The Cottage Mama

Category: Children Sewing Tutorial

Reverse Applique Ghost Sweatshirt

Happy Almost Halloween! I felt the urge to sew something for Miss JoJo yesterday and I couldn’t get it out of my mind so I had to make it happen! As you know, she just turned 10 years old and I feel like my days are numbered in regards to how much longer she’ll want to wear mama made clothing or anything super girly like bows. But for now, she loves all things girly-girl!

This isn’t a full tutorial since I didn’t take step-by-step photos but hopefully I can explain it well enough that it makes sense!

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October 29, 2024
Reversible Tulip Petal Sun Hat

Reversible Tulip Petal Sun Hat

My dear, sweet friend, Evy Hawkins, has created a wonderful tutorial for taking The Cottage Mama ‘Tulip Petal Sun Hat‘ free pattern and making it reversible…….thus a Reversible Tulip Petal Sun Hat! She’s also sharing how to add embroidery to this darling hat. Isn’t the one she created for her granddaughter just the cutest? Evy is an incredibly talented seamstress and has so much knowledge to share!

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February 1, 2023
Mary Jane Baby Shoes Pattern

It’s National Sewing Month and today I’m partnering up with Joann Fabric and Craft Stores for their #sewyourstyle blogger campaign and contest sponsored by Joann’s and Pellon. Today I have a free Mary Jane Baby Shoes Pattern to share with all of you as part of this series. We are due to have our fourth child, a sweet baby girl, in about 4 weeks from now so I’ve been busy nesting and sewing a few things for the new little miss. I came up with these Mary Jane Baby Shoes and have the pattern available for you for free here in size 6 – 12 month (this is a simple, hand-drawn pattern).

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February 22, 2021
Embroidered Towel Tutorial

Both my girls finished school a couple weeks ago. Savannah finished Kindergarten and Matilda finished her last year of preschool. It’s hard to believe I will have a 1st grader and a kindergartner next year! I wanted to create a gift for the girls’ teachers that I thought they might really use. I figure everyone can use a good beach towel, so I decided to take it a step further and embroiderer each of their teachers last names on the towel. I didn’t want to use their first names since then the other members of their families might not be able, or want, to use the towel. I’m excited to share with you exactly how I created these towels with this Embroidered Towel Tutorial. You might have had a little sneak peek, if you follow me on Instagram (@thecottagemama) with a video I shared of my machine embroidery. If you’ve ever been weary of embroidering on thick, bulky towels…….fear not……..it’s really very easy with a few basic supplies and a little know how. Let’s get started……..

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December 31, 2020
Children at Play Scalloped Pillow

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to film two episodes of Fons and Porter ‘Love of Quilting‘ PBS show and magazine. I already shared my Cottage Quilt Block with you that I made on one of the episodes. Today I’m sharing the project that I did on the other episode…….. Children at Play Scalloped Pillow.

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October 22, 2020
Halloween Trick or Treat Bag Pattern

Do your kids have special Halloween Trick or Treat Bags? I have been wanting to make my kids their own personalized Halloween Trick or Treat Bags for several years now. I have admired some of the cute ones I’ve seen in the Pottery Barn Kids catalog and thought about ordering them several times. But my conscious always held me back since I knew I could make them very easily if I just took the time to create a pattern. So this is the year……..we are due with our 4th child in about two weeks and she will be the final little one to complete our family, so this was the perfect opportunity to creating coordinating bags for all four kids. And that’s why I created the Halloween Trick or Treat Bag Pattern.

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October 15, 2020
Puppy Dog Stuffed Animal Pattern

This Puppy Dog Stuffed Animal Pattern post is sponsored by the lovely folks at Cost Plus World Market.

My kids are getting a little bit older and I feel like every year the holidays have gotten a busier and busier. Maybe it’s because we keep adding new children into the mix, but nevertheless, I thought it would be good to do something this year to help us slow down and think about the true meaning of this holiday season. It’s important to me to teach my children to help others that may be less fortunate and to teach them to be grateful for the lives they have been given. My two older girls, Savannah (7) and Matilda (6) are definitely at an age where they can understand the concept of helping others and giving back. And this holiday season we are planning to ‘Share the Joy’ with others.

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September 15, 2020
Reusable Snack Bag Tutorial

So we have four young children in our family which means we go through a lot of snacks and I mean A LOT! So back when my oldest two were itty bitty I sewed together some reusable snack bags that we have been using for many years. Since then we’ve added two more children and I decided it was time to sew up a few more for all our summer outings.

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September 5, 2020
Free Summer Sewing Patterns & Tutorials

It’s that time of year again………time for summer sewing! I’ve rounded up a group of Free Summer Sewing Patterns & Tutorials for your little girls. Although, fall is my favorite season of the year, there is something so sweet about summer sewing……sundresses, bonnets, ruffles. Also, the bright colored fabrics and trims make my heart swoon. I’ve collected several dresses, hats, skirts, shorts and hooded towels that are all available for free here on The Cottage Mama blog. So I hope you’ll enjoy this round-up of projects!

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August 27, 2020
A New Summer Picnic Dress

Last weekend I created a New Summer Picnic Dress which is another version of my Free Summer Picnic Dress Pattern. I haven’t made this dress in a long time, so it was really fun to sew one of these again. I originally created this dress for my Matilda (who is now 6 years old), but the one that I sewed here is for our little Josephine (16 months old).

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July 29, 2020