12th Day of Christmas: Choker Necklaces

It's the Twelfth Day of Christmas at CKC, and for today's free pattern we have Shannon here with a video tutorial on how to make your own choker necklaces! 

Chokers are really popular right now in a variety of styles, and with Shannon's tips you'll be able to make whatever kind you'd like in five minutes or less!  

She makes the steps easy to follow, and the video description even includes links to whatever supplies you may want for your chosen style.  

11th Day of Christmas: Soup Bowl Cozy

It's the Eleventh Day of Christmas, and for today's free pattern we have Elizabeth here to show us how to make a perfect Soup Bowl Cozy! 

Isn't it pretty?!  I am super excited about this pattern!  The bowl cozy will protect your counter tops, hands, and even lap from the heat of the bowl, while also looking and feeling super... cozy!  (Plus, I have no doubt mine will double as an Ice Cream Cozy. I think my parents are going to need these for Christmas! Sshh.)   Anyway, Elizabeth made the instructions super easy to understand, with step-by-step photos. You will soon be all ready to make the perfect cozy, or set of cozies, in no time!  Here's Elizabeth with the free pattern: 

10th Day of Christmas: Gingerbread Man Stuffie and Ornament

It's the Tenth Day of Christmas at CKC, and today's free project is a perfect one to make with the kids for the holidays! 

Aren't they fun?!  Tiffaney C. put this free pattern together for both the Gingerbread Man Stuffie and the Ornament, and you can use all different embellishments to make them your own. Plus, your kiddos are going to LOVE having a project they can do right there with you! 

That's precious, right there!  #teamwork #theygotthis

9th Day of Christmas: Log Slice Floor Cushion

It's the Ninth Day of Christmas at CKC, and today our FREE pattern is one that all members of your family can enjoy!   

Isn't it cool?!  I love it when home goods are both attractive and functional. I think it would make a great gift too! Jessica designed this Log Slice Floor Cushion, and with the easy-to-follow steps she put together, I know you can begin making your own in no time!  Here's Jessica: 

8th Day of Christmas: Holiday Ribbon Embellishments

It's the Eighth Day of Christmas, and today's free tutorial is not only super pretty but also very versatile!  You're going to learn an embellishment technique that can be used on just about anything for the holidays -- pillows, towels, wall hangings... and of course clothing! 

Aren't they adorable?!  In our free PDF, our designer Brooklyn teaches you how to make these holiday embellishments from beginning to end, with step-by-step photos and clear explanations. You will love the details! 

So amazing!  I love how the ribbons are gathered to add so much texture.  And bonus -- she even teaches us how to make those tiny red ribbon flowers!  YES!  

Look how stunning they look on a handmade dress too!  This is our Kate's Princess Dress that just released. Super adorable. 

7th Day of Christmas: Shrinky Dink Earrings

Hi! It's Shannon and I'm going to be showing you how to make shrinky dink earrings from any image! I first created these earlier this year and have been selling to friends and family. After many, MANY requests for a tutorial, I finally got the time to create one and what better time to share with with you than for the 12 Days of Christmas? These earrings are fun to make and easy to customize. They make wonderful stocking stuffers and gifts. You can really get creative and make unique, meaningful gifts for all of your loved ones without breaking the bank. 

6th Day of Christmas: Hemingway's Book Pillow

It's the Sixth Day of Christmas at CKC, and for today's free pattern we have a fabulous project that works awesome for gifts or for your own snuggly reading time! 

Introducing Hemingway's Book Pillow!  It's a cozy pillow, complete with a pocket for your favorite book, plus a handle on top for easy carrying.  I know lots of little people in the world who would love this!  Our designer Tiffany A. put this project together for us and I think you're going to love it too. 

All you need to make the book pillow is some fabric for the pillow cover and then an 18" x 18" pillow form to fill it.  (Did you know we have a pillow form pattern?  A store bought pillow form works great too, of course.) 

5th Day of Christmas: Unicorn Pencil Pouch

It's the Fifth Day of Christmas at CKC, and that means another FREE pattern for you!  This one makes a perfect gift for the kids or even just a fun project to keep them busy while they wait for the big day to come. Stephanie is the designer who put this project together and I think you're going to love it.  Here she is! 

Hey there! Stephanie Baker here with a magical little freebie for you! I realize this is the 12 Days of Christmas series, but what’s Christmas without a unicorn!? Today I’ve got a fun little pencil pouch for you:

 

Let's get started!

4th Day of Christmas: Quilt-As-You-Go Place Mat

It's the Fourth Day of Christmas at CKC and of course we have another fabulous FREE pattern for you today!  I'm really excited about this one because it includes a technique I've heard of but have never personally done before: quilting as you go. I am intrigued and must try it right away!  It's looks easier than I thought and turns out amazing!  Sheena used this technique to create a stunning piece that will work perfectly for holiday decorations as well as gifts: 

Isn't it gorgeous?!  

This project is perfect for using up fabric scraps or combining some of your favorites. And because you really do quilt as you go (and not at the end), it's like a magical project instead of overwhelming.  I'm pretty sure I won't be able to make just one!  And just look at these: 

3rd Day of Christmas: Mermaid Tail Stocking

It's the Third Day of Christmas at CKC and today for our FREE pattern we have something a little magical for you!  There's no doubt that lots of little girls (of all ages) are going to flip for this one!

Eek! So amazing!  Our Mermaid Tail Stocking is perfect for all the underwater folk in your life! You can sew it up with no trouble at all using our free PDF instructions with photos, and then hang it right there on the fireplace with the rest of your stockings!  Our designer Steph is nothing short of a creative genius! 

One of the things I love about this stocking is that you can choose your favorite fabrics to match the personality its owner. Does your little girl like glitter, sequins, sparkles?  Go for it!  Or is she more the camouflage type?  Why not?!  There's no doubt even some boys would love a mer-man tail stocking if you do it in fabrics they like.  

2nd Day of Christmas: Christmas Card Holder

It's the Second Day of Christmas at CKC, and that means another free project for your holiday crafting! Today Melissa will show us how to make a large Christmas decoration that is not only super cute, but also functional: 

Isn't it awesome?  One of my favorite things about the Christmas season is sending cards to friends and family, and of course hearing from them in return.  Now we have the perfect way to display them!  

You can either hang the card holder right on the wall, as we did above...

1st Day of Christmas: Rudolph's Reindeer Headband

It's the First Day of Christmas at CKC!  For our first of many free patterns this month, we have the perfect accessory for you and your little ones! Introducing "Rudolph's Reindeer Headband": 

Isn't it amazing?!  The cute cover photo above was made by our fabulous tester, Mallory Thompson. I just love all the details.  And not only is this project super adorable, it's also sturdy (that's always a plus with kids) and easy to make! Our templates and step photos are all included in the free download, so you can grab it now and start creating right away!

CLICK HERE to download our free CKC Rudolph's Reindeer Headband  

What I love about this pattern is that you can make it look exactly like ours, or you can embellish it in countless other ways.  Plus, it works on everyone, even adults and pets! Just take a look at all our adorable testers who are already enjoying their Rudolph's: 

So much cuteness!  That dog absolutely kills me. 

So now it's your turn!  Please come share your photos with us when you're done.  Also, stay tuned for our next free project on Monday.  We're just getting started with our Christmas craftiness. 

Let's Create! ~ Kristen 

How to Make Adorabella's with a Store Bought Tee

You're in for a treat today, as we welcome our fabulous tester Jamie Duke to share a tutorial she made just for our new Adorabella's pattern! I will save the rest of the details for Jamie to tell you herself, so here she is! 

Are you like me and usually steer clear from the knit patterns because it just makes you a bit anxious even thinking about working with THAT material? CKC does have some amazing knit patterns that are truly written for beginners in many cases, but I just have a hard time building the courage to even begin working with knit. Not that we can’t, it’s just a little more intimidating to sew. 

Maybe knit isn’t your fear, but you just need a cute outfit by tomorrow because you completely forgot about picture day. We all have those moments where we need to produce an outfit in a race against time. Well this tutorial is a simple hack in making Adorabella’s Boutique Style outfit by using a store bought t-shirt. This will be a quick, step-by-step instructional guide (and minimal sewing with knit material) to sew up an “Adorabella” outfit! 

Don’t forget to post your pictures to CKC fan Facebook page and #ckcadorabellas with your unique creations. We can’t wait to see what you sew!

Knit Ruffle Flower on a Bodice

Did you see Vicki's Knit Dress pattern that just released?  It's adorable!  And that bodice is perfect for embellishing too. Today Shannon B. will show us how to make a super cute knit ruffle flower on it like she did here:

I love the look! It's perfecet on Vicki's and you could add it to a variety of other dresses and tops as well.  Here's Shannon with the step-by-step instructions!

Turkey Hair Clip

If you're looking for a quick Thanksgiving project that will make a WOW impact on your little girl, today's free pattern is just the thing for you!  You can use whatever supplies you already have on hand, and we even have an easy printable template for you. 

Isn't it fun!?  I told my daughter I would be making a turkey hair clip while she's at school and now I can't wait for her to get home and see it!  She said she wanted it *this big* (motioning with her hands) and that's exactly what I did. It's definitely going to be noticeable! This is the large version, but the template includes medium and small sizes as well, if you want yours to be a little more subtle. Keep in mind you could also use this for a pin to put on your blouse or purse! Around here we're all about the hair clips.

How to Make a Leotard Using a Store Bought Tee

I'm really excited about today's tutorial, both because I totally admire Tosha's work and also because I can't wait to follow her tutorial and make some of my own!

 Tosha is our dancewear designer and on the side she also makes these AMAZING upcycled leotards. 

Aren't they stunning?! I always love to see what new designs Tosha comes up with. She has a knack for finding awesome t-shirts and then turning them into even more better leos. Well, guess what. Now YOU can too! Tosha's going to show you everything you need to know.  Here's Tosha!

What to Put Under Dresses and Skirts?

Have you been looking for the best way to poof up those dresses and skirts you're creating? You're in luck because today we will show you a bunch of options for doing just that!  

There really are a lot of ways to add fluff, and the methods you choose can depend on what you want to put into it and the exact look you're going for.  You may want a built-in petti, a separate petti, a circle skirt, layered fabric, or even a hoop skirt.  Let's take a closer look at each! 

Built-in Petti 

Nicole's Party Dress 

This is my favorite option.  Many of our CKC patterns already have a built-in petti, meaning that the "fluff" is sewn right into the layers of the dress.  An example of this is Nicole's party dress (shown above and below), which has gathered tulle between the layers where it can give the dress volume without touching the legs. (Nobody likes the feel of tulle on their legs!) You can even make a Nicole's dress so poofy that it stands up on its own: 

"You know you got puff when the dresses stand on their own." - Melisa Harry

Amazing, right?!  The built-in petti is already part of the pattern so it doesn't require any extra thought and you don't have to worry about the underlayer falling down.  Other CKC patterns that have a built-in petti are Paris' one-shoulder party dress and Melody's dress. 

How to Sew on Patches

Today's tutorial is helpful for all kinds of projects!  I first learned how to sew on patches when I was in college and wanted to add some cute appliques to my jeans. But then I really perfected the technique a few years ago when my boys needed them sewn onto their scout uniforms repeatedly.  You can find glues and other products made for patches, but I prefer sewing them on with clear thread -- it's much more sturdy for repeated use and washes.  (If I can't wash it, my kids don't wear it!)  This technique works for cute little embroidery patches, larger uniform emblems, and in the case of today's project -- awesome Harry Potter patches! 

Broken Doll Photo Shoot

If you haven't yet seen our Broken Doll photo shoot, today you are in for a treat!  Some of our designers and friends in Texas got together recently and created some amazing outfits using CKC patterns (of course), and then added some face paint details that turned their regular awesome girls into incredible "Broken Doll" masterpieces!  

Aren't they amazing?!  I love how they have a classic doll look with an eery twist. And those details!!  Let's take a closer look at the individual "dolls" -- and you can also see which patterns they used to create them! 

Adileen's Cascading Dress

Adileen's Cascading Dress

Ruffled Wavy Fabric Bow

Today we have a unique bow pattern for you from Sheri over at Izzy's Bow-tique! She's always so sweet to share her new bow designs with our readers. This one is super cute and I'll turn you right over to Sheri to get started. Here she is!

Costume Satchel & Belt

While I love designing patterns for CKC, I also enjoy creating custom outfits for my personal boutique. The two go hand in hand, and this week I had a fun project that led me right into a freebie for the blog!    Today you get to learn how to make... 

 

A costume satchel and a belt!  This little set was inspired by Flynn Ryder and while you could easily use an existing belt, that iconic satchel is a little harder to come by!  So stick around and I'll teach you how to make both. 

How to Make Fabric Stripes Turn Diagonal

We have another free sewing tutorial for you today! This is actually a little trick I learned back in my heavy scrapbooking days.  Let's say you want to make something using fabric that has diagonal stripes, but all you can find is fabric with horizontal or vertical stripes. Are you just out of luck? 

Nope, absolutely not! It takes just a couple little tricks and I'm about to show you what they are! 

For today's project I am going to demonstrate using Emmett's tie pattern. The same process works for just about any pattern though, including shirts, pants, dress bodices, etc. If you want the print to be diagonal, (otherwise know as on-the-bias), you can do it! Just keep in mind that it may take up more or less fabric than called for in the pattern. 

Kid Project: No-Sew Double Layer Fleece Blanket with Ties

 You have probably seen them all over the place, even at your local fabric store.  And so have your kids!  If you're looking for a fun project to make with your young 'uns that won't give you a headache or traumatize them either, a tied fleece blanket is the perfect project!

  

It's definitely not a new style, but these blankets ARE super comfy and sturdy.  I love that they're double layer and that you can make them out of inexpensive fleece.  You can find kits at stores, like this amazing Zelda one from Joann's that my son couldn't pass up (he even bought it with his own hard-earned money, people!), but to make a fleece blanket you really don't need a kit.  Any fleece will do.  I especially recommend checking out the fleece sales on Black Friday or the clearance bin -- these blankets make awesome gifts and there are zillions of prints and solids available! Anyway, let's get on to the tutorial! 

Start out by buying two equal cuts of fleece fabric. If your fleece is 60" wide like most is, I would recommend getting 1 1/3 yard of each piece.  This will give you a final blanket of about 55" x 43".   You can make yours bigger or smaller if you'd like; any size will work as long as the two pieces are equal. 

Upcycle a Button-Up to a Berkley's!

You have probably seen our adorable new top/dress named Berkley's.  Well, today we have a special treat for you!  Ashley Lintner is one of our fabulous testers and she is going to show you how to take an adult button-up shirt and upcycle it to make a brand new Berkley's! 

Isn't it amazing?!  We thought you'd love it too, so here's Ashley with her tutorial! 

-- My daughter loved her Berkley’s dress so much that I got to thinking, wouldn’t a man’s button up shirt look adorable as a Berkley’s top? Of course! My dad has tons of button ups from when he had to wear them to work so we went digging, the five-year-old didn’t find any she liked so we found some on clearance at a local department store. I bought an XL and XXL to make sure I could do the size 6 top with circle skirt. Since the front of Berkley is pleated, you will need to make sure that the width of the shirt will work according to the cutting chart. My plan was to use the buttons as the back of the shirt instead of using a zipper. I still had plenty left over too! 

Before cutting, I laid my shirt out to see if it would be big enough for the project. 

CKC Goes Back to School in Uniforms

It's back to school time!  Whether your kiddos wear uniforms or not, it's an exciting time to get supplies together and dressed up for a new year! To celebrate, we put together a fun photo shoot just to show you our favorite patterns as back-to-school uniforms. Our talented designers from all over the country teamed up with the fabulous SGarcia Photography, and we think you're going to LOVE what we have to show you today! 

All items shown were sewn by CKC staff members using CKC Patterns, and all fabrics came from Joann Fabric and Craft Stores.  The specific patterns are labeled and linked on individual photos so you can get inspired and make some of these outfits for your own kiddos of all ages. Feel free to copy our fabric combos and styles -- we hope you do!  

So much cuteness in one photo!  Now let's enjoy some closer looks of these designs: 

Hacking Willa's Wrap Pants into a Romper!

Hey everyone! Willa’s Wrap Pants released today! They are amazing as-is and we thought you would also really enjoy this fun romper hack for the women’s pattern!

Modify Rayna's Romper to Have a Button Back

You have probably already seen and fallen in love with our Rayna's Retro Romper pattern!  It's simply adorable!  It has those cute ties that come to a bow in the back. But if your little one doesn't like having that sort of bow on her back (especially for long car rides)  then we have the perfect modification tutorial for you today!

Distressing Denim Tutorial

80s kids rejoice because distressed denim is all over the place right now and word on the street is it's only going to be bigger this fall! No need to spend big bucks on this fashion trend though; we are here to teach you how to take the jeans you have now and distress them yourself. If you are wanting to keep up with this years biggest fashion trend, keep reading to learn how....

Unicorn Crayon Case

Hey Y’all! Stephanie Baker here again for my last unicorn freebie! It’s summertime, and if you’re like me, you’re looking for activities for the kids! Here’s a fun one you can make with your kids, and the final piece is perfect for on the go and road trips! 

Introducing Velvety Enchanted Beauty Crayon Case! This fun little felt case has slots for holding crayons and a pocket the perfect size for blank note cards.