It’s time to break out your fabric stash and wind those bobbins, because I have a new project that is oh “sew” special to share with you today! Use my latest template to make your very own papercraft, 3D sewing machine.
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To be honest, I’m not much of a seamstress myself—not that my mother didn’t try (sorry Mom). I’ve sewn here and there; but, for as crafty as I am, the sewing machine really intimidates me. I’m always worried about pressing the pedal too fast or too slow. And no matter how many times my mom has shown me how to wind a bobbin, I can never remember how to do it.
Maybe one day I’ll break out my actual sewing machine again and give it another try. For now, I’ll stick to my much less intimidating paper version!
Follow along using the instructions below, or check out this tutorial video.
Supplies
- Cardstock
- Hot Glue
- Precision Craft Glue or a Glue Stick
- Thread or Twine
- Lollipop Stick
- Foam Tape (optional)
- Decorative Ribbon (optional)
- Bone Folder (optional)
- A Cutting Machine or X-ACTO knife
- My Free Template
How to Make It
1. Use your cutting machine or X-ACTO knife, along with my template, to cut out all of the pieces for your 3D sewing machine.
Note: If you are using the SVG files that includes the score lines, don’t forget to set them as such in Cricut Design Space and attach them to their shapes before sending them through your cutting machine. I used a lime green color to mark the score lines, so hopefully that helps! If you’re having trouble with the score lines, check out this video.
Layering Your Pieces
2. Start by layering together your decorative panels on top of your two funny-shaped front/back pieces as well as one of the large circles.
Assembling the Machine Body
3. Grab your front sewing machine piece along with the three side pieces that will wrap around the perimeter.
Hint: the side pieces look fairly similar, but the placement of the score lines should give you an idea about which one goes where. Also, the portions with small tabs will connect to curved edges, while the potions with loner tabs will connect to flat portions.
You can start wherever you’d like, but I chose to begin with the right side. Attach each of the tabs (one or two at a time) along the right perimeter and along the small portion on top.
Then, continue along the top with the next section, and along the left side.
Finally, connect the final piece to the underside.
Assembling the Machine Body (cont.)
4. With all of the side walls in place, attach the backside of the sewing machine.
Next, attach the 4 rectangular, decorative panels to the sides. The two shorter ones will go on the left and right sides of the machine. The two longer ones will attach to the top and underside. Use the score lines to figure out which one goes where.
Assembling the Needle
5. Gather the 5 pieces you need for your needle.
Glue the two pieces of your needle together.
Curl the small rectangular strip, and glue the ends together to form a ring. Fold all of the little tabs inward.
Attach the solid circle to the ring piece. Then, slip the blunt end of the needle into the center of the circle that has a slit in it and attach. Glue that circle to the other side of the ring piece.
Attach the whole thing to the left/underside of the sewing machine.
Assembling the Hand Wheel
6. Gather the 6 pieces of your hand wheel.
Start by making the inner wheel piece using the same method as in step 5. Curl the smaller rectangular strip, and glue the ends together to form a ring. Fold all of the little tabs inward. Attach the two corresponding circles to either end.
Note: I went back and added a hole in one of the circles later on. This is for the lollipop stick and will allow your wheel to rotate.
Use the previous method again, and form the larger portion of the hand wheel.
Attach the smaller wheel section to the inside of the larger one. Then, attach a small portion of the lollipop stick to your hand wheel with hot glue.
Slip the other end of the stick inside the hole on the right side of the sewing machine, and attach a small circle of paper to the end to keep it from coming out.
Assembling the Base
7. Attach the left side piece of the base to the rest of the base section.
Then, layer on all of the decorative rectangles.
Fold the sides inward, and attach the tabs.
Use the tabs on the bottom of the sewing machine and the slits on top of the base to attach the two pieces together.
Assembling the Drawer
8. Gather the two drawer pieces.
Fold the main drawer piece along the score lines. Attach the tabs to the edges to form a box.
Attach the yellow rectangle to one of the long sides of the drawer (keeping it as centered as possible—it will overhand on each side).
Next, create a drawer handle out of ribbon or paper, and attach it to the front.
Final Assembly
9. Take the last, dark blue rectangle piece and fold along the score lines.
Attach it the underside of the base—keeping it as centered as possible. This will act as a support for your drawer, so be sure to line up the two short sides with the bottom of your base.
Slip the drawer inside the hole.
Layer the small silver and yellow rectangles together, and place them on top of the base, just below the needle.
Final Assembly (cont.)
10. Gather the 5 pieces of your thread spool.
Curl the rectangular piece and attach the ends. Fold the little tabs inward. Glue the smaller circles to either side. Then, attach the larger circles over top.
Wrap some thread/twine around your spool.
Finally, attach your spool to the top, right side of your sewing machine, and your project is complete!
If you are curious about the patterned paper I used for this project, I bought it at Joann’s as part of a paper pack called Sonoma by Park Lane. I get questions about my patterned papers fairly often, so I’ll try to start including the links (when I remember).
I use Adobe Illustrator for all of my designs, and a Cricut Maker to bring my creations to life. For tips on creating fun paper cuts like this one, see the FAQ section on my website. Also, be sure to check out the other fun freebies available on my blog!
Enjoy putting my 3D sewing machine together. And don’t forget to share your spectacular finished project with me on Instagram!
*This post contains affiliate links. By clicking through my links to make a purchase, you are supporting this blog and the hard work that goes into providing free, quality designs.
Mandee is a professional graphic designer, amateur bird watcher, and rollercoaster enthusiast. She is a wife to hardworking high school teacher and mommy to three adorable little humans. She fell in love with graphic design when she started working on a comedy website with a guy she met her freshman year of college. Design wasn’t the only thing she fell in love with, and they were married a year and a half later. She created Designs By Miss Mandee to be a place where she could merge her passion for design with her lifelong love of crafting. 18 Comments on 3D Sewing Machine – Intricate Cut File
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Deb
February 15, 2023 at 11:48 am (10 months ago)This is so cute! Can’t wait to give it a try. Thanks for the free file and for giving the link to the p pretty patterned papers you used – they’ll match my craft room decor perfectly!
Mandee
February 17, 2023 at 11:57 am (10 months ago)You are very welcome Deb!! I’m excited for you to make it!
Nohemy Bernal
February 15, 2023 at 4:12 pm (10 months ago)Muy buenas tardes Miss Mandee
Muchisimas gracias por tan hermoso regalo de la maquinita me encanto estare comprando los materiales para elaborarla
Cordialmente
Nohemy Bernal
Mandee
February 17, 2023 at 11:57 am (10 months ago)You are very welcome Nohemy! I’m so glad you like it. Have fun putting it together!!
M Williams
February 16, 2023 at 8:19 am (10 months ago)Thank you for the wonderful project! I’ll have to make it as a giveaway for my quilt guild fundraiser.
Mandee
February 17, 2023 at 11:58 am (10 months ago)Ooo, how fun! I’m glad you’ll be able to put it to good use. 😊
Helen J Roberts
February 16, 2023 at 12:24 pm (10 months ago)Such a cute file! The perfect gift for the sewer in your life. Can’t wait to make this. Thank you for the wonderful file.
Mandee
February 17, 2023 at 11:58 am (10 months ago)You are very welcome Helen!! ❤️
Pam
February 18, 2023 at 3:19 pm (10 months ago)Fantastic Project – Know many sewers so be doing in different colours … Would it be possible to have the how to make in written form as a pdf when downloading the file
Mandee
February 20, 2023 at 12:00 pm (10 months ago)Thank Pam! I don’t include PDF instructions in the download at this time, but here are a few different ways that you can download my instructions from my website if you’d like:
https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/how-to-easily-save-a-blog-post-to-your-computer-5-methods/#:~:text=To%20save%20a%20PDF%20file,Chrome%20and%20Microsoft%20Edge%20browsers.
EDNA
February 28, 2023 at 5:55 pm (9 months ago)it is beautiful, thank you so much for your tutorial and the free file.
Mandee
March 1, 2023 at 10:33 am (9 months ago)You are very welcome! I’m glad you like it!! 😊
Christian Pratt
March 28, 2023 at 3:33 am (8 months ago)Oh my, I love my little sewing machine! This is so cute.
Your instructions were clear. Looking at the finished project makes me smile.
I made a video and tagged you on both IG and TT.
Thank you for sharing your talent.
Mandee
March 29, 2023 at 10:29 am (8 months ago)Aww, that makes me so happy to hear! And I’m glad that the instructions were clear and that you now have a cute little paper sewing machine to brighten your day! 😊
Missy
October 8, 2023 at 4:39 pm (2 months ago)This is so cute. I looked at it because my initial thought was, I’d love to make this for my mom to put in her sewing room. Don’t think I’m at this level of papercraft yet. However, I got a good chuckle when I read the step in the directions with “the funny shaped pieces.” Hope to come back to this after I learn a bit more about getting rounded pieces to stick together and not pop open after I glue it together.
Mandee
October 9, 2023 at 9:31 am (2 months ago)Haha, sometimes I just have no idea what to call the pieces—especially when they aren’t a regular shape! 🤣
But I’m glad you like this project! Curved edges in papercrafts can be a little tough, but I’m sure you’ll get it figured out soon enough.
Gil
October 29, 2023 at 10:01 am (1 month ago)Thank you very much Miss Mandee from Angers in France
Mandee
October 30, 2023 at 9:57 am (1 month ago)You are most welcome! I’m glad you like this design. ☺️