Sew a twinkling village for cozy nights—free house lantern template included

House size: 12 cm × 20 cm × 8 cm (about 4¾” × 8” × 3”).

Light-up house lantern from fabric—supplies:

Light-up house from fabric—instructions:

1. Trace the patterns and cut them as instructed. Iron the interfacing pieces onto the wrong sides of the body and roof sections.

2. Transfer the house’s front façade onto the right side of a body piece. Use transfer paper or place the pattern beneath the fabric and trace the visible lines directly with a marking pen.

3. Sew the designs with a short straight stitch, going over the lines twice. Stop with the needle down at the corners. If you do this by hand, turn the machine’s flywheel toward yourself—otherwise the thread will loosen and form loops. Then lift the presser foot, turn the fabric, lower the presser foot, and continue to the next corner.

4. For the heart appliqué, iron a small piece of fusible web onto the wrong side of the patterned fabric, then cut out the desired shape. Remove the backing paper and iron the heart above the door on the house’s façade. Stitch around the edge with a zigzag stitch. Remove any remaining pen lines according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

5. On each roof piece, draw horizontal lines according to the pattern markings.

6. Topstitch along the drawn lines. You can use a standard straight stitch, a zigzag stitch, or a decorative stitch—whichever you prefer. Double stitching also looks great!

7. Place the roof pieces right sides together on the corresponding body pieces and pin the top edge.

8. Sew the roof to the body. Trim the seam allowances to about 5 mm and finish them together using a zigzag stitch or a serger. Press the seam allowances upward.

9. Place the front of the house right sides together with the back. Pin the side seams and the bottom seam, leaving the bottom corners unsewn. Trim the seam allowances to about 5 mm and finish them together with a zigzag or serger.

10. Pull the fabric layers away from each other. Match each side of the bottom with the lower edge of the corresponding wall and pin. At the same time, fold the seam allowances for the sides and bottom back. Sew the seams. Trim the seam allowances to about 5 mm and finish them together with a zigzag or serger.

11. Leave the house inside out for now. Press a 2 cm fold to the wrong side along the top edge. Then fold another 1 cm under, also folding the side seam allowances back. Pin the top edge and stitch the hem close to the fold.

12. Turn the house right side out. Fold and press the corners and seams on the sides and bottom.

13. Place LED lights inside the house. Fold down the top of the roof by about 2 cm and secure the roof ridge with a decorative clothespin. If the house is a gift, finish it off with a gift tag and a short greeting.