Hello! Just so you know, this post contains affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a small commission if you purchase through my link–at no additional cost to you.
Feeling crafty? Let’s discuss reusable fabric easter eggs and how you can make some today!
Easter is just around the corner and with it comes chocolate. I love chocolate, so this time of year is always a lot of fun for me.
But it’s not just chocolate you’ll find in abundance. Easter also brings with it a whole lot of plastic in the form of those bright colorful eggs that parents fill with treats and candies. (And even more chocolate. Yum.)
And while there’s no denying that those eggs are convenient–you can find them in every size, and in just about every store–they’re not great for the environment.
But hey, I have a solution for that! Reusable fabric easter eggs! You can make them in whatever size you want, with whatever fabrics you want. Because they lay flat when empty they’re easy to store, and because they’re fabric you can throw them in the washing machine when they get dirty. (And with all that chocolate, they’re sure to get dirty!)
Let’s make some reusable fabric easter eggs!
To make your own reusable fabric easter eggs you’ll need:
- Fabric: I used about 1.25 yards to make a dozen eggs. This will vary some, depending on how many different colors/patterns you use and how many eggs you want to make. You may need a little more or a little less. (Budget Tip: did you know you can often get fat quarters of fabric at Dollar Tree? The fabric I used in this tutorial was actually from Dollar Tree! You don’t need to break the bank to create beautiful, sustainable items.)
- Sewing machine or sewing needles: You can make this project by hand, but it goes a lot quicker with a sewing machine. (Need a new machine? If you’re a hobbyist and don’t need a top-of-the-line machine, but still want something reliable and easy to use, check out this Brother sewing machine. It’s the one that I use, it’s under $200, and I love it.)
- Thread: I recommend a thread that matches the fabric you’re using, but as the thread won’t be visible you really can use whatever colors you have on hand. I love Gutermann thread, and this Gutermann thread pack is a great buy!
- Pattern: I drew my own pattern for this project and you’re welcome to use it! You can download the pattern, for free, by clicking here. There are also lots of patterns available for purchase on Etsy, and probably some other free downloads online.
Directions
Step 1
Ready to make some reusable fabric Easter eggs? Then let’s go!
Step one is easy – just gather your materials. You’ll need fabric, thread, and a sewing machine or sewing needles. (Check out the supply list above.) For this project, I used cotton flannel that I found at Dollar Tree. I seriously can’t believe just how cute some of their fabric options are! You don’t need this much fabric for one egg, of course, but I thought it might be fun to make a dozen.
Make sure you’re pre-washing and drying your fabric! You don’t want to make a bunch of lovely eggs, only to have them shrink after the first wash!
Don’t forget to download and cut out your pattern! You can download the pattern that I drew up, for free, by clicking here.
Step 2
Now trace out your pattern on the fabric. The pattern has three pieces to it. “Top pocket”, “Bottom pocket” and “Backing”. You need to cut two of each piece for each egg you’re making.
If you’re making them so the outside is one color and the lining is another (like in this tutorial), cut one of each of the pieces on your exterior fabric and one of each of the pieces from your interior fabric.
In this tutorial, I’m using the polka dot fabric as the exterior fabric and the striped fabric as the interior fabric.
Step 3
Cut out all your pieces! Look how cute this fabric is! (Thanks, Dollar Tree!) Again, the polka dot fabric is going to be the exterior of the egg (what’s visible when it’s done), and the lined fabric is going to be the interior of the egg (the fabric visible inside the pocket.)
Step 4
Now you’re going to attach the two pieces you cut for your “top pocket” and the two pieces you cut for your “bottom pocket”. Put the right sides together (the dots facing the lines) so the wrong sides are facing out. Stitch along the top, leaving a 1/4″ seam.
Step 5
Press them open and top stitch along the edges so they stay neat. I stitched as close to the edge as I felt comfortable with; this was about 1/8″ from the edge.
Step 6
We’re almost there! It’s time to assemble your egg. We have to layer all these pieces in a particular way so that it sits the way you want when it’s flipped inside out.
First, lay your two backing pieces down on the table. You want the right (patterned) sides of the fabric facing out. In this example, I have the lined fabric facing the table and the dotted fabric facing up, toward me.
Now, put the “top pocket” down first, and then the “bottom pocket” down so it overlaps the top just a little. This way, when you flip it inside out, the top flap will hang a bit over the bottom flap to make the egg’s pocket.
Sew around the egg. Use as many pins as you need to make sure nothing shifts as you sew. I left a 1/4″ seam allowance and then trimmed it close to the stitches to reduce bulk.
I also backstitched where the “top pocket” and “bottom pocket” overlapped to reinforce it.
If you want to further reinforce it, you can go around the edges with a serger or an overlock stitch. This particular fabric won’t fray much, but if you’re using a fabric that will, I highly recommend this step to increase it’s longevity.
Step 7
Now flip the eggs right side out! The seam you made around the egg to sew the whole thing together will be on the inside now.
What will you make?
I decided to make a bunch of eggs in three different styles. I’m going to give them to my best friend to use with her kids this Easter!
These reusable fabric easter eggs are just as functional as the plastic ones, especially because you can make them in any size you want and with any colors or patterns you want. They’re easy to store and don’t take up much space, and they can be tossed in the washing machine when they get dirty. (This means if you’re a fan of hiding the eggs outside, it’s totally fine if they get muddy or wet!)
Did you make them? I want to see! Show them off on Instagram using the hashtags #theserialcreative #fabriceastereggs #easterdiy
And for more fun DIY gifts, check out this post: 6 Simple DIY Gifts That You Can Make on a Budget.
