With a little bit of fabric, some glue, and a bit of creativity, you can make the most amazing no-sew projects. From fabric flowers to stuffed pumpkin toilet paper roll holders, festive wreaths, and toys for your pets, there is an endless list of no-sew projects to choose from.
Believing in your creativity and the beauty of fabric, we at Kovi Fabrics have created this amazing list of no-sew projects to get you started and keep the creativity bubbling.
7 No-Sew Fabric Projects for Beginners
1. Fabric Flowers
This is a really fun no-sew project to try your hand at. Simply cut, roll, stick, and enjoy.
Tools and Materials
- Brightly colored and patterned fabric (preferably cotton)
- Coffee mug or cup-size circular shape
- Scissors
- Snipe nose pliers
- Pen or marker
- Wire
- Rafia line
- Hot glue
Method
To make these bright fabric flower bells, trace and cut several circles using the round shape and scissors. Using the scissors, cut the section from the 12 o’clock position on the circles to the center of the circle, and then to the nine o’clock or three o’clock position. This will give you a circle with a quarter missing.
Take the wire and cut it to the desired lengths (8-12 inches is usually a good range to work on). You may choose to wrap the wire in some green ribbon or florist’s tape. Bend a small circle at the end of each wire.
Place a dot of hot glue on the circle of the wire, then set the circle at the center of the fabric circle. Begin to roll the wire, working around the circumference of the fabric circle. Take care not to wind the fabric too tightly.
Use hot glue to secure the edges of the circles, tacking the outside edges in place, and thereby creating a bell shape.
Decorate by adding some raffia or ribbon trim to the flowers before arranging these in a vase.
Top Tip: If you don’t have enough different fabrics at home, you can order sale fabrics from Kovi Fabrics at discounted prices, giving you the budget to splurge and buy some amazing fabric for less.
2. No-Sew Fabric Necklace Project
Who doesn’t like jewelry? Why not make your own colorful jewelry using fabric?
Tools and Methods:
- Half a yard elasticated fabric like t-shirt fabric or rip-cut fabric like organza
- Scissors
- Beads with ¼ of an inch opening.
Method:
Take the fabric and cut guide slits using scissors. Usually, these slits are half an inch to an inch in width. Rip the fabric to create long strips of about 15-17 inches in length.
Group the lengths together, make random knots, and add beads to create a textured look. Add a tie at the back of the necklace once you have reached the desired amount of strands.
When using organza fabric, be sure to remove all the finer threads that will become loose with the ripping process.
3. Plush Decorative Fleece Wreath
This is a great decorative craft for a child’s room, and children from ages six and up can help to make the wreath.
Tools and Materials:
- A quarter yard fleece (x 3) in three or more different colors or patterns
- Scissors
- Polystyrene circle or foam inner (shaped like a donut)
- Decorative beads, buttons, and one plush toy teddy (teddy should be less than a quarter the size of the inner)
- Hot glue and glue gun
- String for hanging
- Ribbons
Method:
To make this fun wreath, start by cutting the fleece into strips of three by eight inches. Then cut the ends of the sections into smaller slits that are an inch into the strip, with six slits per side. If the inner you’ve chosen for your wreath is too hard or firm, wrap it with batting or a thin sponge.
Now begin adding the slips of fleece. To add these, fold in half down the long side. Place the middle fold in the center of the wreath, using a drop of hot glue to secure it there. Take one half around the back and one half around the front section of the wreath and tie the slits together on the outside edge of the wreath.
Continue tying the strips of fleece while alternating colors or patterns and overlapping the strips by half an inch on either side. Once the whole wreath is covered, cut a six-inch length of string, tie the two ends together and glue to the back of the wreath using hot glue and a two-inch section of ribbon to secure the glue.
Using hot glue, attach the plush teddy at the bottom curve of the wreath, add some ribbons that hang, and glue some buttons, beads, glitter pom-poms, and other decorations to it.
4. Toilet Paper Roll Pumpkins
Let’s face it, toilet paper rolls aren’t exactly pretty to look at, and it’s also not hygienic to simply leave the extra toilet paper rolls stacked behind the toilet. Rather make them into pumpkin parcels with these no-sew projects that are more hygienic, fun, and decorative.
Materials and Tools:
- Different colored fabric cut to size (16 inches by 16 inches)
- Six inches ribbon per toilet roll pumpkin
- A six-inch crooked stick per pumpkin roll (the more gnarly the better)
- Knitting wool in autumn or metallic colors
- Bells (optional)
- Scissors
Method:
Cut the fabric to size. I prefer to use natural tone fabric as these make more convincing pumpkins, but feel free to use patterns and designs that are unique and cute. Fray the fabric edges slightly to prevent any small loose fibers from coming off the fabric with use.
Place a toilet paper roll in the middle of each square of fabric, fold the fabric in, pressing the excess into the opening at the top of the toilet paper roll. If you want rounder pumpkins, you can add cushion filling or cotton wool to pad the edges of the roll a bit.
Take each stick, wrap it in knitting wool until no wood is exposed. Tie off the wool, and if you choose to use bells, leave a loop at one end of the stick. Hook the bells onto the loop or tie a bell onto the stick end with some extra wool.
Press the sticks into the openings of the toilet paper rolls, tilting them at an angle to resemble the stalks of the pumpkins. Tie the extra ribbon around each pumpkin stalk and display it in a basket or wooden crate for the final effect. Leave a second smaller basket or container to place the fabric, stick, and padding into when you remove a toilet paper roll for use.
5. Summer Fairy Garland
If you have a little girl, this is an ideal no-sew project to dive into with her. Use this garland above a door, under the trees in your garden, or even to edge the eaves of your front porch.
Materials and Tools:
- A thick, packaging type string (as long as your garland should be)
- Variety of different summer colored and themed fabrics that are easy to cut or tear
- Bells (optional)
- Fairy lights (optional)
- Ribbons
- Decorative elements like craft mirrors, buttons, cut-out fairy shapes, and beads
- Scissors
- Hot glue and glue gun
Method:
It is easiest to hang the string at hip height above the ground by tensioning it between two doors or two trees in the garden (if you are working outdoors).
Cut the fabric into sections measuring three inches by eight to nine inches. Remove the loose threads around each section. Fold each section in half, then place that fold over the packaging line before tying it in place. Alternate colors and designs as you work. Fill up the string until there are no empty places left on the string.
Add longer lengths of ribbon that hang at different heights below the shredded fabric garland bits. You can add bells to some of the ribbons, glue beads down the length of the ribbons, or add pom poms and mirrors for a bit of shine.
Be sure that your garland has a good tie at both ends of the garland. When storing, wrap the garland around a cardboard roll to stop tangling.
If you like, you can hang the fairy lights with the string, filling in with fabric and decorations and gauzy ties made of organza and ribbon for an ethereal look.
6. No-Sew Lampshades
Liven up your bedroom by covering your existing lampshades with some brilliant fabric.
Materials and Tools:
- Lampshade to cover
- Fabric that is appropriate to your bedroom design
- Scissors
- Hot glue and glue gun
- Gimp or upholstery trim for the lampshade edges or buttons for decoration
Method:
A lampshade can be tricky to cover. It all depends on the shape. The easiest shade to cover is a simple cylindrical shade that is the same width right through. For shaped shades, you may need to first roll the shade along a large newspaper page, tracing the edges of the shade as far as you go.
This pattern then needs to be cut out and then placed on the fabric and cut out (with an additional inch per side for edging).
For a simple cylindrical shade, you will measure the width of the lampshade and then measure the circumference. Add an additional inch to each side (so two inches to the width and two inches to the circumference or length) for overlap and edges.
Start by applying a line of hot glue down the width of the lampshade. Attach the fabric width to this line. Leave an inch at the top and an inch at the bottom of the shade.
Next, spread an inch of hot glue at the top edge of the lampshade, attach the fabric, then repeat at the bottom of the lampshade. Work an inch at a time to prevent unnecessary creases and pleats from forming.
Continue until you have about a ¼ inch to go to the width glue line. Then fold the fabric over to the inside (on the width of the fabric) so it will fit neatly up to and overlap the width glue line. Glue the fabric down, gluing the edges up to the top and bottom too.
Next, glue the extra at the top and bottom over into the lampshade to cover the edge. Decorate the edge of the lampshade with gimp or ribbon or some other trim. Or you can glue stacks of buttons (stacked from largest button to several buttons smaller).
Remember that with hot glue, extreme temperatures will melt the glue and your shade cover could come loose, so only use a low wattage light bulb or an LED light to keep the lamp temperature down.
7. No-Sew Decorative Fabric Bowls
These bowls are so much fun and can be made to any size and shape.
Materials and Tools:
- Several yards of thin fabric like cotton and polyester in a range of colors and designs
- Scissors
- Wallpaper glue
- Paintbrush
- Gimp, upholstery trimmings, and other decorative trim
- Large bowls to use as master bowls
- Vaseline or non-stick spray
Method:
Use the outside of the bowls. Spray each bowl well with non-stick spray or spread a thin layer of vaseline, being sure to get into each edge and ridge of the bowl.
Mix the wallpaper glue in a ratio of one part wallpaper glue powder (or granules) to three parts water. You may need to add some extra water if the fabric you are using is highly absorbent.
Place the fabric over the outside of the bowls, press down, start applying the wallpaper glue with the brush, being sure to thickly coat the fabric. You can choose whether you want the fabric print to face inward or outward. Apply several layers of wallpaper glue, letting the bowl dry for at least two hours between sessions.
When the fabric is stiffened by the glue, slip it from the master bowl, cut the top edges, leaving enough to fold over. Fold this edge over and apply enough glue to hold that edge down.
Decorate by adding trim to the edge or other decorative items such as a layer of glitter that is sealed with wallpaper glue or a beaded edge. Apply some wallpaper glue to the inside of the bowl, sealing that side of the fabric too.
Allow to dry well, seal with a clear lacquer spray, and use as a decorative centerpiece at dinner or in your family room on the coffee table.
Final No-Sew Projects Thoughts
Sewing is fun if you have the best equipment and the time and training, but no-sew projects can be even better as you get to use all of your creativity. Plus, there are no rules holding you back.
At Kovi Fabrics, we love creativity and fabulous fabric—it’s why we do what we do. Enjoy making your home and no-sew projects beautiful, and let Kovi help with the best fabric choices available.