Many people cherish the art of sewing as a way to make personalized crafts and memorable gifts, especially for the holidays. But while winter sewing crafts are often cozy and warm, such as sweaters and scarves, different projects may be more appropriate for warmer seasons. If you’re interested in crafting with your home sewing machine this spring but need some inspiration, here are some simple projects to consider.

3 Projects for Your Home Sewing Machine

1. Backpacks

Make something to carry snacks or clothes in for upcoming spring picnics or hikes. For this fun project, you need a large piece of fabric, two pieces of rope or lanyard for the straps, and two grommets. After sewing the fabric into a bag, create two “tunnels” at the top for the straps to go through. Then, attach the two grommets on either side of the bag, thread the ropes through each tunnel, and terminate each strap at a grommet.

2. Pillowcases

Adorn your pillows in something more personalized than what you’ll find at the store by making your own pillowcases. One easy method involves about a yard of fabric and a button. Using a pillow as your guide, fold in three corners of the fabric and mark where you need to sew them. Then, attach the button where the three corners meet, and a button cord to the remaining corner.

3. Knee Pad

If you enjoy working in the garden during the spring, give your knees a break by using your sewing machine to make something soft to kneel on. For this project, you just need a thick piece of fabric and soft filling. To start, fold the fabric in half, sew two sides, turn it inside out, then fill it with something cushy for your knees. You could also attach elastic straps for rolling up and storing the knee pad.

Interested in one of the above projects, or have something else in mind? You’ll find the equipment you need at Riehl Sew N Vac in Anchorage, AK. They’ve been in business for over 30 years, selling fabric, sewing machines, embroidery supplies, and everything else you might need for a sewing project. Call (907) 563-2909 for questions, or visit the website for more information.