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's how to make a fabric safety gate for baby and toddlers for the bottom of stairs or between doorways. This DIY fabric baby safety gate has given me a lot of piece of...DIY Fabric Safety Gate for Baby and Toddlers... »

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... »

I'm crazy excited to be a part of the Sewing 2010 Day-to-Day Calendar edited by Megan Smith. One hundred simple sewing projects organized in three-day increments fill this crafty calendar of the new decade....2010 Sewing Calendar featuring MerrimentDesign.com projects... »

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... »

Here's an easy, fun and practical gift for new arrivals: Planes, Trains and Automobiles burp cloths. Friends Tamara and Jon recently welcomed Lucas, little brother to adorable Sienna, and I made these especially for...Planes, Trains and Automobiles Burp Cloths... »

I am totally in love with these DIY sewn fabric wedding invitations that I designed for recent bride Natalie Fayard. Thanks to Google, Natalie and her mother found me and my sewn fabric poppy...Sewn half flower + loose leaf fabric wedding invitations with fabric backs... »

Last year I made Madison a super cute pint sized kid's pleated apron out of pink retro Wizard of Oz fabric. I added fun numbers cookie cutters and wrapped both in cookie jar wrapping...Chicago-themed fabric photo memory game for kids... »

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... »

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: 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... »

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)... »

We customized the envelopes for our wedding invitations using a couple of easy tricks: Sewing our return address on the back of our envelopes and adding custom photo stamps from PhotoStamps.com. Supplies: A7 size...Sewn return address on envelopes and matching custom photo stamps... »

++ 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... »

New mom and fashion maven Rachel Pluto made these adorable animals for her newborn daughter Maya. Taking a cue from Dwell's baby animals that retail $105 for three, Rachel handcrafted these adorable reversible giraffe...Baby stuffed animals... »

Here are our sewn fabric wedding invitations that were featured in the The Knot's 2007-2008 Fall/Winter National Magazine and "Amazing Wedding Cakes" on WeTV. After searching fabric stores, websites and even ebay, the poppy...Sewn invitations... »

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... »

If you're like me table numbers are probably one of the last details that you're thinking about. But they can be a key way to dress up and personalize your tables. I sewed the...Table numbers sewn with poppy flowers and leaves... »

This is the detail that got the most comments from my wedding guests. My friends said it was 'typical Kathy' to personalize even the bathroom towels. But this crafty activity is something you can...Guest towels for bathrooms... »