Mini House Gift Box

The most wonderful time of the year is right around the corner. In the spirit of kindness, Larisa @stitchingnotes and I, @nordiccrafter created a few projects that are perfect for gifting or keeping. Last year I shared tutorials for the Christmas Bauble Coaster ad Scandinavian Christmas Ornaments with you. Larisa shared her Gift tags and Postcard Coasters tutorials.

This year I invite you to stitch a Mini House Gift box. This is a sweet little make that measures only 2 1/2" wide x 3" tall. It can be used as a tiny gift box or ornament. As usual, it is a perfect project for scraps, and it can be easily personalized with the supplies you have at home. This free tutorial has been exclusively designed for "A Season of Kindness" with Sip Tea and EPP, our weekly slow stitching event on Instagram for those who love sewing and crafting.

Let`s start!

Please, download the template here.

Materials and Cutting Instructions

All measurements are Width x Height

(4) 1/2" wooden beads or jingle bells

(4) 3 1/2" x 1/2" (8.9 x 1.3cm) lace or ribbon (optional)

Twine: (3) 22" (56cm)

Double sided fusible web (for example, Steam-A-Seam):

(4) 5/8" x 5/8" (1.6 x 1.6cm) for windows,

(1) 3/4" x 1 1/2" (1.9 x 3.8cm) for the door

General sewing tools and supplies, water erasable marker, DMC Perle cotton #8, thread and needle for hand sewing

Exterior (all measurements are Width x Height):

(4) 3 1/2" x 2 1/2" (8.3 x 6.4cm) quilting cotton for the roof

(4) 3 1/2" x 2 3/4" (8.3 x 7cm) linen for the walls

(1) 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" (5.7 x 5.7cm) linen for the floor

Single sided fusible foam stabilizer (I recommend using foam stabilizer as it will give nice structure to the house, for example, Soft and Stable by Annie or Bosal in R-form)

(4) 3" x 4 1/2" (7.6 x 11.4cm) for the sides (wall+roof)

(1) 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" (3.8 x 3.8cm) for the floor

1. Place 3 1/2" x 2 3/4" (8.3 x 7cm) piece of linen for a wall right side (RS) up, align the lace along the top edge and baste the lace in place at 1/8" (0.3cm) from the top. Repeat for other wall pieces. Alternatively, you can attach lace/ribbon along the seam between the roof and wall after step 2 to decrease the bulk in the seam.

2. Place the roof and wall pieces RS together and pin along the side with lace. Stitch at 1/4" (0.6cm) from the top with RS. Repeat for the remaining 3 pieces.

3. Press the seam towards the roof with hot iron on all four exterior pieces.

4. Pin the House template (roof and wall together) to the WS (non-fusible) of the single sided fusible foam stabilizer. Cut the template with the rotary cutter without seam allowance.

5. Place an exterior piece wrong side (WS) up, add the foam piece (fusible side faces the WS of fabric) on top making sure the line between the roof and wall is aligned with the seam. Fuse the foam following manufacturer´s instructions. Repeat for 3 exterior pieces.

6. Fuse foam to the WS of the linen floor piece so you have approximately the same SA around the foam.

7. Place the Exterior and lining pieces RS together and stitch around using the foam edge as a guide for your stitching and leaving approx. 1" (2.5cm) opening at one side. Backstitch at the beginning and end. Repeat for all Exterior pieces and the floor.

7. Trim SA to 1/8" (0.3cm) with pinking shears around the piece except for the opening. Cut SA at the opening slightly smaller than 1/4" (0.6cm), cut off the corners. In the photo below the opening is at the bottom. If you are a beginner, leave the opening at the side (arrows in the photo below). You will have a neat straight seam at the bottom edge of the wall, and it will be easier to stitch the base to the walls. Carefully turn the piece RS out through the opening. Give it a good press with hot iron and stitch the opening closed using ladder stitch. Repeat for 3 other pieces and the floor.

8. Trace the door to one side of the double-sided fusible web. Peel the paper from the other side of the fusible web and stick it to the WS of fabric. Press with hot iron to make sure it sticks evenly. Repeat for the windows. Cut out the windows and the door with sharp scissors.

9. Remove the remaining paper and position the windows and the door as desired. Fuse when everything is properly in its place.

10. If desired, you can stitch around the windows and the door. Decrease the stitch length to 2.0.

11. Place all pieces around the base as shown in the photo below.

12. Stitch walls to the floor using whip stitch and stitching from the LINING side.

10. Using Perle cotton make a small cross right below the roof to stitch the walls together. Repeat for the remaining walls.

12. Attach wooden beads/jingle bells to each side of the roof at approx. 3/8" (1cm) from the roof top.

13. Tie the twine around 3 beads. Fill it with sweets or put a gift.

14. Twist the twine ends (from the side opposite to the door).

Pull the ends and tie a knot between the beads.

Twist the ends from 2 other beads at the back of the house, bring the ends of twine to the front and tie a bow.

You Mini House Box is ready to be gifted

or hung on a Christmas tree!

Please respect the time and effort Larisa and I put in the creating our projects for Sip Tea and EPP. This pattern is FOR PERSONAL USE AND GIFTS ONLY! If you make a Mini House Gift Box, please share it on IG under the hashtags #sipteaandepp #nordiccrafterpatterns and tag me @nordiccrafter so I can see and admire your beautiful work!

Happy Stitching! ❤