National Ice Cream Day is the perfect excuse to bring a scoop of sweetness into your sewing room. Whether you’re stitching for a summer craft fair, a kid’s room refresh, or just because ice cream makes everything better, this collection of ice cream themed projects is fun, fast, and easy to customize. Here are a few ways to celebrate the day with your sewing machine and your favorite Fairfield World products!
Ice Cream Plushies
Soft, huggable, and endlessly customizable, ice cream plushies are one of the most popular novelty sewing projects out there, and it’s easy to see why. A simple cone shape and a scoop (or two, or three) come together quickly, and there’s plenty of room to get creative with colors, sprinkles, and toppings appliquéd on top.
Stuff each plushie with Poly-Fil for a soft, evenly distributed fill that holds its shape without flattening. These make great gifts, party favors, or additions to a play kitchen, and they’re a wonderful stash-busting project since each one uses only small amounts of fabric. These tutorials and patterns will help you get started:
- Giant Ice Cream Cone by Fish Museum and Circus
- Felt Ice Cream Cone from Sew What Alicia
- Free Ice Cream Plush Pattern by Teddy Bear Art
Soft Serve Amigurumi
For the crocheters and knitters in the mix, amigurumi is another fun way to join the ice cream theme. Crocheted cones, scoops, and popsicles make adorable little collectibles, and they stitch up quickly enough to make a whole “flavor collection” in an afternoon.
Stuff with Poly-Fil for a soft, huggable amigurumi that holds its shape nicely, or mix in Poly Pellets at the base for pieces that need a bit of weight to help them sit upright, like a cone that needs to “stand” on a shelf. A blend of both — pellets in the bottom, Poly-Fil through the rest — is a popular approach for amigurumi that needs to hold a pose or sit without tipping over. Here are some ice cream patterns we think you’ll love to try:
- Ice Cream Cone Plush Amigurumi Pattern by Wonder Crochet
- Melty the Ice Cream Cone Free Pattern from Spin a Yarn Crochet
- Mommy and Baby Ice Cream Cone Amigurumi by Furl’s Crochet
Gelato Pillows
For a bigger statement piece, turn that same cone-and-scoop shape into a pillow. A shaped ice cream cone pillow is a fun accent for a kid’s bedroom or a playroom reading nook, and it’s just as popular in novelty pillow collections for craft fairs and markets.
Fill with a Fairfield World Pillow Insert for pillows made from standard shapes, or stuff directly with Poly-Fil for a shaped pillow that holds its cone silhouette. Either way, the result is a soft conversation piece that fits right in with a summer decor refresh. Check out these cool project ideas:
- Rainbow Sherbet Crochet Pillow from Twinkie Chan
- Kawaii Ice Cream Pillow by Hobbii
- Ice Cream Dream Pillow and Pin Cushion Pattern by Angela’s DIY
Frozen Dessert Appliqué Projects
Appliqué is one of the easiest ways to add an ice cream theme to everyday items — tote bags, t-shirts, kitchen towels, table runners, you name it. A simple scoop-and-cone appliqué shape can be fused or stitched onto nearly any project, and it’s a great way to introduce new sewists to appliqué techniques since the shapes are simple and forgiving.
For appliqué projects that need extra body or structure, like tote bags or wall hangings, Stabilize Interfacing behind the appliqué adds dimension and helps the design pop. National Ice Cream Day is perfect for appliqué projects like these:
- Crochet Ice Cream Applique Pattern by Raffa Musa Designs
- Ice Cream Popsicles Applique by Damn It Janet Let’s Crochet
- Unicorn Ice Cream Applique at Embroidery Monkey
Mini Ice Cream Quilts
Mini quilts are a favorite for good reason: they come together faster than a full-size quilt, use less fabric, and are perfect for showcasing a themed fabric collection. An ice cream themed mini quilt — whether pieced from a novelty print or built from pieced cone-and-scoop blocks — makes a sweet wall hanging, table topper, or even a doll-sized quilt.
Layer with Fairfield World batting to get that classic quilted texture without adding bulk, making it easy to quilt even the smallest blocks with clean, even stitching. Here are some patterns to consider trying this summer:
- Ice Cream Wall Quilt by The Not So Dramatic Life
- Ice Cream for Sale Mini Quilt by Jennifer Heynen
- Sweet Ice Cream Mini Quilt by Flamingo Toes
Celebrate the Sweetest Day of Summer
However you choose to celebrate National Ice Cream Day, these projects are a fun way to bring a little extra joy to your sewing table. Don’t be afraid to get playful with color combinations and toppings. We’d love to see what you create with Fairfield World at the heart of your projects, so tag us in your ice cream themed makes!
