Book Review- Mandy’s Magical Christmas: 10 timeless sewing patterns for a handmade yule

I am a little late to the Christmas sewing this year, I don’t know if I thought Christmas was going to come a little slower or if I am just unorganized and unprepared this year. But I still think there is time to start some Christmas sewing, I mean what blows away the winter blues better than a night in the sewing room?

Magical Christmas by Mandy Shawl

Nobody does a handmade Christmas like Mandy Shaw! Learn how to decorate your home with unique and personal touches with this gorgeous collection of sewing patterns from the Queen of Christmas Craft. Featuring Mandy’s signature Redwork designs and cute folk-inspired characters, this charming book brings Mandy’s best-loved Christmas projects together into one volume. With inspiring lifestyle photography, step-by-step instructions and full-size templates, you’ll learn to sew wreaths, garlands, pennants, hanging decorations and more, and bring some of Mandy’s sparkle to your own magical Christmas.

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I am just smitten with this felt gingerbread house bag. This would make such a sweet special Christmas accessory for a kid. It’s a free pattern at Benzie Design, designed by Gracie from Hello Gracie Makes. It’s packed with adorable gingerbread house details, like swirls and stripes and scallops adoring the doors and windows.

And while all those details might seem like this would be a complicated pattern, it’s actually not. The bag itself is made from felt, which makes finishes edges unnecessary. (All of those scalloped edges are just cut from felt, no edge finishing required.) The strap is super simple, made from rope with knotted ends. And all those details are made with some basic hand embroidery stitches. Sparkle felt makes it extra cute.

The striped scallop roof is actually the top flap of the bag. A magnetic snap makes it a secure closure. The rope straps are attached through felt loops at the side of the bag.

They rate this project as an intermediate level, and it should take about 6 hours to make start to finish. That’s doable for a Saturday project or a couple of evenings. Full color photos step you through the entire process.

The project includes a shopping list for all of your supplies. They’ve got a shop so you can order all of them from Benzie if you like and get exactly the supplies used in the project. I noticed it includes a pair of scallop shears, which makes cutting all the scalloped edges for the roof and around the door a breeze.

Finished dimensions of the little felt gingerbread bag are approximately 6 ½” wide x 7 ½” tall. That’s the perfect size to hold a small book, a small toy, or a notepad and some cute pens.

Go to Benzie Design to get the tutorial and free pattern for the felt gingerbread house bag.

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