8 Fun Projects for 1 Layer Cake

I used “It’s a Hoot” by MoMo in a layer cake for all of these projects.

The garnishes depend on which tutorial you try…some needs buttons, velcro, fusible interfacing, a shirt, or a onesie.

I completely fell in love with this line of fabric and decided that I wanted to make a lot of things with one layer cake.  You’ll find 8 great, small projects that can all be made from one layer cake.  Let’s get started.

1) Card holder.  I am a sucker for punch cards, but I get frustrated when they are all on the bottom of my purse.  I wanted to sew a little pouch for those cards or you could use it for business cards.

I used two halves of a layer cake square.  You could use one square to make it, but I wanted to use two different fabrics so the lining would be different.

I ironed on some light-weight fusible interfacing to one side of one of the pieces so it wouldn’t be too flimsy.

Place right sides together.  I sewed around the edges using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

At the top I wanted mine to be rounded (so the flap would be rounded) so I found a round object and drew a half circle on the fabric as my guide.  Invert and press.

Now you just have to fold it and do the topstitching.  You can see how it’s going be folded to look like a little purse.

I stitched across the top of the pocket first.  Then I folded the pocket as it should go and top stitched around the rest of the wallet.  Your top stitch is also what holds the pocket in place.

Lastly I sewed on velcro for my closure and I sewed a button on the outside to cover up where the velcro is sewn.  (It would be easier to sew the velcro on before you sew the folded pocket up.  I got a little ahead of myself, though 🙂  You could also do a snap closure.

2) Pennant Flag Banner.  I recently finished my craft room and I used the fabric for a couple of projects there as well.

I created a pattern of what shape I wanted the flags to be and I made sure I could get 4 out of each layer cake square.  Right sides together, sew, invert, press.

I bought doubled sided bias tape, inserted each tab into the fold, and sewed down the line.  I think this one would also be cute in a nursery.



3) Inspiration Plaques.  Along with the banner, I created some places to clip up any inspiration I find in magazines.   

I bought burner covers from the dollar store.  2 come in a pack.  I spray painted the edges since I didn’t want to have to fold the fabric over.

I spread a layer of Modge Podge onto the burner cover, laid the fabric on, and then spread on another layer of Modge Podge.  Lastly I trimed the edges after it dried. I purchased magnetic clips, which cling to the burner covers since they are metal.

Voila! A fun, easy project to put more color on the walls.

4) I made a few bowties.  This is my new “Retro Pointed Bow Tie” pattern and it can be purchased HERE.

                          

5) Patchwork Headband.  I love headbands, so I had my sister pick her favorites patterns and I made her a headband.  (This is me trying it out 🙂

I cut 2.5 inch squares. 

 I sewed them to each other, creating a long line.  I used 16 squares total and I pressed the seams.

I cut a long strip of fabric for the reverse side (from fabric I had lying around). I put right sides together and sewed it, tapering it at the end. I inverted it and pressed it.

Tie it on to spice up any outfit.

6) Homemade Heating Pad.  This was super easy to make and would make a great gift.  I’ve been using it on a regular basis since I made it. 

I used 2 squares for this project, but you could use more if you wanted a longer one.  I sewed the squares together and then cut them in half lengthwise. 

Right sides toether, sew, invert, and press. 

I stuffed it with rice and sewed it closed.  Pop it on the microwave for a minute, wrap it around your neck and you’ll be toasty warm as you sit on the couch.

7) Applique.  I love being able to use existing graphics or images from a fabric to make an applique.  This line of fabric has some great options for this. 

I simply cut out one of the birds (leaving plenty of extra fabric around it) and pinned it onto a onesie.  I sewed around the edge of the bird twice and then trimmed fairly close to the edge (leaving about 1/8 an inch).  I washed it so the edges would fray a little.  It was also really easy and makes a great baby gift.

8) Mock-Henley Tee.  I love to add something extra to my shirts just to give them a little interest. 



For this shirt I cut a strip of fabric and ironed the edges under. The strip goes over the collar in the picture because I folded it over the edge to sew it.  I sewed on the the whole strip and embellished it with covered buttons.  (Follow the directions on the package to cover the buttons.)

One layer cake yields a LOT of any of these small projects.  You can buy one layer cake and have lots of gifts for the upcoming season.

Cheri Heaton
{I Am Momma – Hear Me Roar}

Knotty Jumper with Ruffled Leggings

1 jelly roll – Origins
1 yard of coordinating fabric

2 yards of jumbo rick rack

The following instructions and measurements are for a size 18-24 month knotted jumper and the ruffled leggings. 

Begin by cutting your strips into fourths.  Align them in a color combination you prefer and sew them together.  I sewed 32 strips to form this skirt.  Press your seams open when finished.

Prepare the bottom of the dress by cutting a piece the same length as all your sewn strips and 5 inches tall.  Fold it in half and press it.  Sew it onto the bottom of the strips.  The folded edge will become the bottom of the dress.  (Optional: Sew on the rickrack so that is covers the seam where the strips and the bottom fabric meet.)

Make the straps by taking one full strip and folding it in half.  Sew the edges, but leave an opening to invert it.  Clip your corners, invert, and press.

Cut 4 pieces from this pattern included in the Printer Friendly PDF.  Take two of the pattern pieces and place them right sides together. Sew the sides only – not the cut out area for the arm. Repeat this with the other two pieces.

Now you essentially have two loops of fabric.  Place one inside of the other with the correct sides facing each other. 

Insert your straps as shown.  Now sew the two layers together all around the top (along the opening for the arms and across the top).  

Cut slits along the curved seams and clip your corners.  Invert and top stitch.

You should have this.

Next you’ll join these two parts.

Sew two gathering stitches along the top of your skirt.  Pull the threads and adjust the fabric until it matches the circumference of the top of the jumper.  Sew them together and then sew a zigzag stitch on the inside of the seam.

Sew two button holes for the straps to pull through. 

For the leggings, cut one jelly roll strip in half.  Hem one side and sew a gathering stitch on the other side.  I recommend marking a line on the leggings with a water soluble pencil to help you sew it on straight.

Sew them onto the leggings as shown (as though it’s upside down).  When you’re finished you can iron the ruffles down to help them settle.

1 Knotted Jumper with Ruffled Leggings.  Depending on the size of the jumper you make, one jelly roll could make 2-3 jumpers.

Feel free to visit me anytime. Thanks!

Cheri Heaton 

I Am Momma – Hear Me Roar

Bitty Boy Bean Bags and Backpack

The perfect handmade gift for the little guy who isn’t old enough for school, but loves to learn and play.

Guaranteed to provide hours of beanbag tossing fun.

How many can you hold?

1 Pure Layer Cake
18 inch by 1.5 inch strip of any coordinating fabric
26 small buttons
2 sheets of felt
1 large button
4 D-rings
1 yard of some sort of strap
1 yard of giant ric rac
1 shoestring

We’ll start with the backpack.  Working with a layer cake made this project a whole lot easier.  Take four squares and cut two in half. 

Sew the whole square to the half.  Be sure to leave a quarter inch unsewn at the bottom.

Continue this until you have a tube for the main part of the pack.  Sew a half piece to the bottom where you left the quarter inch unsewn.

Repeat this exact process again, but add your straps this time.  I made the straps about a foot long each and sewed them in at a 45 degree angle.

Now you have your lining and your outside.  (I inserted a piece of think plastic like you’d find on a thin binder, between these two layer to shape the pack a little more.)  Insert the lining.

Let’s move on to the shoulder straps.  Cut one of the squares into fourths the long way.  Add a layer of batting and sew the long sides.  Invert and sew on the rick rack.  Tuck under the fabric to sew one end of the strap closed, but insert a loop of your strap fabric with the 2 D-rings on it.  Do this for both straps.  Pin straps in place and sew the tops of them to the outer layer.

Cut another square in half and sew the edges to create your flap for the backpack.  Sew a loop into it of you want a loop for a buttonhole (as shown below).  Sew this flap across the top as you did the straps.

Create a casing for your drawstring by folding over an 18 inch by 1.5 inch strip (with finished ends).

Next is the tricky pinning part.  Fold over the lining and the outer bag and insert the casing.  Pin all around the back.  (You will have a lot to fold over in the back – the straps and flap.)  Sew it as close to the casing as possible.

Lace the shoestring through the casing and tie.  Sew on your large button.  All done!

Now on to the bean bags.  Cut each square into four 5″ squares.  I prefer to mix up all the different fabrics.  Sew one button onto every other square.

Invert 2 small squares and sew together.  Clip your corners.  Invert the bags and fill.  I use spilt peas, since they are cheap.  Tip: Cut off the corner of the spilt pea bags so you can pour them into the bean bag more efficiently.

Sew them shut.  Take your sheets of felt and cut them into three-inch strips (to make sure all the letters will be the same height).

Cut out each letter of the alphabet.  They don’t have to be perfect, just legible.  Cut slits for buttonholes in each letter.  (Yes, some will end up being off-centered, but that’s okay.  They will still work and look cute).

Button each letter onto a bean bag. 

Not only will this little guy be learning his letters, but he’ll also learn how to button and unbutton.

But best of all, he can lug them around in his own little backpack everywhere he goes.

1 bitty backpack with 26 alphabet bean bags  (if you use the entire pack then one layer cake can make exactly 2 backpacks and 2 full sets of alphabet bean bags)
1 very happy boy (and 1 jealous brother and 1 jealous cousin)

From Cheri at I Am Momma – Hear Me Roar.  Stop in and visit anytime!