Skills Required: Beginner. There are several steps to this project, but the sewing is simple. Even if you’re a beginning sewist, you should be able to accomplish this with some patience.

Hi everyone! This is Ashlee from My So Called Crafty Life, and I’m here to show you all how to make a simple DIY chair cushion! My Mama Marcie has a knack for antiques.

Her house is filled with them, and she always finds the most beautiful furniture pieces. One of my favorite piece she has in her kitchen is a gorgeous green iron chair with a floral fabric covered DIY chair cushion.

The chair is precious, but the seat is flat as a pancake and very uncomfortable.

A really easy solution for an uncomfy chair, without reupholstering it and adding lots of padding, is to make something comfy that ties onto the chair.

So, I decided to whip one up for Marcie’s kitchen chair, and now it makes a great resting spot without hurting your tush!

I think this turned out to be just adorable! I have a thing for vintage westerns, and these cowgirls make me swoon! The fabric is an old print from Alexander Henry that I picked up at antique fair.

The best part is that this home decor is easy to make, requiring no pattern, and you can easily whip one up in an hour or two. Here’s how I made this . . .

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Make Seat Cushions

Learn how to make chair cushions with this easy tutorial! You'll need basic sewing machine skills to ensure success.

Course Sewing Crafts

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 2 hours hours 50 minutes minutes

Total Time 3 hours hours

Servings 1 cushion

Cost $10

Equipment

• Covered Button Kit
• Ruler
• Marking Pen
• Scissors
• Sewing machine and Thread
• Hand Sewing Needle and Thread

Ingredients

• Fabric for Cushion about a half yard will do for most small to medium size chairs
• Fabric Scraps or Ribbon/Trim for Ties
• Fabric Scraps for Buttons
• Fiber Fill

Instructions

• Measure the chair seat. Add two inches to both the length and width – one inch (for a half-inch seam allowance on each side) plus one inch for the puff factor.
  
• Once you decide on the size, cut two pieces, one front and one back. Stack the pieces together and fold in half. Cut the bottom edge to be rounded.
  
• Cut two ties to be 20"x 2".
  
• If you are using ribbon or trim, skip this step. To make the ties, start by folding your tie in half lengthwise right sides together and press. Stitch all the way along the side and across the top.
  
• Turn the tie right side out. Fold a little of the open in to the inside and stitch across the end, closing up the open end.
  
• Cut tie in half. Repeat with other tie.
  
• Pin your ties in between the front and back piece. The front and back should be right sides together. Pin the ties about an inch and a half in from the sides.

  Make sure the ties are facing in towards the center of the cushion and the raw edges are lined up at the back. You need two ties on the right side and two at the left on what will be your back seam. Pin it all together.
  
• Stitch across the back then pivot and stitch down the side, across the bottom, up the other side and then across the back until right past the left set of ties. You should have an opening left in the back between the ties for stuffing.
  
• Clip corners and curves close to the seam.
  
• Turn your cushion right side out.
  
• Stuff your cushion with polyfill or other stuffing of your choice. Stitch up the opening in the back with your hand needle and thread using a blind stitch, ladder stitch, or a whip stitch. You can leave your cushion like this or you can add buttons.
  
• To make covered buttons, cut a piece of fabric with the template included in your kit. Then follow the instructions for your kit to assemble the button(s).
  
• Measure and mark where you want your buttons to go. Mark the placement on the front and back of the cushion.
  
• Bring your threaded needle up from the bottom through the marked spot.
  
• Thread the button on the needle and then bring the needle back down through to the back side. Then repeat a few stitches.
  
• Pull the thread tightly so that the button sinks into the pillow. Tie off the thread with a couple of knots.
  
• Clip the excess. Repeat with your other buttons. Finish by tying your cushion to the chair.
  

Video

Notes

Step 1: My seat was 15 x 17″, so I wanted my fabric to be 17 x 19″.

Step 15: Instructions for my kit were to place the fabric right side down into the rubber cup. insert the top of the button face down into the cup. Gather the fabric into the back side of the button front.

Place the button back shank side up onto the gathered fabric in the back side of the button front. Press the back of the button into the cup with the little plastic piece that the kit includes. You should feel it snap together. Remove button from the cup. Repeat with your other buttons. I made four.

I can’t wait to hear if you give this a try! Let me know in the comments. And if you enjoy sewing, here are some additional ideas we think you’re going to love:

• Applique Tote: Because It’s All About the Hustle
• DIY Bunting Made From Recycled Denim
• 10 Unique Quilt Patterns to Make for Gifts
• Easy Hand Sewn DIY Pencil Case in Minutes
• Applique Slippers Personalized Gift Idea

The post Simple DIY Chair Cushion with Ties (in an Hour) appeared first on DIY Candy.

Skills Required: Intermediate Beginner. This is a relatively easy project, but you should have some basic sewing experience before starting.

Are your pot holders totally destroyed? I know most of mine are, so when I was out fabric shopping and came across this adorable kitchen utensil fabric I knew I had to have and make a cute DIY pot holder out of it!

This is such a fun and fast project that would make a great homemade Mother’s Day gift. Or you could keep it for yourself to replace some of those embarrassingly stained ones (we all have them)! This is a simple sewing project – way simpler than it looks. Here’s how to make this simple gift idea.

Have fun making your own DIY pot holders! Get the how to below:

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DIY Pot Holder

Learn how to make a pot holder, and quilt it, using your fave fabric and this easy tutorial!

Course Sewing Crafts

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 2 hours hours

Servings 1 potholder

Cost $5

Equipment

• Sewing machine
• Ruler
• Sewing scissors

Ingredients

• Old pot holder
• 1/4 yard quilt batting
• 1/4 yard printed fabric for the top
• 1/4 yard terrycloth for the inside
• 1 yard bias tape binding you can make your own or buy it pre-made
• Matching thread

Instructions

• Use a pot holder you already have, and trace around it on a sheet of paper for a template.
• Using a ruler, add 1/2″ for seam allowance around the outside to the template. Then cut 2 of each of your fabrics.
  
• Pin the three layers together two times, one for the top and one for the back. So what I did was taking a ruler and a pencil I lightly drew the quilting lines 1″ apart and then sewed on top of the pencil line. It totally worked for me!
  
• Make the bias tape, unless you purchased it. Cut a 2″ strip of fabric that is diagonal across the width of the fabric. Fold it in half and then fold the two ends into the center so you have a nice finished edge to put the bottom of the pot holder into.
  
• Sew the bias tape onto the bottom of the two pieces.
  
• Sew a loop of fabric into the side seam. Cut a 4″ x 2.5″ piece of fabric, fold it over lengthwise with right sides together, and sew up at 1/4″ seam allowance. After sewing, flip it right side out and then iron it flat.
  
• Fold over so it makes a loop, and then pin it between the layers of the pot holder so it will be sewn nicely into the side seam.
  
• Pin both quilted layers together, and sew all the way around the pot holder.
  
• Trim around the finger indention, between the thumb spot and the rest of the hand spot. Cut into it almost to the stitching. This will ease up some of the fabric tension at that point when you turn it right side out.
  
• Flip the pot holder right side out, making sure to push all the finger spots out from the inside. Run an iron over it to finish.
  

Video

Notes

Step 3: I’m not going to lie – I am not a “quilter,” so I’m sure there is a tool to help you quilt with your standard machine (but I don’t know about it!).

Now that you know how to make a pot holder, let me know if you’re going to try it in the comments! I’d also love for you to check out these other popular sewing projects here on the blog:

• DIY Grocery Bag from a Tea Towel
• Simple Tie-On Chair Cushion
• Unique Recycled Denim Ideas
• Make Baby Burp Cloths
• Unique Quilt Patterns for Gifts

The post DIY Pot Holder Without a Pattern (Quilted!) appeared first on DIY Candy.

Skills Required: Beginner. You should have a basic knowledge of how to use a sewing machine to try this project.

Hi, this is Jessica from Cutesy Crafts, here to show you how I made this super easy bandana skirt for my daughter’s 4th of July outfit. I’m seriously loving the bandana trend for 4th of July!

The great thing about bandanas is that they are already hemmed, which make them perfect for skirt-making. And, if I can add lace to anything, I will. I love the frilly, feminine touch that the lace adds to this skirt!

This is a very simple sewing project! I would estimate this to fit a 3 – 5 year old child, depending on their waist size. This will fit approximately an 18″ – 22″ child’s waist.

Learn how to make the skirt below!

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Bandana Skirt

Learn how to make a bandana skirt in a few simple steps! This cute sewing project is easier than you think.

Course Sewing Crafts

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings 1 skirt

Cost $2

Equipment

• Sewing machine
• Safety pin
• Scissors

Ingredients

• 1 Bandana(s)
• Elastic 1/2-inch wide
• 1 1/2 yards Eyelet lace trim
• Thread

Instructions

• Fold your bandana in half and cut along the fold to get two equal pieces.
  
• Put the bandana pieces right sides together, with the cut edges on the top. Pin and sew a 1/4" seam down both sides.
  
• Fold the cut edge over 1/4" and press it with an iron. Fold it again about 3/4" and press again. This will be the casing for your elastic.
  
• Sew around the top of the skirt, close to the bottom of the fold. Leave an opening a couple of inches wide to thread your elastic through later.
  
• With your skirt still inside out, pin and sew the eyelet lace trim to the bottom.
  
• When you get to the ends, trim and fold the raw edges under.
  
• Put a safety pin through one end of the elastic and use it to help you thread the elastic through the casing. Sew the ends together with your sewing machine and then sew the opening closed.
  
• Turn the skirt right side out to finish.
  

Video

Notes

And if you Want to Make the Matching Shirt

Just iron some Wonder Under or thin interfacing onto the back of the bandana, cut out the star, iron it to the shirt, and sew around it. Standard appliqué process. So cute, right?!

If you enjoyed this tutorial, you’ll want to see our red, white, and blue bandana headbands! You can see how cute they are in the image below.

The post This Bandana Skirt is Easy to Make (Little Girls) appeared first on DIY Candy.

Skills Required: Beginner. The sewing is very simple, so if you’re just starting out with a sewing machine, you’ll be able to tackle this project.

If you’re a vintage and thrift store lover like me, chances are you have a sizable stash of favorite items that rarely see the light of day.

You’re either short on space to display them, or you’ve been holding out on using them for just the right occasion (like china settings) so they won’t be ruined.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from thrifting for nearly two decades, it’s that I can’t bring all the pretty things home, and if I do, I need to put it to use or pass it back along.

So, to go along with my unofficial resolution of paring down my vintage stash this year, I’m putting one of my favorite vintage tea towels to good use by sewing it into a tea towel DIY tote – perfect for a project bag or making a run to the farmers market!

This tea towel would have made a perfect wall hanging, but I just don’t have a good space for it in my house.

I love the bold flower print, and it’s 100% linen with finished edges – and it’s from the year my husband was born, so I couldn’t not bring it home with me.

But the thing is, I bought it like two years ago and I haven’t done anything with it! Time for a change. Here’s how I turned a tea towel into a tote.

First you’re going to gather these supplies:

• One pretty tea towel
• Sewing machine
• Scissors
• Something to use for the straps. I used 1 1/2 yards of pretty yellow braiding, although webbing is perfect for a tote too

Tip: when you try this tutorial, ironing can help, especially if your towel is wrinkly. Use it on your edges and box corners if desired.

This is such a cute cottagecore craft idea. You can make a bunch of them in just a few hours.

Get the printable how to card for this tote below.

Print

DIY Tote Bag

Learn how to make a tea towel tote bag the easy way! This is a perfect project for a beginning sewist.

Course Sewing Crafts

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

Servings 1 bag

Cost $5

Equipment

• Sewing machine
• Scissors
• Pins

Ingredients

• 1 Tea towel
• Thread
• Webbing for straps

Instructions

• Fold your tea towel in half with right sides facing each other.
  
• You'll make boxed corners. Instead of measuring and sewing off triangles. Simply take the folded bottom edge and push it up between the front and back of the fabric, creating a pleat.
  
• Pin along each edge, making sure the folds line up at the bottom of your bag.
  
• Zig zag stitch in a straight line along both sides.
  
• Pin and stitch your handles into place. If you're using webbing, I recommend sewing it on with a boxed "X" to provide more support.
  
• Flip it all right side out to use.
  

Video

Notes

My braiding was a little thick and finicky, so I just zig zagged back and forth a few times.

This tea towel tote is so simple and quick, it makes a great last-minute gift idea for Mother’s Day, Christmas, and more! If you want more tea towel ideas, check out the other tutorials:

Floral Coloring Book Tea Towel

Fruit Stamping on Tea Towels

The post DIY Tote Bag from a Tea Towel in Less Than an Hour appeared first on DIY Candy.