Hop to it and make these cute little fuzzy bunny slippers from recycled felted wool sweaters to keep the kid in your life snuggly warm. This free slipper pattern features a cute little face...Fuzzy bunny slippers from recycled felted sweaters for kids {free slipper pattern}... »

I’m starting a new column today on MerrimentDesign.com called DIY or Buy. I don’t know about you but when it comes to crafting I totally have an "eyes are bigger than my stomach" syndrome....{DIY or Buy} How to Make a Crib Dust Ruffle – Or Where To Buy if Your Plate is Full... »

Here are some super easy fall napkin rings using recycled brown paper grocery bags that you can easily make the night before your Thanksgiving feast. And these Thanksgiving napkin rings double as place cards....Thanksgiving napkin rings using recycled brown paper grocery bags... »

Thanksgiving is around the corner so I thought I'd round up some of my favorite Thanksgiving free craft project tutorials. First: Some easy ways to dress up your turkey table this Thanksgiving with napkin...Free Thanksgiving craft project tutorials: The DIY Round Up... »

I made this teeny witch's hat Halloween costume for Elise's best friend and monkey Ooh-ah (her Angel Dear monkey blankie stuffed animal who you might remember from Elise's Pink Monkey and Bananas 1st Birthday...Teeny witch’s hat Halloween costume for stuffed animal friends... »

This free oven mitts sewing pattern was inspired by our new KitchenAid range. Bye bye cheap-o Frigidaire ...momma's got a double oven now with a griddle on top. And it was just begging for...Oven mitt pattern... »

My friend Jolyn, the Queen of Handmade Burp Cloths, taught me years ago how to turn regular white burp cloths into posh fabric-covered burp cloth sets in less than an hour. Cute, huh? And...Baby burp cloths with loops for toys or binkies... »

Here's an original free apron sewing pattern with two built-in potholders and secret iPhone pocket. Aprons have been glued to my body ever since I started feeding Elise - I find it's just easier...Apron pattern with built-in potholders and secret iPhone pocket... »

My daughter Elise is my little ray of sunshine, without a doubt. So when it came to making my delightful baby her first proper Halloween costume, I came up with this cheery fleece and...Sunshine and Rainbow Halloween free costume pattern for babies, toddlers and kids... »

Elise looks adorable in hats. I just can't get enough of them. So I decided to make a free baby sunhat sewing pattern with ruffles to add to her fashion options. I freehanded this...Baby sunhat pattern with ruffles and ties... »

I made this toy travel blanket for Elise's first plane flight. We were flying to Maine and I wanted any toys she dropped to stay in our seats rather than fall into the filthy...Kid’s Travel Toy Blanket with Velcro Loops and Ribbon Tags... »

My friend K.C. MacQueen asked me to be an artist for the second annual Pritzker School Community Art Project: "Birdhouses." Artists create a birdhouse for display in local Wicker Park stores. Home Tweet Home...Embroidered birdhouse pillow using tissue paper + sewing machine... »

The pincushion thread catcher that my mom gave me years ago is my sewing table's best friend. Yeah, I know it seems a little grandma-ish but it's no surprise that I'm a big fan...Pincushion thread catcher... »

My baby Elise is four months old now. She can hold her toys in both hands and sit up assisted. I think this big girl is ready for some colorful jingly oversized 5" x...Colorful fabric baby stacking blocks... »

Hearts is the theme of two easy Valentine's Day gifts perfect for spoiling the sweet toddler and tween girls in your life. First is a teeny pouch bracelet perfect for storing candies or tiny...Valentine’s Day Felt Heart Pocket Bracelet and Mini-Purse for Kids... »

We're in the middle of converting our den into a baby's room. We're keeping it simple -- borrowed our niece Madison's crib, kept the room painted light gray -- and have begun accenting with...Gathered Dust Ruffle Bed Skirt for Cribs and Toddler Beds... »

These no-sew felt napkin rings really brightened up Shane's Fourth of July Birthday BBQ. And yep, I realize I'm a bit on napkin rings kick ...first the felt leaf napkin rings for Thanksgiving, then...Fourth of July Felt and Button Star Napkin Rings... »

I made this fabric napkin rings recycled craft from an empty Saran Wrap tube. A few months ago I was getting ready to throw away an empty Saran Wrap box and happened to notice...Recycled Fabric Napkin Rings from Saran Wrap Tubes... »

I'm posting the free tutorial for how to make sewn fabric teabags for loose tea by request. Jessica Mullen wrote: "I saw your beautiful photos from the tea party and I have a quick...Handsewn fabric tea bags for loose tea favors... »

Ho! Ho! Ho! Here's a special holiday variation of chalkboard pillows complete with two new free ornament and tree templates to make your own 16" x 16" pillow for the season. The ornament in...Chalkboard Pillows Holiday Edition... »

This is our fifth year hosting Thanksgiving in Chicago for the twelve members of our joint families. Each year we try to do something slightly different for food and table decor. I constrained myself...Felt leaf napkin rings and placecards for Thanksgiving... »

Back in the summer, Liesel Eastman saw our wedding featured in the Knot Magazine and contacted me to see if I could help with the creative details for her October wedding to Barrett. In...Handbags for bridesmaids or brides weddings redux... »

Update: This project was proudly featured in Time Out Magazine and at Chicagoist.com. Yay! My friend Debbie has accumulated an enviable amount of stamps in her passport. Each year she plans a "big trip"...Chicago flag passport cover... »

UPDATE: Dinosaur and Birdie Chalkboard Pillows are now for sale at UncommonGoods! Great gift for kids. So when I first invented chalkboard pillows I handmade the chalkboards out of plastic, a knife, drill and...Chalkboard pillows for kids and adults redux... »

I went with my friend Liz to the local tattoo parlor to watch her get a tattoo of two baby birds to represent her boys. Graphic designer Liz had drawn the tattoo in Adobe...Baby bird silhouette appliqué handbag... »

The first time I saw a sewn appliqué tie onesie bodysuit was about a year ago in an Uncommon Goods catalog. I thought it was really cute and looked super simple to make. Well,...Sewn Tie Appliqué Baby Onesie Bodysuit... »

So my friend Jeff and I were talking at Mac's about Merriment and he asked if I could make a unique baby gift to help him welcome Isabella, a friend's newborn daughter. These handmade,...Sewn baby onesie bodysuits – applique dog, butterfly, bottle, bow, heart... »

So what was in Madison’s cookie jar birthday boxes to help celebrate her second birthday? Super fun numbers cookie cutters and a child’s size pink Wizard of Oz apron handmade by Aunt Kathy. I’ve...Child’s pleated Wizard of Oz apron (part 1)... »

++ UPDATED: I have evolved this craft considerably and posted a MUCH better way to make them. Please go to http://www.merrimentdesign.com/chalkboard-pillows-for-kids-and-adults-redux.php instead. And enjoy!! ++ I'm really excited about my newest creation: Chalkboard pillows!...Chalkboard pillows... »

So I was pretty excited about the success of the campfire coffee insulator wrap and decided to make a monogrammed coffee insulator wrap for my sister Krista. Perfect for coffee/tea/cocoa drinkers and the eco-friendly,...Monogrammed coffee insulator wrap... »

While I'm not a particularly heavy coffee drinker I've been known to enjoy my soy mint mocha from time to time. If I buy coffee once a week I'm using 52 of these little...Campfire coffee insulator wraps... »

I adore the photos of our rings on the pillow before the ceremony. In addition to looking nice at the ceremony itself the photos from our photographer added a nice storytelling element to our...Ring pillows... »