How to make reusable crackers: free sewing pattern!

Ditch the disposable decorations and stitch up a celebration staple you’ll use again and again! Anna Alicia’s reusable fabric crackers are a fun, sustainable alternative to traditional crackers and can be filled with thoughtful gifts, sweet treats or little surprises. Easy to make and perfect for using up favourite fabrics, they’re guaranteed to become a treasured part of your celebrations for years to come.

And while you’re in the mood for seasonal crafting, check out our 12 easy Christmas sewing projects and create your own perfect homemade Christmas

Reusable cracker sewing pattern

You will need:

For each cracker:
• 1/4m quilting-weight fabric (cut as a fat or long quarter)
• 1m of 12.7cm wide single side fusible cotton buckram
• 1m satin ribbon in a coordinating colour, 1cm wide
• Double-sided tape
•  Fabric clips
• Matching thread
• Basic sewing kit

Fabrics used

• Spice collection by Dashwood Studio, supplied by anbo.co.uk

Cutting out

From the quilting-weight fabric cut:

•Cracker: 21x43cm (HxW).

From the iron-on buckram cut:

•Buckram: two pieces 8x20cm 

•Cracker Ends: two pieces 12x20cm.

Preparation

Step one

Lay out one of your Cracker fabric rectangles, right side (RS) down, landscape position on your ironing board. Along the bottom edge, measure and mark points 14cm and 22cm from the left-hand side. Now, measure and mark points 2cm and 14cm in from the right-hand side.

Step two

Lay your smaller piece of buckram shiny-side-down on top of your fabric so one of its narrower edges sits along that bottom edge and fits exactly between the points you marked from the left. Use a pressing cloth to press the buckram, fusing it to the fabric below.

Step three

Repeat with your larger piece of buckram, shiny-side-down again, between the two points you marked from the right.

Step four

Repeat for the other piece of fabric and pieces of buckram. If your fabric has a directional pattern, make sure your second piece is the opposite way up to your first (still right-side down but with the pattern upside down).

Assembling the cracker

Step one

For each of your two fabric/buckram panels, turn the right-hand edge of the fabric over by 1cm twice, so it folds onto the buckram. Press to crease and clip in place. Also, fold the long top edge over onto the buckram by 1cm (once only), press and clip in place. Sew along those folded edges 3-4mm in. 

Step two

Lay one of your panels RS down and place a strip of double-sided tape along the long stitched edge only (don’t tape the narrower stitched edge).

Step three

Bring that long, stitched edge of the panel over the raw edge, so it overlaps by 1cm
and press so that the tape holds them together (add some clips to the ends if the tape isn’t sticking enough). This should form a long tube with two sections of loose fabric and two stiff tubes of buckram.

Step four

Repeat with your second piece of fabric/buckram but this time, make the wider of the two buckram sections into a slightly narrower tube (the overlap will probably be around 2cm instead of 1cm). Test to make sure that it will fit tightly inside the first tube.

Step five

There will be a section of loose fabric at one end of each tube, tuck that fabric down tightly inside the tube, as far as it will go (it should reach into the loose fabric section between the tubes, where it will later be held in place). 

Step six

Use a slipstitch along the seam edge of the buckram sections, to hold the tubes more securely. This will involve pushing the needle through the fabric only, not the buckram.

Finishing the cracker

Step one

Cut two 50cm lengths of ribbon and tie one tightly at the centre of each of the loose fabric sections between the two sections of buckram. Tie the ribbon into a neat bow and carefully trim away any excess.

Step two

Use a candle or lighter to carefully seal the cut edges of your ribbon. 

Filling the cracker

Step one

Fill the narrower tube with your chosen gift and slide that section inside the other long tube, to finish.

More festive patterns you’ll love

• Add some magic to your table scape with this free starry table runner pattern

• Beginner friendly patchwork coasters for your hot cocoa

• Quick and charming embroidered Christmas decorations