I had one of those moments in Target the other day while walking (well running, actually, as I had a screaming toddler in my cart) by an endcap, and instinctively, reflexively even, bent down and grabbed this fantastic cake platter as we sped past. The first thing that popped into my head to describe it was "Barnyard Chic" -- check out the chicken wire detail on the foot! Completely fantastic --
Driving home, this strange urge to make Easter eggs came over me. Strange in that I don't usually get this kind of inspiration until either, a) after the holiday has passed, or b) it's so close to the holiday that there isn't enough time to complete the project. In any case, not only did I finish the eggs in time, but I've come up with a little tutorial (my first!) far enough in advance for anyone else who wants to make fabric Easter eggs, too. These are just a bit bigger than real eggs and a terrific way to use up those fabric scraps! Please be sure to tell me if you have any trouble printing the pattern (it should be 2-1/8"W by 4-1/4"h) or if any of the instructions are confusing so I can fix them!
Fabric Easter Egg Tutorial
Materials:
10"w x 5"h Quilting cotton, linen or other non-stretchy woven fabric in one or more prints
Thread
Fiberfill, Nature-fill or other similar polyester or natural stuffing
Disappearing Ink Pen
Scissors
Pins
Hand sewing needle
Pattern (I recommend printing it on card stock for easy tracing)
Seam allowances are 1/4"
1. Cut out the pieces. Place pattern piece perpendicular to the fabric selvedge, trace the pattern with disappearing ink (see photo below) and cut four pieces from desired fabric prints. You may cut multiple pieces simultaneously from the same print by folding the fabric over one or more times, cutting up to 4 pieces at once. (Tip: If you're using a scrap and don't know which way the selvedge is, test which direction the fabric is stretchiest. The fabric is stretchier going perpendicular to the selvedge, and less stretchy going parallel with the selvedge; you want the stretch going from top to bottom of the egg, not side to side, so your egg doesn't get too "fat" when you stuff it. Hopefully that makes sense.)
2. Place pieces together for sewing. Always keeping track of which end is "up", place 2 fabric pieces, right sides together, pinning if desired. Do the same with the remaining two pieces. Transfer the two dots from the pattern to the fabric pieces on top. If using two different fabrics, make sure both pairs have one of each print and that the same print is on the top of both sets.
3. Sew a seam along the right side of one set of egg pieces, from top dot to bottom dot, backstitching at the top and bottom. Do the same with the second set of pieces.
4. Put the two halves together. Turn one set of egg pieces right side out, and place inside the other set of egg pieces, so that right sides are together on the inside.
Match the seams at the top and bottom and pin. (Note the purple ink marks on the lower righthand side in the photo below that indicate where I will leave a hole for stuffing)
5. Sew the two halves together. Sew around the outside edge of the egg, leaving a 1" hole on one side for turning and stuffing, backstitching at the beginning and end of the seam.
6. Trim the seam allowances, taking care not to snip into the stitches and leaving the seam allowances wide around the open hole.
7. Turn the egg right side out through the hole and it will look something like this
8. Stuff the egg firmly with poly-fill or other stuffing, and close the hole with small slip stitches/ladder stitches.
9. Voila! You have a completed egg.
10. Now make bunches and bunches of these and post your photos in my new flickr group dedicated to projects made with my patterns!
I hope you have as much fun making these as I did!
Have a fun and happy (and warm, if you're lucky) weekend!
Kim
edited 2/2/11 to add updated link to pattern
Thank you for sharing this beautiful and detailed Easter Eggs craft tutorial! I am sure everyone appreciates the effort you put into this! (Love your photo techniques too!)
ReplyDeleteI've shared your blog with my fans on my Facebook Blog as I want them to see your beautiful craft also! Keep it up and thanks for sharing!
Macarthur Baskets and Hampers
These are the cutest eggs I have seen yet!
ReplyDeleteConnie
Really so cute! We featured these today at:
ReplyDeletehttp://holidaysnobs.blogspot.com/2011/04/what-to-put-in-your-easter-baskets.html
Feel free to grab a "featured" button!
Great pattern. I've made mine today, published here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.created-by-sonja.com/2011/04/kosarici.html
Great! Easter at our cologne (or perfume), sprinkle with the girls. This is a very new tradition. It used a bucket of water poured down on them, and in return hand-painted eggs (painted eggs) were obtained. Today, chocolate eggs and give money. 40-day fast was held in front of people, but today it is no longer in vogue. Today it is not really tied to religion, this celebration with us. But I read that many other nations and other habits. I only knew to write unto you of the Hungarian customs. If you are interested in is a bit better, then I offer a very good book, in which the old pattern, until the present day are included in the current "trends". http://www.konyv-konyvek.hu/husvet_magyar_hagyomanyok
ReplyDeleteGreat tutorial Kim. I write a lot of articles for moms and i can really appreciate what you've done here.
ReplyDeleteHi there! I am hosting a handmade Easter toy swap on my blog this year and would like to include a picture of your adorable fabric eggs and a link to your blog. Would that be ok with you? I'd also like to invite you to join in our swap if you're interested...thanks!
ReplyDeleteBecky
beckymac1 at hotmail dot com
belle-n-bee.blogspot.com
Becky, you are very welcome to use my photo and link on your blog. Thanks, and happy swapping!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing this with us. Just tried one and it is so easy to do.
ReplyDeleteIf it is ok for you, I would like to link you at my blog!?
Just let me know.
Greetings from Miami,
Kamilla
What an awesome tutorial. Thanks for sharing....
ReplyDeleteGreat tutorial, great pattern, great colours! I am very impressed! If you wont mind I will set a link to your tutorial on my little blog. I hope its ok with you! if not pls do contact me!
ReplyDeleteAgain I love the end result!!! Fantastic!
My mom made something like this for my daughter a few years back. They are still an Easter favorite. She mailed them with a list of about 15 activities to do with them (hop over them, throw them to the ceiling, hide them, toss them in a bucket, toss them to mom/dad...etc). WONDERFUL tutorial...i was just noticing the other day we're missing a few...I might have to give it a try!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your egg template! I just made a dozen as gifts for my son's class as Easter gifts. You can see them here on my blog (I included a link back to you) http://prettybobbins.blogspot.com/2012/03/easter-sewing-before-i-stayed-up-all.html
ReplyDeleteOne tip: if your machine freaks out doing these little seams and curved shapes...outline shape on larger fabric square, sew along line, then cut with 1/4 inch allowance. (I've learned this is how some little softies are made...) Scraps are great for little fabric collage projects.
ReplyDeleteI just loved them!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the tutorial and pattern. The eggs are fantastic. I made some for my daughter. If you want to see them you can check them out here:
ReplyDeletehttp://untamingthespirit.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/fabric-easter-eggs/
Why do i always find awesome tutorials like this AFTER Easter!?? To Bad! i am making me these tomorrow, Easter time or not. Absolute fun.
ReplyDeleteKate
www.thisijackshouse.com
Thanks so much for the pattern and instructions. I have lots of scraps to use up and (now that it's September 2012), plenty of time to make for Easter 2013!
ReplyDeleteI've just stumbled on your gorgeous fabric eggs while blog-hopping and had to include a link to them in my new calendar widget. Hope you don't mind. You can see the calendar here: http://secretcorridor.com/widgets/
ReplyDeleteNo content has been copied, only a link. If you would like any other free patterns included in the calendar please let me know!
And thank you for the share x
I just found your tutorial and these are so cute! I am definitely going to try making them.
ReplyDeleteI'm just finding your pretty eggs now but I'm completely inspired. I can't wait to make some of these with my scrap fabric!
ReplyDeleteWOW! Tks for sharing the tutorial... will make my little girl's Eastern happy! Cheers, :))))) Barbara
ReplyDelete¡¡Graciasss!!
ReplyDeleteI feel dumb because I can't figure out how to print a nice smaller version. My printer wanted to print 36 pages. HELP! I am trying to print the directions for the Easter eggs.
ReplyDeleteHi Victoria, I'm guessing your printer is trying to print all the comments, too! You might try highlighting just the photos and instructions, then copy and paste to Word in order to print it. When I did this it ended up 5 pages long. Hope this helps! Happy Stitching ~Kim
ReplyDeleteThese are such nice eggs. Thanks for sharing the pattern.
ReplyDeleteYou should put them in a little basket with Easter grass. Very colorful and cute. Creative and fun.
ReplyDeleteYou should put them in a little basket with Easter grass. Very colorful and cute. Creative and fun.
ReplyDeleteThese are so cute!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the Tutorial and Pattern. I made some of your eggs and posted a link back to your blog.
Such a great tutorial! I liked it so much, I am sharing it on my blog!! I hope to add a few of my own pictures once I get around to a few crafts!!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Katrina
Sounds like you shop at Target like I do - and if it has chicken wire it's coming with me! So cute - thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThese are delightful - can't wait to make some.
ReplyDeleteYour tutorial is very very good. Kudos to you as a first timer!! I have been busy making these lovely eggs and the only thing you forgot to tell us in the tutorial is that They. Are. Addictive. ! thanks for sharing you idea with us and I wish I had a Target close by to grab one of those cake stands. :( J
ReplyDeleteGreat tutorial ! Thanks for sharing !
ReplyDeleteAmazing tutorial! I was just browsing for some christmas inspiration and found your blog. Thanks a lot for sharing, will come back
ReplyDeleteThis does look fun Thank you. I can't see the pattern shape to download or print.I would love to make them for this easter. Carmel
ReplyDeleteHi Kim,
ReplyDeleteI like your Easter ideas very much ♥! Thank you for pattern!
I found your great post on my blog post on 25.3. on *handGemacht* link!
♥GreetingsGabi
http://stich-schlinge.de
translate with google ;o)
Thank you for your great tutorial, I made our eastern decoration this year using your patterns. If you have a few minutes, you can check it on my site: http://the-blue-magpie-design.tumblr.com/post/115848430656/our-first-complete-eastern-decoration-in-our
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
I found eggs made from this pattern on instagram a little while ago. Thank you so much for keeping this tutorial available!!!
ReplyDeleteI made four of these, back in the day ... they come out every year for Easter. Somehow I ended up back here ... must make some more! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteBoy, am I late to this party, but I adore this tutorial and your entire site. I will be back!!!!! Thank you for sharing your creativity and talent.
ReplyDeleteI love these eggs! I'm linking to them in my blog newsletter this week! Thanks so much for sharing! :) Lisa
ReplyDeleteI made some of these during the last days and showed them on my blog today - I hope this is ok?
ReplyDeleteThank you for the loveley idea, pattern and instructions!
Greetings from Germany,
Nanni
https://heldendervorzeit.wordpress.com/2021/03/09/ostereier-aus-stoffresten/
Thanks for sharing the egg pattern and tutorial. I look forward to making some.
ReplyDeleteGreat pattern, thanks!
ReplyDelete