Sewing - Sandpiper Creatives

Personalizing Notebooks or Books

Raise your hand if you remember Trapper-Keepers, lots of spiral notebooks, and cardboard pencil boxes from your school days. Anything I could do to personalize these school materials and put my own stamp on them, I did. In first grade, I went so far as to ask my mom to cover my pencil box in pretty wrapping paper so it would look different from everyone else’s on the planet. I guess that need to turn the boring, mass-produced product into my own creative masterpiece still lingers, because here I am as an adult teaching my own kids, and I’m still doing the same thing! I love it when we turn the boring cover of their binder or notebook into something they want to see every day.

by Kimberly Farmer

Cross-stitch for Young Children

We love Colonial Williamsburg. I went there multiple times with my family when I was growing up (I remember mom making me a write a report on our visit.), and my husband and I went a couple times before we had children. We have since been a couple more times with our children, and I’m so glad they love it, too. If you are studying Colonial Times and would like an activity to go along with it, this may be one to try.

by Kimberly Farmer

Back Seat Toy Organizers

This is my new solution to keeping the kids’ toys organized when we are on lengthy trips! The best part is that doing this was cheap and required minimal stitching. Plus, they are washable.

by Kimberly Farmer

Felt Applique

I created the sailboat on Landon’s birthday shirt (I purchases the blank shirt on sale at Hobby Lobby for less than 2 dollars) with felt! I want to share this, because it requires much less stitching, manipulation, and trouble than appliqueing fabric. Felt holds its shape and it doesn’t unravel, so it was perfect for this birthday shirt makeover. And I will definitely be doing it again with another design on another shirt on another day!

The steps are simple!
1) Draw your design directly onto the felt (backwards on the backside) and cut it out. I drew a sailboat, because it was the theme of his party, but do anything you want. If your child is old enough, they may enjoy helping create the design. ***Also, if you are more comfortable, you can print a design from the computer or draw your design on paper first, and then cut it out and trace it onto the back of the felt.
2) Pin the felt piece(s) onto the front of the shirt to keep them in place. (If you don’t have straight pins, you can use safety pins or double stick tape to help keep the pieces in place while you begin stitching.)Using needle and thread (matching or contrasting) simply stitch around the outside edge of your design!
3) Add buttons or ribbon if desired and you’re done.

And it is machine washable. I have washed Landon’s shirt several times inside-out and it is still going strong.

by Kimberly Farmer

Extended Shirt Life Thanks to Scissors

Every child is proportioned differently, and each shirt fits differently, too, so this idea just may work for you, like it did for me. Landon had a few onesie shirts, which fit him around his torso, but they were becoming too short for snapping closed. So, I got out my fabric scissors and cut off the onesie bottom part of the shirt. Because the shirts were make out of knit/jersey material, no hemming was necessary! They can be worn and washed without any sewing, and Landon is getting quite a bit more wear out of his clothes!

by Kimberly Farmer

Little Prince’s Tunic

Isn’t this the cutest little prince (minus a crown) that you’ve ever seen? I thought Landon should get to dress up a little at Ava’s princess-themed birthday party, so I gathered a few craft supplies I had on hand and made this little Prince’s Tunic for my little boy from two pieces of felt and some pieces and materials for embellishment. It’s very easy, and if you aren’t handy with a needle and thread, I would assume you could use craft or fabric glue of some kind to get the job done, as well!

by Kimberly Farmer

Felt Pouch Organizer

Whip up a pouch with some felt, embroidery floss, and a needle. Personalize it with buttons or trim or other felt cut outs like our hearts. We made ours to hold a car air freshener, so it no longer has to dangle from the rear view mirror, and we will also be using it as a glove box organizer. Make it any size to accommodate a gift. It could be filled with candy, a sachet, a gift card, or whatever else you dream up.

by Kimberly Farmer

Sewing 101: Preschooler Style

I found children’s needles at the craft store, and couldn’t resist the opportunity to introduce my daughter to sewing/needle work. These needles are large, plastic, and dull-pointed. I purchased the pack of two needles, one sheet (appx. 12″x18″) of plastic stuff (I have no idea what the name of it is) with holes that are larger than the standard size, and some colorful yarn.

by Kimberly Farmer

Growth Chart

Here’s a project that took some time, but it turned out so great! Because I wanted her growth chart to be able to change rooms, or houses, or be boxed away, I decided to make my daughter a fabric, keepsake growth chart. When I created this growth chart in 2010, it wasn’t common to find them made out of fabric, but you can find them easily now on Etsy and in shops. If you still like the idea of making your own to fit your child’s personality or room decor, however, you may want to give it a go, too!