Get out your sewing supplies, because this year we’re DIYing ALL our Thanksgiving decorations!
Sewing is by far my favorite handicraft, and I’ve never met a holiday I couldn’t sew a full set of decorations for! Below, check out all my favorite things to sew for Thanksgiving. Pick your favorite to get started with, because if it’s not crafty, is it even a proper holiday?
Autumn Leaf Coasters
These hand-stitched coasters are extra simple to make since felt doesn’t fray. For extra authenticity, trace real autumn leaves and match their colors with the felt. You can have yellow sycamore coasters, orange sassafras coasters, and red sugar maple coasters!
Felt Pumpkin Pie
This eensy felt pumpkin pie stuffie does make an adorable pincushion, but I like to think outside the box a little and imagine it as an equally adorable place card holder.
Patchwork Pumpkin Pillow
Make this pretty patchwork pumpkin pillow this year, and next year you can have it out for all of October, too–I LOVE a decoration that works for multiple holidays!
Pumpkin Coasters
These coasters are super quick to sew, thanks to the raw edges finished with pinking shears. This is a great project for de-stashing all your little bits and bobs of ribbon!
Pumpkin Placemats
And if you’re going to make pumpkin coasters, you might as well make pumpkin placemats to match! This is a slightly different pattern from the coasters, but still looks just as cute with a variety of fabric prints.
Quilted Pumpkin Pot Holders
Okay, fine–if you’ve got pumpkin coasters and pumpkin place mats, you also OBVIOUSLY need pumpkin pot holders! I know that I said over and over how cute the colors on the other pumpkins are, but I have to say that these pot holders done in oranges are really, really, REALLY cute.
Quilt-As-You-Go Fall Leaves
Quilt-as-you-go is such a fun method, and if you’ve never tried it before–well, welcome to your next addiction! The embroidered leaf veins add fun detailing that would look nice with any embroidery floss color.
Reverse Applique Handprint Turkey Shirts
This is a great way to make holiday outfits that are both festive and customized, all while refashioning your least favorite shirt into your new favorite Thanksgiving fit! I think the cutest version uses each person’s own hand as a template.
Appliqued Turkey Shirt
If you’re not up for reverse applique the week before Thanksgiving, regular applique is easier, especially if you use fusible interfacing. But if you’re confident sewing with knits, you can actually skip the interfacing.
Scrappy Fabric Pumpkins
You can make these fabric pumpkins even scrappier–and I think even cuter!–by using a different fabric for every piece. Instead of the twig stem, consider substituting rolled up brown felt for the softest pumpkin stuffie.
Thanksgiving Advent Calendar
I LOVE an Advent calendar! And if you’re worried about yet more consumerism before the holiday season is barely started, these don’t have to be filled with treats and prizes–instead, put an idea for an act of kindness into each pocket, or a note telling each member of the family what you’re grateful to them for. Heck, I’m not above distributing my holiday prep list in the pockets so everyone can help with the cleaning fun!
Turkey Embroidery Hoop Art
Here’s another hand-stitching project AND another kid-friendly project! After a quick lesson on how to do a running stitch, this would be a great activity to keep kids through teens busy before Thanksgiving dinner, and it will be a sweet memento to display year after year.
Turkey Stuffie
This isn’t the kind of turkey stuffie that you hand off to a little kid to cuddle, but instead an adorable 3D decoration for a table or mantle. I love how many different fabric patterns you can use here!
P.S. Eager for even more Thanksgiving decoration ideas? Here you go!
