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5 Back to School Kid Crafts

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Keeping the kids busy these next couple of weeks before school is a bit challenging. I want to savor the last moments of summer, but need the littles to wrap their heads around the idea that school is starting and we need to get back into a routine.

Kid crafts that THEY can make will not only get them thinking about school, but keep their hands and minds busy, too. My kids love being able to take something to school that they’ve made, so here’s a list of ideas that won’t break the bank and are easy enough for kids, ages 8 to 18, to make with a little help at the sewing machine.

1. Case Logic

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Even my 3-year olds need a pencil case this year, and this one is easily sized up or down depending on how many supplies it needs to hold.

SUPPLIES

  • one 8″x12″ rectangle each of exterior fabric, lining & interfacing (quilting cottons work great for this project)
  • 14″-long zipper
  • matching all-purpose thread
  • removable fabric marker
  • point turner or chopstick

SEW

  1. Fuse the interfacing rectangle to the lining rectangle wrong side, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
  2. Position the zipper right side down over the exterior rectangle right side. Align one zipper-tape edge with one rectangle long edge. Place the lining rectangle wrong side up over the exterior rectangle, sandwiching the zipper. Pin, and then stitch the short edge using a zipper foot to place the needle as close to the teeth as possible.BoxBag-1
  3. Turn the fabrics right side out; press, and then topstitch 1/8″ from the zipper seam.BoxBag-2
  4. Repeat to stitch the opposite zipper tape to the remaining exterior and lining short edges.BoxBag-3v2
  5. Turn the pouch right side out, centering the zipper and aligning the exterior and lining raw edges. Orient the zipper stop at the lower-edge center; press flat.
  6. Measure 1 1/4″ from the bag lower edge and 1″ from each corner; mark. Cut away each rectangle.BoxBag-4
  7. Unzip the zipper halfway. Turn the bag wrong side out. Stitch across each short edge, and then trim off the excess zipper tape. Serge- or zigzag-finish the seams.BoxBag-5
  8. To box the lower pouch corners, align the seam with one bag-side foldline. Stitch across the raw edge. Serge- or zigzag-finish the seam. Repeat to box the opposite corner.BoxBag-6
  9. Turn the pouch right side out. Using a point turner or chopstick, gently push out the corners; press.

2. Neat & Discreet

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If you have a tween or teen, a cute fabric pouch to hold feminine hygiene products is a must-have for back-to-school. Load it with a few just-in-case tampons, panty liners or pads, and she’ll feel prepared at all times.

SUPPLIES

  • 1/4 yard of print cotton fabric
  • 6 1/2″x7″ rectangle of fusible interfacing
  • 3″ length of round cord elastic (or cut open a hair elastic)
  • 1″-diameter button
  • matching all-purpose thread
  • hand sewing needle

PREPARE

  1. From the fabric, cut one 6 1/2″x7″ rectangle for the exterior. Two 3 1/2″x7″ rectangles for the interior and one 3 1/2″x8″ rectangle for the pocket.
  2. Fuse the interfacing to the exterior rectangle wrong side, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

SEW

Use 1/4″ seam allowances.

  1. With wrong sides together, fold the pocket in half widthwise; press, and then topstitch the folded edge.
  2. With right sides facing up, place the pocket over one interior rectangle, aligning the sides and lower edges.TampCozy-1
  3. Place the remaining interior rectangle right side down over the pocket, aligning the raw edges. Pin, and then stitch the left edge; press open the seam.
  4. Fold the elastic length in half. Center the elastic ends over the pocket-panel long edge on the right side, aligning the raw edges. Zigzag-stitch over the elastic ends to secure.TampCozy-2 (2)
  5. With right sides together, place the exterior rectangle over the interior panels, sandwiching the elastic; pin the perimeter.
  6. Stitch the perimeter, leaving a 3″ opening along the left edge for turning. Backstitch over the elastic ends for added security. Clip the corners up to, but not touching, the stitching.
  7. Turn the holder right side out through the opening. Fold the opening seam allowances 1/4″ toward the wrong side; press. Edgestitch the perimeter, closing the opening with the stitches.
  8. On the exterior rectangle, stitch a button centered 1″ from the long edge opposite the elastic. Fold the holder in half lengthwise and secure by looping the elastic around the button.

3. Book Keeper

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Instead of buying book covers or making them from grocery bags, choose washable laminated cotton for the ultimate in durable style.

SUPPLIES

  • laminated cotton fabric (amount determined by book size)
  • 3″x4″ rectangle of chalk cloth & chalk (optional; if adding a label)
  • removable fabric marker

PREPARE

  1. Measure the book height; add 1″, and then record.
  2. Measure the closed book circumference; add “9”, and then record.
  3. From the laminated cotton, cut one rectangle according to the measurements; designate as the book cover.
  4. Designate the chalk cloth rectangle as the label, if using. Round the corners using a curved ruler, plate, CD or DVD edge as a template, if desired.

SEW

Use a walking foot or cover a standard presser foot underside with clear tape to assist in sewing the laminated cotton.

  1. Fold each book-cover long edge 1/2″ toward the wrong side; finger-press. Edgestitch each book-cover long edge. Repeat to fold and stitch the book-cover short edges.BookCover-1
  2. If adding a chalk cloth label: Designate one book-cover long edge as the upper edge. Measure 3 1/2″ from the upper-right corner along the upper edge; mark. Measure the front-cover width; record. Measure from the mark using the recorded width measurement along the book-cover upper edge; mark. Position the label right side up between the marks where desired. Edgestitch the label perimeter.BookCover-2
  3. Fold each book-cover short edge 3 1/2″ toward the wrong side to create flaps. Secure the flaps using paper clips or binder clips.
  4. Stitch each book-cover long edge using a 1/2″ seam allowance, securing the flaps.BookCover-3
  5. Open the book and place the front and back covers into the flaps. Write the book owner’s name on the label using chalk.

4. Let’s Do Lunch

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Reusable sammie and snack bags reduce waste at lunchtime and are easy to clean when made of laminated cotton. Make a set and have the kiddos help choose fabric and apply hook-and-loop tape to involve them in the process.

SAMMIE BAG SUPPLIES

  • 1 fat quarter each of canvas & laminated cotton
  • 2 1/4″ length of 3/4″-wide hook-and-loop tape
  • 1/4″-wide fusible web tape
  • all-purpose thread

CUT

  1. From the canvas, cut one 8″x16 1/4″ rectangle.
  2. From the laminated cotton, cut one 7 1/2″x15 1/2″ rectangle.
  3. Separate the hook-and-loop tape. Cut the loop tape into one 1 1/2″-long piece; set aside.

SEW

  1. Position the canvas rectangle right side down on an ironing board. Fold the long edges 1/2″ toward the wrong side; press. Fold the short edges 1/2″ toward the wrong side, clipping the corners; press.
  2. Position pieces of fusible web tape under each fold; fuse, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
  3. Position the canvas rectangle right side ip over the laminated rectangle wrong side. Position pieces of fusible web tape along the laminated rectangle perimeter wrong side; fuse from the canvas side.
  4. Center one hook-tape piece 1 1/4″ from one canvas rectangle short edge, orienting it vertically. Stitch the perimeter using matching thread. Center the reserved loop tape 1/8″ from the opposite laminated rectangle edge, orienting it horizontally. Stitch the perimeter using matching thread.
  5. Fold the canvas rectangle hook-tape edge 5 1/2″ toward the laminated rectangle; pin, and then edgestitch the perimeter, leaving the folded edge free.SammieBag-1 copy

SNACK BAG SUPPLIES

  • 1 fat quarter each of canvas & laminated cotton
  • 2 1/4″ length of 3/4″-wide hook-and-loop tape
  • 1/4″-wide fusible web tape
  • all-purpose thread

CUT

  1. From the canvas, cut one 7″x10 1/2″ rectangle.
  2. From the laminated cotton, cut one 4 1/2″x6″ rectangle.
  3. SEW
  4. Position the canvas rectangle right side down on an ironing board. Fold the long edges 1/2″ toward the wrong side; press. Fold the short edges 1/2″ toward the wrong side, clipping the corners; press.
  5. Position pieces of fusible web tape under each fold; fuse.
  6. Position the canvas rectangle right side up over the laminated cotton rectangle. Position pieces of fusible web tape along the laminated cotton perimeter wrong side; fuse from the canvas side.
  7. Position one 6″-long hook tape piece along one laminated cotton short edge. Stitch the tape perimeter.
  8. Position one 6″-long loop tape piece along the opposite laminated cotton short edge. Stitch the tape perimeter.
  9. Fold the rectangle in half widthwise with the laminated cotton sides together. Align the hook-and-loop tape strips. Stitch the snack bag short edges. Turn the bag right side out.Sew News_3_23_11 7693

5. Flower Power

Flower Power

A cute mouse pad is a great way to spruce up a student’s workspace, especially if you’re setting up a new homework station. This project also makes a great gift for a new teacher. Turn the flower into an apple by copying an online template (search APPLE OUTLINE IMAGES on Google).

SUPPLIES

  • 1/4 yard each of pink print fabric (or red print fabric if making an apple) & green felt
  • scrap of green fabric
  • 1/4 yard of stiff fusible interfacing, such as Fast2Fuse
  • all-purpose matching thread

CUT

  1. On the print fabric wrong side, draw a flower outline. Keep the outline fairly simple, using the image as a guide. Or find a flower outline template by searching the internet for free images. (If making an apple, use an apple outline template.) Layer the print fabric over the interfacing and felt; cut out the flower through all layers.
  2. Draw a 3″-diameter circle in the flower center using a removable fabric marker on the fabric right side. (If making an apple, copy the apple template in a smaller size and trace it in the apple center.)
  3. Cut out a freehand-drawn leaf from the green fabric scrap.

SEW

  1. Spray the interfacing wrong side with temporary spray adhesive. Center the interfacing over the felt; finger-press to secure.
  2. Position the leaf and flower right side up over the interfacing, sandwiching the widest leaf edge between the layers and placing the leaf where desired (if making an apple, position the leaf near the upper-edge center). Use a steam iron to fuse the fabric to the interfacing, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
  3. Stitch the flower perimeter 1/4″ from the edge. Stitch the center circle (or apple) through all layers.
  4. Stitch 1/8″ inside the leaf perimeter, changing thread colors if desired. Stitch a line down the leaf center inside the perimeter stitching.

For even more quick-and easy projects that are kid- and adult-friendly, check out Sew it All, Volume 11, on newsstands and at shopsewitall.com August 29!

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