That’s where stenciling comes in to save the day! Fabric stenciling is an awesome (and surprisingly easy) way to transform plain white or solid coloured fabric into a patterned material in any design you choose! Stencil pieces of fabric that you might sew into projects or use the technique to embellish a fabric project that you’ve already made or bought.

1. Floral stencilled tote bag

Have you bought or made a tote bag that’s a little plane for your taste now that you have it home? There are plenty of ways to embellish a bag or purse, but we don’t always like having textured things like gems and glitter on something we use so much because we find they just catch on our clothing and fall off. That’s why we love this paint stencilling idea from Paint & Pattern. Choose a stencil that will help you make intricate patterns or design your own simple stencils and play with colours instead.

2. Stencilled wedding pillows

Are you having a casual, outdoor wedding shower with a bit of a rustic chic inspiration and you’re looking for simple décor to really make the place look cute? Then stenciling a couple of “Mr.” and “Mrs.” themed throw pillows can really take the comfort and styles levels to a whole new level at the same time! See how these ones were made on A Blossoming Life.

3. DIY stencilled fabric trays

Do you have some fabric ends that you’ve been meaning to use for something creative and you’d prefer to make something more structure than just bed sheets? Then grab your stenciling tools, pattern your fabric, and once everything is dry, follow the steps on See Kate Sew to fold and stitch yourself a set of differently sized fabric baskets.

4. Stencil block curtains

Do you love the concept of fabric stenciling enough that you’d actually enjoying putting your work on display in your living room or bedroom? Then curtains are the perfect way to subtly incorporate some pattern and design into your current décor scheme. The concept is pretty simple, but here’s a tutorial from Mabeyshemadeit to help you along the way, just in case!

5. Stencilled fabric wall hanger

Are you so in love with fabric stenciling that you’ve been browsing the internet, hoping to find something simple that you can really practice detailed work on, then we think we might have found the project for you! Monsterscircus shows you how to stencil and stitch a stunning fabric wall hanger that will automatically warm up any room.

6. Stencilled fabric chair upholstery

If you’re into the idea of stenciling plain fabric before you turn it into something spectacular, then we have a feeling you’ll really enjoy upholstering old furniture to give it a new lease on life! Honey, I’m Home guides you through the process of doing both the stenciling and the upholstering so you can save a piece of furniture from sitting at the curb while you spend unnecessary money on a new version at the store.

7. Stencilled fabric envelopes

On top of doing all the fabric stenciling we can get our hands on lately, we’ve also recently become obsessed with fabric origami! If you’ve done regular paper origami before then you’re more than prepared to take your craft to the next level and get a little unconventional with it. We love Lovelui‘s idea for combining origami and stenciling to make stunning homemade envelopes that will make your birthday or thank you cards to friends and family mean just that much more.

8. Stencilled baby onesies

Do you keep your baby in simple, comfortable onesies at home so they can stay comfy, cool, and happy while they move around? That’s a great idea, but it doesn’t mean Baby always needs to be stuck wearing plain white! Check out how Going Home to Roost customized their baby onesies using fabric paint and stencils to create all kinds of cute pictures and designs.

9. Stencilled fabric bow ties

Are you throwing a kids’ birthday party soon and looking for unique crafts that aren’t just playschool style cut and paste projects? Maybe the theme of the party involves dressing up and you’d like a craft that lets your kids create something they can actually wear after? Then we think you’ll all enjoy this next suggestion from Doodle Craft! Their tutorial teaches you how to make and stencil simple little bow ties in just about any bright, fun colour under the sun!

10. Stencilled fabric wall canvas art

If you’ve never seen fabric canvas wall art then you’re missing out! As with any classic DIY technique, however, sometimes it’s nice to put a unique spin on things. That’s exactly what Ink Adventure did here with some fabric canvas art by stenciling self-designed patterns onto the stretched fabric rather than just using patterned fabric from the store.

11. Painted stencil scarf

Are you a huge fan of stenciling simple things like scarves but, if you’re going to wear something, you’d like it to contribute at least a little bit of colour to your style? Stenciling in more then one colour can get messy, so Royal Design Studio is here to show you a different technique. They suggest starting with a single colour (your lightest shade) and painting bright colours over top of certain shapes and details just to add a bit of a punch!

12. Eraser pointillism stencil tote bag

By now you’ve probably tried stenciling techniques of all kinds; airbrushing, sponging, and just straight up painting are all great ways to get the job done! Did you know, though, that you can create an awesome pointillism effect with a stencil too? We love the idea of creating a negative space image but dotting paint around the stencil rather than within it. Check out how Fab DIY did it with a pencil eraser!