The gingerbread house cookie confection made from flour, spices and honey or molasses is a timeless holiday classic. Sew a tiny three dimensional one out of fabric, batting and trims to use as an ornament to decorate a tree, add to a gift basket or attach a pocket and insert a gift card to present as a gift. Make several along with some gingerbread people shapes to string as a holiday garland.

Many gingerbread house templates can be found online or consider making your own paper pattern template.

Consider a tiny 3-D Gingerbread House to sew:

For roof draw 1 shape 4 1/2-inches by 4-inches (cut 2 of fabric)
For house sides draw 1 rectangle, 3-inches by 4-inches (cut 4 of fabric)
For front and back of house draw a rectangle 3-inches by 4-inches, and then add a triangle peak shape to one end.
For floor of house 3-inches x 4-inches (cut two of fabric)

For an optional chimney draw a rectangle 2-inches by 4-inches (will be folded to form a 1-inch by 4-inch shape, short ends stitched together to form chimney shape).

Cut out paper pattern templates and then place on brown or tan fabric, cutting out the necessary number of fabric pieces.

Cut out polyester batting: one piece from roof template, two pieces for house sides, two for the house front and back, one piece for house bottom and one piece 1-inch by 4-inches for optional chimney.

Layer two roof fabrics wrong sides together with one batting piece on top. Stitch in a 1/8-inch seam around all sides leaving a small opening for turning. Trim corners and excess batting from seam allowance, turn right-side out, press and slipstitch opening closed. Fold roof in half along 4-inch length and press; the pressed fold will become the roof peak.

Construct each house front and back piece, each house side and the bottom of house in a similar manner. Add white baby rick-rack trim on house sides and front and back to form windows and doors. Add a button for a doorknob. Add small holiday trims if desired to make a wreath or holly sprig. White felt can be used to add a snow-like look to the roof and an optional chimney can be hand stitched to the roof as well. Finally, hand-stitch all pieces together at finished edges to assemble house.

Add a pocket on one house side if making the gingerbread house as a gift card holder. Add a cord to middle of roof peak if hanging as an ornament.

An alternative to the poufy gingerbread house look is to use thick wool felt, eliminating the batting and cutting only one of each house part. Assemble all parts wrong sides together using a blanket stitch on the edges. It may help to lightly stuff the felt-made gingerbread house interior with a small amount of polyfil to retain its 3-D shape. Decorate as desired.

History of the Gingerbread Man from Gingerbread House Heaven

Sew happy, sew inspired.