I’m excited to be sharing some of my favorite simple hand stitching projects with you today, all perfect for making with kids! and because craft time with the kids isn’t always roses and unicorns, I’m also sharing some of my tried and true tips for successful projects.

recently, I put together this video with Jo-Ann, and I’m really quite over-the-moon excited to be sharing the final thing with you! me, in video form!!

below you will find all the links and instructions you will need to make all of the simple hand stitching projects I mentioned in the video:

apple pincushion

supplies & tools

apple pincushion template (download pincushion template here)
red, brown, and green felt: 1 sheet each
red perle cotton
pellon® perfect loft fiber fill
water soluble marker
pellon® ez-steam II
sewing supplies: hand-sewing needle, scissors
(click here to download project pdf from Jo-Ann)

prep work

1. thread needle.
2. cut 7 1/2″ strips of ez-steam.
3. trace templates onto felt with water soluble marker.

pincushion directions

1. cut out felt pieces.
2. adhere strip of ez-steam to bottom of stem. remove paper and adhere stem to center top of one felt apple, overlapping 1/2″.
3. repeat with another strip of ez-steam and leaf.
4. adhere remaining strips of ez-steam around the outside of the felt apple, and remove paper from all strips except the one at the bottom of the apple.
5. place second felt apple on top and press around edges to hold them together.
6. leaving a space at the bottom, stitch around the apple with a running stitch, through all layers. do not knot and cut thread.
7. stuff pincushion.
8. remove paper from final ez-steam strip and press apple bottom edges together to adhere.
9. resume running stitch, and knot thread to secure at end.

felt garland

you can find the full project directions here or download a pdf version of the instructions from Jo-Ann.

hand embroidered pillow

supplies & tools

1/2 yard fabric
interfacing (optional)
embroidery hoop (9″ recommended)
14″ pillow form
sewing supplies: hand-sewing needle, scissors, sewing machine, iron, thread

prep work

1. cut fabric into one 15″ square and two 11×15″ rectangles.
2. cut 10″ square of interfacing.
3. place interfacing and fabric into embroidery hoop.
4. thread needle.

embroider

stitch as desired (see video for stitching suggestions).

make pillow cover

1. hem one long edge of each rectangle by folding under 1/2″, pressing, folding under additional 3/4″, pressing, and top-stitching.
2. with embroidered square right side up, place rectangles right sides together, aligning raw edges, so that hemmed edges overlap, and pin.
3. stitch around raw edges with 1/2″ seam allowance, back-stitching at end to secure.
4. trim corners and turn right sides out.
5. stuff with 14″ pillow form.

I hope these tips and simple hand stitching projects encourage you to make something fun with your kiddos. do you have any go-to kid crafting projects? I’d love to hear what they are!

happy stitching!
xo, rachael

ps. you can see the other video I recently made with Jo-Ann here, the cerisy skirt tutorial.

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