Sew a Blue Jean Apple for the Teacher

Gifts for the teacher on the first day of school are very popular, especially if your child is young. They are a great way for breaking the ice while introductions are made. Teacher's gifts do not need to be big and extravagant. If you have several children you are preparing for the first day of school, expensive gifts for the teacher are not an option and they shouldn't be. Be traditional and give the teacher an apple. Blue jeans offer a fabric that is free and versatile for a variety of craft projects. Sew a stuffed blue jean apple with a red bandanna leaf.

Lightweight cardboard
Ruler
Pen
Scissors
Adult-size blue jeans
Straight pins
Sewing machine
Stuffing
Red bandanna
Stick
Iron
Craft glue

Step 1
Trace a 2 3/4-inch wide by 5 1/2-inch long rectangle on lightweight cardboard. Taper each end of the rectangle into points as you round the long edges. Your shape should resemble a football. Cut out the shape. Trim off a 1/2 inch from one pointed end. This is one "petal" to your apple pattern.

Step 2
Cut a 10-inch square of lightweight cardboard. Place a dot in the center of the square. Lay the petal on the cardboard square with the pointed end touching the center dot in the square. Align the other end with the center of one edge on the large square. Trace around the petal. Repeat on the remaining three sides of the square. You now have a flower shape with four fat petals. Cut out the flower shape. Do not cut into the overlapping lines in the center of the square. This is your apple pattern.

Step 3
Trace a 1-inch wide by 2 1/2-inch long rectangle on lightweight cardboard. Taper each end of the rectangle into points. You will have a shape that resembles an elongated football. Cut out the shape. This is your leaf pattern.

Step 4
Cut a leg off of an adult-size pair of blue jeans. Open the leg by cutting along one seam. Unfold the leg and lay it flat with the wrong side facing up.

Step 5
Place the apple pattern on the jean fabric. If possible, try to avoid the center seam of the leg so that you will not need to sew over the extra thickness. Trace around the pattern. Cut out the fabric shape.

Step 6
Place together two petals that are right beside each other with the right sides facing. Pin the long edges of the petals that were beside each other on the open pattern. Sew the pinned edge using a scant 1/4-inch seam allowance. Leave 1/4-inch unsewn on the end. Attach the remaining petals in the same way until you have a little apple bag.

Step 7
Turn the apple right side out. Fill the apple with stuffing. Cut a 2-inch stick from your yard with a diameter approximately the size of an apple stem.

Step 8
Fold a red bandanna into two layers with the right sides facing. Place the leaf pattern on the fabric and trace around it. Place a pin in the center of the traced leaf. Do not cut out. Sew on the traced line around the shape. Cut out the shape 1/8 inch outside the stitched line. Cut a 1 1/2-inch slit in the center on one side of the leaf. Turn the leaf right side out through the slit and press with an iron. The slit is the wrong side of the leaf.

Step 9
Thread a long, soft-sculpture needle with black crochet thread. Knot one end. Sew a running stitch around the top opening of the apple. Insert 1 inch of the apple stem into the apple. Pull the thread to gather the opening closed. Make a few stitches to hold the gathers. Insert the needle at the stem and straight down to the center bottom of the apple. Pull the needle out the bottom and cinch tightly to create an indentation in the apple's top. Insert the needle beside the point where the needle came out the bottom. Push the needle back up to the stem. Pull the needle out the top and cinch to create an indentation in the bottom of the apple. Knot and cut the thread.

Step 10

Apply a small dot of craft glue at the base of the apple stem. With the wrong side of the leaf facing down, place one point of the leaf over the glue.