Christmas Present Placemats & Skirts

Some of my fondest memories are of times spent with my mom decorating our home for Christmas. Handmade decorations, a large fir tree, fresh holly and magnolia leaves from our yard, and the Statler Brother's Christmas on the stereo were essential to creating the festive mood in our home.

One thing we always had on our dining room and breakfast room tables were special, Christmas placemats that my mom had sewn. Several years ago, I decided to recreate her Christmas Present Placemats and even wrote a tutorial so others could make them, too. This tutorial continues to be one of my most popular tutorials and posts ever!

Since it has been a while since I made a set of these adorable Christmas Present Placemats, I thought it was time to make a few more using all quilting cottons instead of a double-sided quilted fabric. I'm so pleased with the results!

The quilting cotton prints in Blend Fabric's Even a Mouse collection by Maude Asbury were perfect for these new Christmas Present Placemats! I love the Snowball Fight print for the border and cloth napkin that makes the bow, and the Christmas Carolers snowglobe print in red is fun and festive for the main part of the mat. The back of the placemat is sewn with the Let It Snow print in light gray.
(Disclaimer: I was provided the fabrics used in this post in exchange for sharing a project I made with them. All opinions are my own.)

If you'd like to make your own set of Christmas Present Placemats, then click HERE for the full tutorial. Here's a picture of the original one I made years ago. For this one, I used a double-sided quilted fabric for the mat and quilting cotton for the napkin and binding.

If you choose to use quilting cottons instead of double-sided quilted fabric, then you will cut out 2 rectangles measuring 12" x 18" for the front and back of the placement. You will also need to cut out one piece of batting measuring 12" x 18". All other pieces remain the same from the tutorial.

Since I had a some fabric left over from the bundle of fabric from Blend Fabrics, I whipped up a couple of skirts using my Simple One Seam Skirt Tutorial.

For this size 4T skirt, I added a contrasting band to the bottom of the skirt.

For this size 6 skirt, I used the Stocking Stuffers in Grey fabric to make this animal lover's version. My daughter was sad that I didn't have enough fabric to make this one in her size! These are so quick and easy to sew and make gifts for little girls.

Have FUN sewing!

sewVery Simple Holiday Project Ideas

November is passing by fast which means Christmas will be here before you know it! While I haven't put together any new Christmas project ideas quite yet (a couple are in the works), I thought I would create a round-up of my own sewVery Simple Holiday Project Ideas to give you some easy projects to decorate with and give as gifts this year.

A sewVery Simple Envelope Pillowcase Tutorial

Today I'm showing you how to make a sewVery Simple Envelope Pillowcase using half yard cuts of fabric. Two or three times a year around a big holiday (primarily Valentine's Day, Halloween, and Christmas), I sew my children a new holiday themed pillowcase that they use all season long. They get so excited about the pillowcases, plus they add a little holiday decoration to their rooms!

A Christmas Norah Dress

I absolutely love the Norah Dress I made for Ella to wear this Christmas season!  It turned out exactly as I envisioned and has become one of my favorite pieces for her to wear! 

In case you've been living in a hole for the last couple of months, then you've seen the Norah Dress pattern from Welcome to the Mouse House all over the pdf pattern world.  

The talented and funny Hayley designed this adorable dress/tunic pattern with a vintage flare that I simply adore!  I was super excited that she invited me to join in on the pattern tour.

For my Christmas Norah Dress version, I used tango red ponte roma fabric for the dress and sleeves, a white ponte roma fabric for the collar and sleeve cuffs, and white muslin for the lining--all purchased at Joann's.  

The ponte roma knit has such a beautiful drape and feel to it, and it was pretty easy to sew since this type of knit is a little thicker and doesn't curl on the cut edges.  I just used a slightly longer stitch length when I used my regular machine for topstitching or hemming, but I mainly used the serger with both needles in to sew the interior seams together.  Just be sure to use a scrap of fabric to test the differential setting and tensions to get them just right for your fabric before you attempt to sew the dress!

I made Ella the size 6 dress and used a size 3 (I think) sleeve length but then added the 2 1/2" white cuffs to the end (my own addition and not included in the pattern).  I compared these measurements to a t-shirt that fits her well before I cut out my fabrics.

The back has a slit at the top with a button loop closure that is hidden under the collar.  

Ella loved wearing this dress literally all day long.  She had so much fun walking around and looking at Christmas decorations and meeting Santa with her good friends Christian and Eva Mae, Sewing Mama RaeAnna's children.  I had a blast watching them hold hands and posing in strange positions (not sure why Ella keeps holding her leg up and why Christian is poking out his lips) while RaeAnna and I tried to snap pictures and our friend, Lindsay of Lindsay Sews and Craft Buds, kept chasing after Eva Mae!

So, in case you haven't purchased the Norah Dress pattern from Welcome to the Mouse House,  I strongly suggest you do!  It has several sleeve options, length options, and collar options.  The fit is spot on and the pattern is suitable for wovens or knits!  The only thing I may do differently next time is make the facing a full length lining.  You can't go wrong with this classic design, and I promise you will use this pattern over and over again.  I know I will!

Merry Christmas, and have fun sewing!

A sewVery Simple Christmas Tree Ornament Tutorial

I'm joining in the fun today at Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom's Holiday Sewing Blog Tour. With Christmas just around the corner, I'm finding that my sewing time has become very limited since I have additional shopping and baking to do plus school programs and events to attend.  I needed a quick project that would help me keep my sanity during this stressful time plus help me decorate the tree and add a little something extra to wrapped gifts.

Using my sewVery Simple Christmas Tree Ornament Tutorial, you can make over a dozen of these cute decorations in a matter of minutes!  Here's how:

See how simple that was?  I wasn't kidding!  If you like the Christmas Tree Ornament, then you'll love the entire collection of my sewVery Simple Ornament Tutorials!  Just click the pictures to go to the tutorials.

There are lots more projects coming up in the Holiday Sewing Blog Tour over at Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom.  Plus, be sure to enter Jamie's giveaway of a Brother 1034D Serger (same kind I use) before December 20th!

If you missed yesterday's project, then head over to Welcome to the Mouse House to see Hayley's Picture Pocket Pillow, and be sure to check in tomorrow with Domestic Bliss Squared for an American Girl doll skirt tutorial.  

Happy holidays, and have fun sewing!

Christmas Present Placemat Tutorial

Years ago, my mom was Miss Crafty!  She was constantly making or stitching something, and oftentimes, I was her trusty assistant.  Today, I'm sharing with you a tutorial on how you can make these Christmas Present Placemats--fun, holiday inspired placemats that look like a Christmas present all wrapped up!

Christmas Tree Tabletop Decoration Tutorial

Christmas in my family has always included making homemade ornaments, decorations, gifts, and treats that we share with friends and family.  When I was little, my mother and I would scour the pages of magazines to find inspiration for our latest projects. One of my favorite DIY ideas that my mom and I crafted together is this Christmas Tree Tabletop Decoration. 

For this project, you will need the following:

First, begin by cutting out approximately 100 - 1” wide by 6” long strips of fabric (for my example I had 25 each of 4 coordinating fabrics).   Next, pick out 4 ribbons or trims (you’ll need a spool of each) that are ¼” – 3/8” wide that coordinate with the fabrics, and cut 50 pieces that are 5” long and another 50 pieces that are 4” long.

Using the hot glue gun, carefully apply a small dab of glue to the end of one of the fabric strips. Press the ends together forming a loop.  Do this for all the fabric and ribbon strips.

Using a measuring tape or ruler, measure 3” up from the bottom of the Styrofoam cone and make a small mark using a Sharpie.  Continue marking 1” – 2” increments up the cone.  Repeat this all around the cone so that you now have a grid for guidance in evenly placing the fabric/ribbon rows.

  

Now cut 6 pieces of ½” wide white grosgrain ribbon to the following lengths: 

12 ¾”, 11 ½”, 10 ¼”, 9”, 7 ¾”, and 6 ½”.  These ribbon strips will be the foundation for each row of the Christmas tree. 

Starting with the longest piece of grosgrain ribbon, lay out the fabric loops in the desired pattern adjusting the space between the strips as needed.  Glue each fabric loop to the white grosgrain ribbon then glue the ribbon loops on top of each fabric loop.  Complete each ribbon strip the same way.

Now you are ready to assemble the Christmas tree.  Starting with the bottom row and using the markings on the cone as a guide, begin securing the ribbon strip onto the cone with floral pins or straight pins. 

Continue pinning the ribbon strips to the cone so that the bottom edge of the new layer overlaps the top edge of the previous layer.  My layers are spaced roughly 1 ½” to 2” apart vertically. 

The final row should be even with the top of the cone.  Now take 7 strips of fabric and cut them in half so that they are 3” long.  Fold each strip in half and glue together.

Pin each small loop around the top edge of the tree.

Using the remaining uncut ribbon, make a bow and secure it to the top of the tree using pins.  Add one more small loop to cover the center of the bow if desired.  Now you are done! 

Use a candleholder or plate to set your Christmas Tree Tabletop Decoration on as a base.  Make two or three Christmas Tree Tabletop Decorations with different sized cones for a larger tabletop or mantle holiday decoration.   

Merry Christmas!

This tutorial if for personal use only and it may not be reproduced or copied in part or whole without my expressed written consent.