painting creations can actually moonlight as homemade placemats. For more sophisticated placemats, use ivory-toned fabrics, lace, and sparkly mesh overlays. You can also sew together adorable dancing fruit mats, barnyard animals and other kid-friendly designs.

Ghostly Finger Puppets

Basic sewing skills are perfect for simple and adorable finger puppets! To create spooky fleece ghosts, place some poly-fiber fill into the center of the fabric and create a ring of small holes around the stuffing. Thread some white yarn through the holes, hold the stuffing and fabric in place with your fingers and tie the head off with the yarn. Make sure to leave enough room for your index finger and finish with a large pair of black eyes.