DIY Fabric Frisbee Makeover

I’m joining in with the Summer Fun Series, hosted by Emily at Naptime Creations! I’m sharing a tutorial on how to make a DIY fabric frisbee cover. Your first reaction may be, “why would I need a fabric frisbee cover?”, to which I would say ” WHY NOT!”. It’s really fast to sew, and I think it is way more fun to throw around a colorful sun than a beat-up camouflage disc. You could easily make a jellyfish, a flower, or use your favorite sports team’s fabric! Handmade toys are my favorite, and this one would be perfect for a day at the park.

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This is the ‘before’ – nothing exciting. I’m not a big fan of camouflage and have no idea where this came from, but it’s the perfect candidate for a makeover.

Here was my first draft – you can see the general idea more clearly without the sun “rays”.

Is there anything more summery than that!

I had a really hard time getting a focused shot of it in action but it looked so neat twirling in the air! It would be fun to do a color wheel version too.

Ready to make your own? I had initially intended on having a printable pattern, but turns out frisbees aren’t necessarily a standard size. Never fear, the tutorial is pretty simple!

Supplies

• Pinking shears*
• 2 fat quarters of woven quilting cotton (these are from Jo-Ann Fabric’s pre-cut selection)
• 3/8″ wide elastic
• Bodkin* (or safety pin)
• Wide paper (posterboard or newspaper works well) and pen for tracing
• Iron, sewing machine, coordinating thread, scissors (you can see the machine, etc. I use on this page)

Steps

Skim through the steps  first to get a general sense of where you’re headed, but I’d recommend cutting in this order: main circle, two rectangle pieces, triangles. To get the rectangle pieces, I made them 3.5″ wide and then measured the length around my frisbee’s outer circumference, divided by two, and added a seam allowance. My two pieces measured 16″. I cut my elastic to 19″ long, through trial and error (easy to adjust before overlapping and sewing in the last step).

1. Trace roughly 1/2″ around your frisbee. This is taken at an angle, which was poor photography on my part because you can’t see the whole thing, but there should be a mostly even edge around the entire circle.

2. Draw a triangle for your points! Mine was roughly 5″ high, and I used the frisbee to curve off the bottom edge.

3. Cut 9 sets of triangles, place them wrong sides together and sew 1/4″ from the straight edges. Use your pinking shears to trim outside the seam allowance. Repeat for each triangle.

4. Layer the triangles right sides together, facing in, and sew with a 1/2″ seam allowance all the way around, securing them.

5. Fold rectangles right sides together and sew each short end of your rectangles with 1/2″ seam allowance, forming a loop.

6. Layer your loop right sides together, covering up the triangles, and sew with 1/4″ seam allowance. Finish this seam if desired, by pinking or serging.

7. Fold 1/4″ and then another 1/2″ hem along the long raw edge of your loop. Press.

8. Stitch your hem in place, just along the edge. Leave a space to insert your elastic and pull it through with your bodkin. Overlap the elastic’s edges 1″, sew, pull smooth, and sew back over the opening. Press all seams and you’re done!

Check out the other Summer Fun projects that were posted this week!

The Stichin’ Mommy – Go Green Mesh Tote Pattern

It Happens in a Blink – Paper Plate Bird

Toddler Obstacle Fun – Lulu and Celeste on Nap-Time Creations

Swoodson Says – DIY Fabric Frisbee Cover