Easy Sewing Crafts for Halloween

Every Halloween, little ghosts and goblins walk the sidewalks in search of candy. While it can be cheaper to make costumes, the beginning seamstress can easily be overwhelmed with this project. However, there are simple sewing crafts for Halloween that can get you in the spirit without sewing late into the night. In about an hour, you can make a trick-or-treat bag or throw pillows and still have time to hand out candy.

For each project, you should use a cotton fabric, which is easy to work with. Wash and dry the fabric before you start. Work on a large surface so that you can spread out the fabric, and make sure your scissors are sharp enough to cut the fabric cleanly.

This trick-or-treat bag designed to look like a ghost or jack-o'-lantern is a simple pillowcase shape with handles. You'll need about one yard of fabric, thread to match, felt and straight pins. For the ghost, you'll need white fabric with black felt circles for eyes, and for the jack-o'-lantern, you'll need orange fabric with yellow or black felt triangles for eyes and nose.

Cut out two rectangles measuring 12 inches wide by 18 inches tall. Fold ¼ inch of fabric along the short side over and stitch to create a finished edge on each piece. This edge will be the top of the bag.

For the handles, cut a rectangle 4 ½ inches long by 2 ½ inches tall about 2 inches from the top of the bag. At each corner of this rectangle, make a ¼ inch diagonal slit. Fold fabric back and stitch in place to finish. Do this in the same place on each piece of fabric so that the holes line up when the top edges are together.

Arrange two felt circles for ghost eyes or three felt triangles for jack-o'-lantern face on the front of one piece. Sew in place.

With right sides together, pin sides and bottom together and stitch together ¼ inch from the edge. Turn right side out. Your trick-or-treat bag is ready for candy.

Another craft is to use your Halloween cookie cutters to make throw pillows. Keep in mind that the cutters with the simplest shapes are going to be easier to sew than shapes with a lot of edges. Also, the bigger the cookie cutter, the easier it will be to enlarge, cut and sew the pattern that you will create.

This project uses 6-inch cookie cutters to make 12-inch pillows. You can increase or decrease the size depending on the size of your cookie cutter.

You'll need ½ yard of fabric, fabric pencil, thread to match, pins, stuffing and embellishments like felt shapes or trim.

Trace cookie cutter shape on heavy paper. Enlarge 200% or more as desired. Trace two of the same shape onto back of the fabric.

Cut out shapes and embellish as desired. For example, you can use buttons for eyes or rickrack for trim. With right sides together, pin edges and sew ¼ inch from the edge, leaving a 2-inch section open. Turn right side out through the open section, and fill with stuffing. Stitch the hole shut.