Cutting out
Step 1
Download, print and cut out the gingerbread house sewing pattern templates.
Step 2
Note that when the pattern specifies to cut 2 or more of a pattern piece, after marking out half of the pieces required the template needs to be turned over to mark out the remaining half so that the pieces are cut as mirror images.
Step 3
Trace the pattern pieces onto the wrong side (WS) of the fabric and cut out.
From medium brown fabric A:
- Front house: cut 1 using the template. Mark the door on the right side (RS) but don’t cut it out at this stage.
- Back house: cut 1 using the template.
- Side house: cut 2 using the template.
- Base: cut 1 using the template.
- Gingerbread man: cut 2 using the template.
Step 4
From white fabric B:
- Side roof: cut 2 using the template.
- Middle roof: cut 1 using the template.
- Roof lining: cut 1 using the template.
- Roof binding: cut on the straight grain: 6.5x115cm (25⁄8x45in).
Step 5
From red and white striped fabric C:
- Piping strip: cut on the bias or straight grain 2.5x64cm (1×25¼in).
- Candy cane: cut 4 using the template.
Step 6
From lining fabric D:
- Side lining: 22x75cm (8¾x29½).
- Base lining: cut 1 using the template.
Step 7
From red fabric E:
Step 8
From green fabric H:
Step 9
From green fabric I:
Step 10
From green felt scrap fabric J:
Step 11
From the foam stabiliser cut:
- Front/Back: 2 pieces 21x20cm (8¼x77⁄8in).
- Side: 2 pieces 16x22cm (63⁄8x8¾in).
- Base: 22x20cm (8¾x77⁄8in).
- Roof: 2 pieces 12x22cm (4¾x8¾in).
- Door: 15x11cm (6x43⁄8in).
- Gingerbread man: 14x12cm (5½x4¾in).
Joining the pieces
Step 1
Using the relevant templates, trace the following pieces onto the backing paper side of the Bondaweb: two windows, two window frames, one upper door frame and one heart.
Step 2
Cut each shape out and then fuse to the WS of the corresponding fabric. Allow to cool and then cut out neatly.
Step 3
Peel away the backing paper and fuse the appliqué patches to the house panels, using the lines on the templates as a guide.
Attaching the applique and piping
Step 1
Right sides facing up, centre the house front, back, base and side panels on their corresponding foam stabiliser pieces and tack.
Step 2
Quilt around the appliqué patches to fully secure and then quilt the remaining area as you prefer.
Step 3
Quilt around the outside of the doorframe to hold the fabric in place later when cut out.
Step 4
Any embellishments that will not interfere with later seams can be added at this stage. Trim away the excess stabiliser overhanging the edges.
Step 5
With WS together, fold the piping strip over lengthways with the piping cord sandwiched inside. Starting at one end, put a pin through the fabric and piping cord to hold the fold and the cord in position. Pin along the strip to hold the raw edges of the fabric level. Using a zip or piping foot, sew along the length close to the cord to encase it. Trim into four pieces each measuring 16cm (63⁄8in). Keep the zip foot on the machine.
Step 6
Tack the piping to either side of the front and back pieces. Trim the ends so that they follow the line of the house panel edge.
Assembling the walls
Step 1
With RS facing, sew a side house to each side of the front house, but do not sew all the way to the end. Instead, make sure the seam allowance plus a fraction extra is left free to save needing to clip later when attaching the base and roof.
Step 2
Sew the back house onto one of the sides. Cut out the doorway and then switch back to a standard machine foot.
Attaching the lining
Step 1
With RS facing, place the side house section on top of the lining, aligning the bottom edges, and pin in place all the way around, paying particular attention to the doorway. Sew around the doorway and then cut away the lining inside the doorway and clip the seam allowance around the curve.
Step 2
Turn RS out and press around the doorway. Press the rest of the lining so it is wrinkle-free and pin to the house, then topstitch around the doorway.
Step 3
Tack the lining to the house along the top and bottom edges, starting and finishing midway along each of the end panels so that the end sections of the lining are free. Trim away the excess lining.
Step 4
Using a zip foot, sew the ends of the house together. Then bring the lining ends RS together, and sew.
Step 5
Tack the remaining loose lining to the house at the top and bottom.
Attaching the base
Step 1
With RS facing, sew the sides of the house to the base – it can be easier to do this one side at a time.
Step 2
Sew the base lining to the base along the front, one side and then across the back with RS facing. The sides of the house will be in between the base and the lining during sewing and so it may be more convenient to sew along the front and one side only. Turn it RS out and then hand-sew the remaining part of the lining to the base.
Attaching the roof
Step 1
With RS together, sew the middle roof along the top of one roof piece. In the same way, sew the top of the remaining roof piece to the other side.
Step 2
With WS together, place the roof on top of the roof lining and tack together around all four sides.
Step 3
With WS together, sew the roof to the house, clipping the front and back centre of the roof to allow it to turn around the apex.
Step 4
Press the binding in half lengthways. With the binding against the RS of the roof and leaving a 5cm (2in) tail of binding free at the start, sew the binding to the roof, stopping at each 90-degree corner to fold the binding to give mitred corners and clipping at the apexes. Fold each end back on itself where they meet and clip the seam allowance to 1cm (3⁄8in).
Step 5
Bring the folded edge of the binding over to the underside of the roof and handstitch in place.
Making the door
Step 1
Quilt one of the door pieces as for the house panels.
Step 2
Centre one gingerbread man on top of its stabiliser and tack around the outside edge to secure it and trim.
Step 3
With RS facing, place the quilted door on top of the remaining door piece and sew together, leaving a 4-5cm (1½-2in) opening in the bottom. Clip V-shaped notches in the seam allowance around the curve, turn the right way out and press.
Step 4
Hand-sew the opening closed and then topstitch around the edge, approx 3mm (1⁄8in) in from the edge.
Step 5
Add the wreath to the door and blanket stitch around the sides to hold in place, and add any decorative beads and a button for the door handle.
Finishing off
Step 1
Make the gingerbread man in the same way as the door, but this time leaving a 2-3cm (1-1½in) opening in the side of one leg and clipping into the internal corners as well as around the curves. Embroider a face using three strands of black stranded cotton and add any further decoration before closing the turning gap and topstitching.
Step 2
If adding decorative stitches to the large tree, fuse iron-on interfacing to the back first as this will prevent any distortion of the fabric when the stitches are added.
Step 3
With RS together, place each of the trees and the candy canes on top of their remaining pieces and sew together, leaving a 3-4cm (1-2in) opening in the bottom of each tree and in the side of the candy cane. Clip the seam allowance at the corners, clip around the internal curve and clip V-shaped notches around the external curve for the candy canes. Turn RS out and stuff, add any further decoration and then close the openings.
Step 4
Neatly whipstitch one side of the door to one side of the doorframe from the bottom up to just before the curve. Hand-sew the trees and candy canes to the house and any further embellishments securely.
