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Fabric envelopes are a simple and fun way for kids to practice hand sewing and then have a useful handmade product they can use during play or a learning invitation!
We made these to use for a Valentine’s Day learning invitation and have continued to have them out so that my younger boys can use them for pretend play, pretending to write and mail letters.
Materials:
- recycled wool sweaters
- stiff felt
- embroidery thread
- scissors (pinking shears optional)
- embroidery needle
- Cut the fabric into the shape you’d like – you can cut it in a rectangle (the pink felt on the left) or like a house, with a triangle peak on the top (the blue felt on the right).
- Fold the fabric about 2/3 of the way up – if the top is a triangle, fold it up to the bottom of the triangle.
- Sew along the sides where the fabric is folded together (the left and right sides), as shown below. You can use either a running stitch or a blanket stitch. Click on either of those for a tutorial on how to sew that stich.
4. Cut a small slit near the top of the fabric. Cut the slit smaller than the button you’re using – you want it smaller than you think!
5. Fold the top down and make a mark on the fabric below, where the slit meets the fabric (like on the blue fabric above). Tie a button where you marked, onto only the TOP layer of the fabric.
6. Optional: you can use pinking shears to cut around the top of the felt envelope. This isn’t necessary, it just adds a fun decorative element to the envelope.
Now put the envelopes out along with paper, stickers, markers, etc. so that your kids can practice writing and mailing letters!
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