Fabric Easter Egg Made with Fabric Scraps

fabric easter egg

You'll love this tutorial if you're looking for something different for this Easter.  It's a kind of Fabric Easter Egg made with fabric scraps and it has a zipper, so you can put a surprise toy inside.

This is a wonderful project for beginners but it would also be fun for more advanced sewists.  It allows you to use up some of your fabric scraps while affording an opportunity to practice skills like installing zippers, bias tape application, and pattern drafting in a low-stress and inexpensive project.  The end product will make a fantastic, and hopefully cherished, gift for your child or grandchild.

fabric easter egg

fabric easter egg

Here's the backstory for where this idea came from.  When my daughter was a little girl, she carried with her a small bathtub with a little baby inside.  I know it sounds strange, but we had purchased it at the Marche aux Puces in Paris for about 2 Euros or 2 US Dollars and my daughter just refused to part with “baby” and tub for any reason.  This undoubtedly generated lots of looks and comments in snooty Parisian cafes as you can imagine.
One day before Easter, I had the idea of replacing the bathtub with a large egg made of paper mache.  I covered the egg with a pretty fabric, made a bunny with a fantastic tutu and a bow that doubled as wings and a pillow.  I hid it in the garden for the Easter egg hunt.  When my daughter found it, she instantly latched on to it.

fabric easter egg

Soon this egg became a year-round companion for my daughter and replaced the old bathtub.  Eventually, there were dresses, small tutus and tops to dress the little bunny.  Time passed and the egg became dirty and tattered.  Back then, I so wished that I had made the egg completely out of fabric so I could wash it easily to return to some sense of hygiene.

As happens with kids, my daughter eventually lost track of that egg.  I am sure if I gather enough courage to make it to the back of our storage closet, I will find that egg and bunny somewhere.  I think it would make for an interesting photo.

So this is the fabric Easter egg I wish I had made way back then.  I thought in case you have a small child who would love an egg hunt and becomes attached to it, make it out of fabric so you can wash it.  The bunny and wardrobe will be a separate tutorial in the near future.

fabric easter egg

Materials:

I encourage you to dig into your scraps of fabric, recycle from an old project or better, reuse an unfinished project.  You really only need a small amount of fabric for this project and the pieces can be relatively small.

  • quilting fabric 1/2 fat quarter (9″x 22) (23cm x 56cm) you can make 2 eggs per fat quarter
  • lining (9″x 22)
  • fusible fleece (9″x 22″)
  • sewable interfacing (9″x 22″)
  • interfacing for lining (9″x 22″)
  • 1 yard bias tape to match the fabric and zippers
  • 1 nylon zippers 20″ long
  • strip of ribbon 10″ long x 1.5″ wide

fabric easter egg

Tools

  • sewing machine (optional)
  • quilting needle or size 14 needle
  • iron.  (I got this new “smartiron” recently and it is just fantastic.  You may want to check it out.)
  • zipper foot
  • walking foot
  • seam ripper.  (Here's a review of what I think it the best seam ripper around.)
  • scissors
  • water soluble pen

Video Tutorial

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Pattern Download

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You can download the pattern for this Fabric Easter Egg from our account at Payhip.

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Step One: Fusing the Fabrics

Fuse all fabrics before cutting.  Place the quilting fabric right side down.  Place the fusible fleece on top with the glue side facing down.  Iron to fuse.

Fuse the thin fusible interfacing to the lining.

Step Two: Cutting the Fabrics

Mark the little notches on the fabric following the pattern then cut the fabric. Don't forget to do this or you will have a hard time piecing the pieces together.  Make your marks indicating which way is up and down.  Place main fabric, lining and interfacing wrong side together so will have 2 sides for the eggs.

fabric easter egg

fabric easter egg

Trace the pattern onto the sewable interfacing and label each piece then cut.

Step Two: Sewing Your Fabric Easter Egg

fabric easter egg

fabric easter egg

Start by sewing the sewable interfacing using a 1/4″ seam allowance.  Open the seam and use a large zigzag to keep the seams open.

fabric easter egg

fabric easter egg

fabric easter egg

fabric easter egg

fabric easter egg

Use the same procedure to sew the lining, but instead of using a zigzag, topstitch on the side of the seams so the seam allowance lays flat.  Stop the topstitch 3/8″ before the edge.  The reason will become clearer on the step below.Repeat on the main fabric.  Remember to stop 3/8″ before the edge.After topstitching, cut off the seam allowance to reduce bulk and give the fabric Easter egg a more smooth appearance.

Step Three: Building up Your Fabric Easter Egg

fabric easter egg

You should have three layers to accomplish this step –fabric, interfacting, and lining.  There are two halves of the egg with three layers each.

Place the sewable interfacing layer on the table and cover it with the lining layer.

fabric easter egg

fabric easter egg

Take the lining and sewable interfacing and stack it onto the main fabric layer.  Zigzag (very large zigzag) the edges to catch all the layers.

fabric easter egg

Make a stitching line under the zigzag at 3/8″. 

fabric easter egg

fabric easter egg

Using a seam ripper, take out the the zigzag.  Yes, I know this is a pain and a dreaded word for all, but this was the best way I could find to reduce the bulk to be able to attach the bias tape.  Cut the interfacing and the fleece without cutting the lining and the fabric.   I tried cutting before zigzagging and you are welcome to try, but that just did not work for me.  I had a hard time aligning the pieces.Pin a strip of ribbon 3″ long at the bottom of the egg.  Line up the strip at the center and fold in half.  There will be three strips of ribbon attached to the end of the egg.  Two inside and one outside.  These will be sewn when we attach the bias tape in the next step.

Step Four: Attaching the Bias Tape

fabric easter egg

fabric easter egg

fabric easter egg

Pin the bias tape starting on top of the ribbon.  Place the crease of the bias tape at 3/8″ from the edge.  Use the stitching line you have previously made as a guide.  Sew the bias tape at 3/8″.   Join the ends together, fold in, and pin.  Continue pinning the bias tape around the edge of the egg.  You'll be doing this on both halves of the egg. Place a 3″ strip of ribbon (if you have a print on the ribbon, place it print side down) exactly opposite the strip you have placed on the outside before.

fabric easter egg

Fold the strip of ribbon in half pin and sew the bias tape.

fabric easter egg

On the right side of the fabric, sew the bias tape.  Use “stitch-in-the-ditch” method or just sew right on the edge like I did.  Looking back, stitch-in-the-ditch would have been a better method for aesthetic reasons.Repeat the exact procedure on the other side of the fabric easter egg.

Step Five: Attaching the Zipper and Finishing the Fabric Easter Egg

There are a few patterns around for a fabric easter egg, but this is one affords you the ability to carry it as a toy storage.  The zipper is what allows you do do that.  You might think it is hard for a child to open a zipper, but it is a wonderful way to teach hand-eye coordination.

I had a hard time coming up with a way to attach the zipper to the fabric easter egg.  So I did it this way to make it easier for a beginner to follow.  Pin the end of the zipper exactly at the middle of the ribbon and continue pinning the zipper around the edge.Sew using your zipper foot leaving a 1/8″ gap between the teeth and bias tape.

fabric easter egg

fabric eater egg

One side of the zipper will be sewn to one side of the egg, while the other will be sewn to the other side as shown in the picture below.  Attach another strip of ribbon ( 3″) on the other side but do not fold, leave it as a single layer.  Sew the other side of the zipper.  I would like to point out that it does not matter what side has the folded ribbon, as long as one side has a folded ribbon and the other does not.  This ribbon serves to hide the zipper and also acts as the “hinge” for the egg, so it has to be a few layers thick.Bring the unfolded piece of ribbon to the bottom of the folded one and sew it down using a hand needle and matching thread.

Bring the folded ribbon on top of the one you just sewed and sew it down with the hand needle.  I'm using a very bright pink ribbon so you can see clearly.  I would have preferred to use a green ribbon instead but I think the pink looks OK anyway.

Lastly, tuck the bias tape under the zipper and hand sew around both halves of the egg.Now you are ready to stuff your fabric easter egg with chocolates, or a bunny.  I hope your child enjoys it as much as mine did.

Until next time when we will be making a top to stay in tune with the current trends.

fabric easter egg


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Bev M.
Bev M.

What a fantastic idea! I wish I’d actually checked my email before Easter, but there’s always next year. I’m going to do a little experimenting with this pattern in the meantime. 😉

Carmen
Carmen

What a delightful pattern – I can’t wait to make one. Thank you for sharing your tale. I found the video to be very informative.

Joan
Joan

Adorable!

Nancy Bart
Nancy Bart

I love this! Your backstory completely charms me. We have a similar story, but with a little lamb that spoke “Baa Baa, Happy Easter” when you squeezed it. To this day it’s a family joke about…. “What does the sheep say?”

Melissa Fox
Melissa Fox

Cute pattern. Could you iron on the fusible interfacing to the lining fabric and then sew that to the exterior fabric?
All I have is Iron on.

Carol Janes
Carol Janes

It was necessary to to take a slightly wider seam on the lining so it was smaller than the outer shell.

Kelly
Kelly

Hi! Thanks for the adorable Easter egg pattern! I’m trying to understand if it includes seam allowance but I can’t find it anywhere. Does it include seam allowance?

Sheila Codd
Sheila Codd

Please check list of materials as a 20 inch nylon zipper is shown on this web page but instructions when printed read 2 10 inch zippers-ask me how I know!!

trackback

[…] you read my last post on how to make an Easter egg that doubles as a bag from fabric scraps then you will want to make this little toy and place it inside the egg to hide in the garden or in […]

Margaret Rearick
Margaret Rearick

I have been sewing/tailoring for nearly 60 years and just cannot figure out the sequence of these pieces. I have carefully labeled top/bottom, etc. How do they go together to make the egg halves? Surely, I cannot be that dense…..can anyone help here?

Zuwena
Zuwena

The written and video tutorials were wonderful. I looked at the video after going through the written instructions and found that it cleared up all the “questions” I had. This is a welcome addition to your repertoire. It all seems like a lot of work and more time than I have but it was enjoyable and will be worth it for those with small children.

Luanne Witt
Luanne Witt

My grandson will get it with felt Legos on the outside and a small Lego kit on the inside.

MARY MARTIN
MARY MARTIN

I wish you would also include the sewing instructions with your patterns. It would be an easier download rather than having to go to two different places to get everything needed to start a project.

Lisa Wallace
Lisa Wallace

Adorable! Thank You for the pattern!!

muriel
muriel

I can see making this in more “boyish” colors and putting something inside that a boy would like. e.g. A stuffed dinosaur or dragon.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  muriel

Muriel, I was thinking that my grandsons would enjoy an egg with a super hero inside. They love to wear their hero costumes.

Jan
Jan

I have a question about the strips. Your instructions say there s/b two inside strips and one outside. The pictures look like there is one inside and two outside. The outside fabric is dots and the inside is white so the picture shows it as I stated. Am I wrong?

Joy
Joy

Hi Mayra, where did you get the cute felt flowers? Did you cut them out, needle felt them or buy them? I’ve been looking for some for another project. Thanks!

Maureen Carter
Maureen Carter

Thank you. Very cute and fun pattern.

Barbara
Barbara

Where do you find 20″ zippers? All I found were 22.

Bijoux
Bijoux

Mayra, thank you for the cute bunny pattern. I had a cloth bunny many many years ago & it is “lost”, so I would like to make this one. I am having issues printing to size,
I have an EpsonC88+. I clicked off the reduce/enlarge setting, hoping to print actual size, but the test square came out 1 1/2″ X 1 1/2″ not 2 x 2…any suggestions?

Thank you

MPaula

I try to have a baby quilt on hand at all times in case a need arises. I think I will make bunnies and eggs to have on hand as well.

Dawn
Dawn

Hi. Thank you for sharing your wonderful idea. I have started making my egg but I have ended up with 2 outside pieces numbered 1-4 from right to left and my lining pieces number 1-4 from left to right so when I put the outside and the lining together number 1 on the lining matches to number 4 on the outside piece. Is this a problem? Have I cut my shapes out incorrectly? Thank you

Wendy
Wendy

Is the bias binding supposed to be 1/2 inch or 1 inch?
Also, the printed download pattern states to buy 2 10″ zippers, but the tutorial says a 20″ zipper. Looks like I need a 20″ instead of 2 10″ zippers.

Alma
Alma

I’m a bit frustrated – went to download the pattern for the Fabric Easter Egg and it isn’t available, although the instructions and illustrations with same are available. Then I went to print pattern and instructions for the bunny. I was able to print the pattern but there doesn’t seem to be any instructions for assembling them. Help! I love the patterns – and my 6 yr old granddaughter would too, if I was able to produce it!

So Sew Easy
Admin
Active Member
Reply to  Alma

Hi Alma, our site was overloaded today due to the popularity of this pattern. I should be mostly back to normal now. Please try again now.

Tammy Weinhold
Tammy Weinhold

I have clicked on the link several times to download the easter egg and it come back as “not found”. Is there another link that works?

Thayer A Lund
Thayer A Lund

Did the pattern download move? I keep getting sent to “page not found” when I click the icon.

Dee Leverone
Dee Leverone

I love it, also looking for the bunny pattern and clothes, my Granddaughter would love it

Bert Cummings
Bert Cummings
Reply to  Dee Leverone

Did you know that none of the down links work for the Easter bunny patter

So Sew Easy
Admin
Active Member
Reply to  Bert Cummings

Hi Bert, our site was overloaded today due to the popularity of this pattern. I should be mostly back to normal now. Please try again.

suz
suz

looks good hope i can get two or more made before Easter…thank you!

Susan
Susan

Absolutely clever! Thank for the pattern!!

Cathy
Cathy

Love your story brings back child hood story’s from my kids thank you and thank you for the pattern. Can I make these for a charity and can they sell them on the stall.

Cathy
Cathy
Reply to  Mayra Cecilia

Yes your sure can.

Kathleen
Kathleen

This is really cute but I’m confused about the bias tape. It looks like you stitched a couple pieces together on the long side but I don’t think you mention that in the instructions.

Kimberly
Kimberly

This Easter egg is adorable, Mayra! Thank you for sharing the tutorial. My birthday is in April, and several times in my life has actually fallen on Easter. I would have loved to receive this egg (and that beautiful bunny!) as a gift!

drakesneststudios

Thank you for a wonderful pattern. So glad you will be including the bunny. I love little things like this that I can make up and give away as gifts or surprises to children.

Anne
Anne

thank you so much for this great pattern, I am about to make it.
I have a question, how wide is the bias tape you used.
thanks

Carrie
Carrie

So cute! I love your story, thank you!

Gail Nelson
Gail Nelson

Looks wonderful! Do you have a pattern for the bunny doll too?

So Sew Easy
Admin
Active Member
Reply to  Gail Nelson

Hi Gail, that will be coming in a separate tutorial to be released shortly. Please keep an eye out.

Carol Janes
Carol Janes
Reply to  Gail Nelson

I found it worked better to use a slightly bigger seam on the lining so it was a tiny but smaller than the outer egg.

Juanita
Juanita

Adorable! Thank you for the pattern.