Easter is a great time to make some homemade projects. Whether you're creating a holiday decoration or making a special piece of spring apparel, sewing can be an enjoyable way to celebrate this holiday. If you're looking for ideas, try these fun Easter projects to sew.
Cloth Napkins for Easter Dinner
For many families, the Easter celebration includes a big dinner. You can give your meal a little extra spring style by making your own Easter fabric napkins. Napkins are easy to make, and you can expect to spend about two hours making a set of six.
Things You'll Need
- One and a half yards of Easter-patterned cotton fabric
- One and a half yards of coordinating cotton fabric
- Sewing machine and thread
- Pins
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
- Iron
What to Do
- Cut six 18-inch by 18-inch squares out of each type of fabric. Iron out any wrinkles.
- Select one square from each type of fabric, and line them up with the right sides together. Pin three of the four sides.
- Sew around three of the four sides, leaving a half-inch seam allowance.
- Turn the napkin right side out, and use the iron to press it. Fold over the raw edges on the fourth side, and pin them.
- Sew the fourth side closed, and top stitch the remaining three sides. Consider using a decorative stitch setting on your machine for extra style. Press the napkin, and set it aside.
- Repeat this process for the remaining five napkins.
Little Girl's Spring Tutu
Little girls love to dress up for Easter, and nothing says spring like a tutu in traditional Easter colors. This tutu is very simple to make, and since it has an elastic waist, it's sure to fit her for some time. Expect to spend a couple of hours making the tutu.
Things You'll Need
- One yard of lavender tulle fabric
- One yard of pink tulle fabric
- One yard of yellow tulle fabric
- Half a yard of one-inch wide white elastic
- One yard of two-inch wide pink satin ribbon
- Large silk daisy or other flower
- Safety pin
- Scissors
- Sewing machine and thread
- Needle
- Measuring tape
What to Do
- Cut all the tulle into strips that are 24 inches long by six inches wide. Try to cut the edges as evenly as possible.
- Fold each strip in half, and sew a line one and a half inches from the folded end. Continue until you've sewn this line on all the tulle strips.
- Measure the little girl's waist, and add one inch to this measurement. Cut the elastic to this length. Pin a large safety pin to one end of the elastic.
- Use the safety pin to string the elastic through the pocket of each piece of tulle. Alternate the colors, and make sure the tulle pieces don't slide off the other end of the elastic.
- When all the tulle pieces are on the elastic, use your sewing machine to secure the ends of the elastic together. To do this, overlap the ends by one inch, and pin them together. Sew a square over the overlapping area.
- Arrange the tulle so it is evenly spaced. Hand sew the ribbon and flower onto the waistband of the tutu.
Handmade Mini Easter Basket
You can sew your own Easter baskets out of felt and embroidery floss. These make great table decorations or party favors for your Easter dinner. You can construct your basket from felt pieces and embroidery floss from your local craft store. It will take you about half an hour to make one Easter basket.
Things You'll Need
- Pale yellow felt rectangle
- White felt rectangle
- Small piece of ½ -inch wide pale pink ribbon
- Pale pink embroidery floss
- Embroidery needle
- Scissors
- Paper and pencil
- Measuring tape
- Round drinking glass
What to Do
- Place the drinking glass upside down on the paper, and trace a circle around it. Cut the circle out, and use it to cut a same-sized circle out of yellow felt.
- Use the measuring tape to find the circumference of the glass, and write down this dimension. Add half an inch to get the length of your basket side piece. Cut a three-inch-wide rectangular piece of yellow felt that length.
- Thread the needle with the embroidery floss, using all the strands. Use a blanket stitch to sew one long edge of the rectangular piece to the outside of the circle. Where necessary, clip the rectangular piece to allow it to bend.
- When you get back to the place you started, sew the two short edges of the rectangle together to form a basket. Use a blanket stitch to finish the raw edge of the basket.
- Cut the ribbon to the desired handle length, and sew it to the basket.
- Draw a freeform bunny silhouette on the paper, and cut it out. Use that as a pattern to cut out two white felt bunnies. Sew the bunnies to the sides of the basket where the raw edge of the ribbon meets the basket body.
Fun for the Whole Family
Sewing can also be a fun holiday activity to share with kids. Although young children can't operate a sewing machine or cut out precise shapes, they can help you choose fabrics and select design motifs. If you're looking for something fun to do after the holiday festivities are over for the day, work with the kids on making some of these fun Easter projects.
