While She Naps

Springtime Craft Tutorial: Felt Tulips

One thing I love about early spring is when the tulips begin to bloom. It may still be frigid February here in Boston, but a bouquet of felt tulips on the table gives me hope that spring is just around the corner.

Around this time last year I made a tutorial for felt daffodils if you'd like to make those, too.

To make the tulips download this template I created for the petals and leaves. Then gather your materials and get started!

 Put the flowers in a vase and set them on your spring table.  Enjoy!

Ping Pong Ball and Handkerchief Fish

I was waiting in line at the grocery store over the summer and there, at the check-out, were packages of ping pong balls.  They caught my eye because they seemed like such an odd thing to have near the check-out, next to the candy and the rack of magazines. Six ping pong balls for a $1. I immediately had this image of covering them with fabric and making them into fish. 

I considered covering them in felt, or a cotton print, but then my friend, Elizabeth, gave the me a bag of vintage linens containing, among other treasures, an unopened package of plain white handkerchiefs (see my last post for a bird I made from a cut-work lace napkin I found in the same bag). These seemed to me to be the perfect fabric for this project: already finished on the edges, light-weight and drapey, and easily dyed any fishy color you want.

So today I bring you a tutorial to make a fish from a ping pong ball, a handkerchief, and some felt scraps.  I hope you like it!

To make a fish you'll need:

a ping pong ball

a handkerchief (I tie dyed my handkerchiefs light blue. I think these would be beautiful dyed orange to make koi, too.)

wool felt scraps

1 10 mm wool felt ball in white (I bought mine here)

craft glue

hole punch

extra-strong thread

scissors

 

Place the ping pong ball in the center of the handkerchief and wrap it tightly.

Cut two long lengths of extra-strong thread. Holding them together as one strand, tie the gathered fabric just behind the ping pong ball. Tie a double knot.

Cut the wool felt ball in half. Glue one half to each side of the fish's head. Use the hole punch to make two circles from black felt. Glue the circles to the wool felt balls as pupils.

Cut a heart from a contrasting color of felt and glue it to the fish's face as a mouth.

For side fins, fold the contrasting felt in half and cut two triangles on the fold. Use a dab of glue inside the fold to hold the tip of each triangle together. Apply a second dab of glue on the outside of the fold and press the fin to the side of the fish. Repeat.

For the top fin, fold white felt in half and cut a long triangle on the fold. Snip the fold several times. Apply glue to the unfolded edges and glue the fin to the top of the fish.

These fish are really light weight! You could hang the fish from monofilament as an ornament, or stitch it to the ribbon on a present as a gift topper.

Enjoy!

How to Make a Hobby Horse

I have wanted to make a hobby horse for a long time. I searched around a bit for online tutorials and there didn't seem to be much available so when Kathreen asked me to create a guest post for Whip Up I thought this would be the perfect project. 

My kids are begging to play with him and I have to say, I'm pretty fond of this project. Fairly quick to make, the materials were easy to find, and it makes a really fun, imaginative toy.

Gather up some brown fabric or felt, some yarn for the mane, and a dowel or broomstick and you're ready to go.  For full-sized pattern pieces and step-by-step directions with photos trot on over to Whip Up.

Using my X-ACTO knife to make a cutwork felt butterfly

Recently I got an email from the folks at X-ACTO asking if I would test out a knife and give a few away.  I use a craft knife fairly often in my work and I know you all probably do, too. I thought we all might like a few fresh knives to work with so I agreed.

I was interested to learn from their website that X-ACTO started out in 1917 as a producer of syringes and surgical blades.  You all are well aware at this point of my love of hemostats (and if you're not, you can watch my hemostat video). The craft blade was created by the company's founder for one of their advertising artists who needed a retouching knife (not sure what a retouching knife is, but I imagine it was something advertising artists used in the days before design software).  And this changed their whole product line! I love craft tools that have their roots as medical instruments.

Since then I think it is safe to say that "X-ACTO" has become pseunonymous with "craft knife" the way that Xerox means copy and Vaseline means petroleum jelly. In fact, as I was writing the tools and materials section in my new book last week I had to remember, per the publisher's style guide, to refer to my knife as a "craft knife." That just sounds awkward.

To review this knife I decided to make a small cutwork butterfly.

I made a few large butterflies in March for National Nonwovens to display in their booth at spring Quilt Market. This time I thought I'd make a smaller version that could be hung as an ornament or made into a mobile.

First I drew a butterfly shape on freezer paper, ironed it to a double layer of black felt, and cut it out so that I had two black butterflies. I ironed my freezer paper to a piece of brightly colored felt and cut that out, too. 

I placed one black butterfly on my cutting mat and I spent last evening cutting out the interior shapes with my new X-ACTO knife. I like to listen to a good podcast while I'm doing this. This one is about the concept of free, which seems appropriate here, and I found it really thought-provoking.

My new X-ACTO designer series knife has a handle with an especially nice grip that I found comfortable to hold. Having a sharp blade makes all the difference in the ease and accuracy of cutting, just like having a sharp machine needle, so that was nice. I like this knife and it is certainly an upgrade from the dull, rusty-handled, off-brand knife I was using before.

Once I had cut out the interior details on my black butterfly, I used a gluestick to cover the backside of it with glue and then placed it on top of the brightly colored butterly. Then I placed the whole thing on the second black butterfly. I used a zigzag stitch to finish the edges.

I made a little felt body from two layers of black felt, sewed it and turned it right side out, stuffed it firmly, and sewed it in place betweent the wings.  Then I threaded a length of wire through its head and glued felted wool balls to the ends to create little antennae. Ta da!

I was interested to learn that there are all different kinds of blades for X-ACTO knives.  I'm sure people who do paper crafts or stenciling already know about all the blade options, but I had no idea there were so many choices. There are saw blades and scoring blades, fine point and heavy point blades, heavy duty and contoured blades. My Designer Series handle came with a #11 fine blade which worked perfectly well for this project.

X-ACTO has sent me a few blades to give away. The first is their Designer Series Gripster Knife and the second is their Retract-A-Blade Knife. They both seem to have all-purpose blades that would be appropriate for cutting many different kinds of materials.

If you'd like one of these knives leave me a comment on this post (U.S. residents only) and I'll choose two winners at random on Wednesday, September 21, at 9 am. 

 

 

 

Felt Leaf Garland for the Sukkah

When we were searching for a home to buy back in 2005 finding one with a patio where we could put up a sukkah was one of our key requirements (along with a dining room large enough to host a seder). We've put up a sukkah here every fall, two years ago transitioning from a wooden frame to an aluminum pipe frame.

Here is 2006, 2007, 2008

2009 and 2010. We ordered our sukkah kit here.

Finding sophisticated decorations for a sukkah is challenging. I maintain my long-held belief that Martha Stewart Living should do a sukkah and show us how it's done, but until then I am going to make an effort to craft something fresh every year in the hopes that eventually we will have the classiest sukkah in Wellesley (granted, we have one of the only sukkahs in Wellesley).

I started with a garland to drape over one interior wall. To make it, I drew an oak leaf freehand onto freezer paper and cut it out. Here is my template in case you'd like to make a garland, too.

I ironed it onto a selection of felt in fall colors and cut out a total of 24 felt leaves. 

At the bottom of each leaf I use a craft blade to make a small slit, either vertically or horizontally, through which I inserted the tip of a second leaf. I put a dab of craft glue on the leaf tip and pressed it down to hold it in place. 

After connecting all the leaves this way, I took a walk with the baby to collect acorn caps. A dab of E6000 worked to hold a felted wool ball in each cap.

I cut a slit in the last leaves through which I threaded a length of jute twine. Then I used E6000 to glue to acorns on each end where the twine meets the leaf.

Once our sukkah is built I show how it looks inside.

 

Hemostats Explained

Hemostats are my very favorite softie making tool. Also known as surgical forceps, hemostats are a wonderful tool for easily turning softies right side out and for stuffing them firmly. I use my hemostats so much that I've developed a callus on the forefinger of my right hand!

In this short video I demonstrate how I use my hemostats and I show you my hemostat collection, explaining the pros and cons of each pair.  As I mention in the video, hemostats are available for free at hospitals (they come in suture kits and are often thrown away so ask a doctor to save a pair for you!) or you can purchase them online through doll and teddy bear-making websites like this one. And for an in-depth explanation of how to turn a softie right side out, here is my post on turning softies from my Elements of Soft Toy Design series.  

 

 

you didn't think i'd stop at just one

I had to make some more.

In lots of colors.

So much fun, and a little addictive. 

These will be at Art Star in Philadelphia beginning in October as part of their yearly collection and sale of handmade ornaments by indie crafters.  If you'd like to make a bird, too, my tutorial and pattern are free right here. 

 

Little Bird in Flight: A Free Sewing Pattern!

I made a little felt bird in flight and I thought you might like to make one, too. Pretty as ornaments for the holidays, or hanging from a branch for a mobile. Simple to make with a few scraps of felt and some embroidery floss.

Here are some birds made up in different colors.

To make a white bird, you'll need:

a scrap of wool-blend felt, about 6 inches x 12 inches

a tiny scrap of brown wool-blend felt for the beak, about 2 inches x 2 inches

embroidery floss in black, about 18 inches

fiberfill stuffing, about 1 ounce

coordinating all-purpose thread

monofilament or metallic thread to make a loop for hanging

 

Okay, let's get started!

Download the pattern template, print and cut out. From felt, cut two body pieces, adding a 1/4 inch seam allowance and cut two wings and one tail (no seam allowances needed).

Mark and cut a small slit in each body piece.

Make two small folds each wing pieces, like a tuck, and press to hold.

Insert a wing into a body through the slit. Pin. Stitch across to close the slit. Repeat.

Fold the wings up inside the body. Pin the body pieces together. Set your machine to a small stitch length (setting 2 on my machine which is 13 stitches per inch) and stitch around the body, starting and stopping under the tail.

Trim the seam allowance to 1/8 inch. Clip the curves. Turn the bird right side out and stuff firmly. Close the opening with ladder stitch (see my post here for more on how to close an opening).

Press the wings to smooth them out. Pin the tail to the underside of the bird, hiding where the opening was. Stitch in place by hand using small backstitches.

Fold the brown felt in half and press. Place the base of the beak traingle on the fold and cut out (no seam allowance needed). Put a bead of glue along the fold and press the beak to the bird, pinning it in place until the glue dries.

Draw circles for the eyes with a disappearing fabric marker. Use one strand of black embroidery floss to stitch the eyes with satin stitch.

Thread a needle with a single strand of monofilament or metallic thread and take a stitch through the bird's back. Tie off the thread, forming a loop for hanging.

  Set your bird free!

*And if you'd like to try your hand at more fabric bird patterns, there are 16 patterns for birds in my book, The Artful Bird: Feathered Friends to Make and Sew!

 

Summertime Craft: Make a Felt Strawberry

Summer is here and so is strawberry season in New England.  We will be picking strawberries this afternoon when we visit Land's Sake Farm in Weston to pick up our weekly CSA share. 

I'm looking forward to strawberry shortcake, strawberries with whipped cream and a bowl of juicy, tart strawberries at breakfast.

I made some felt strawberries this morning, embellished with some sparkly seed beads, and I thought you might like to make them, too! 

You'll need:

-paper and pencil (I like to use freezer paper for patterns)

-scraps of felt in red and green

-about two dozen seed beads

-craft glue

-extra-strong thread and regular sewing thread

-small wad of stuffing

Instructions:

To make a pattern for the strawberry, draw a half circle with a 4" diameter on a piece of paper and cut it out. Draw a free-form strawberry leaf on paper and cut that out too.

Pin the half-circle to a scrap of red felt and the leaf to a scrap of green felt (or iron if you are using freezer paper).  Cut out the felt. 

Fold the half-circle in half and stitch along the straight side.

Turn right side out and stuff.

Using the extra-strong thread, make a running stitch along the top edge and pull the stitches to gather. Push a bit more stuffing inside, then tie off the thread to hold the gathers in place.

Now it is time to attach the beads.

Thread a needle with a small eye with regular sewing thread.  Insert it through the top of the strawberry, coming out on the side. Thread a seed bead onto the needle, then insert it back down into the strawberry right next to where it came out. 

Continue adding seed beads, one at a time, coming out about an 1/8" away from the last bead, until the entire strawberry is covered.  Tie off the thread hiding the knot near the top of the strawberry.

Squeeze a ring of craft glue along the top of the strawberry.

Place the leaf on top of the glue. Use pins to hold the leaf in place until the glue dries.

Admire your strawberry!

 

 

Free Springtime Craft Tutorial: Felt Daffodils

I thought I would create an easy springtime craft tutorial and came up with these felt daffodils.  I love the bright yellow daffodils that are blooming everywhere now in New England. They are a sure sign that spring really is here, even if it was 32 degrees out this morning!

Make a few felt daffodils and you can have the first hopeful sign of spring on display all year round! These flowers come together fairly quickly.  You should have a small bouquet in under an hour and with very few materials. 

You'll need:

    -scraps of felt in yellow, beige and dark green

    -three lengths of floral wire

    -green floral tape 

    -needle and thread for hand sewing

    -craft glue

    -needle nose pliers

    -an awl or doll needle

First, download and print out this template I made for the flower shapes. 

Trace onto felt and cut out. You'll need two flower pieces and one center piece.

Fold the center piece over and stitch the sides together forming a tube. I did this on the machine, but you could easily do it by hand. Turn the tube right side out.

Sew a running stitch along the bottom of the tube and pull the stitches to gather the bottom. 

Take one petal shape and, folding each petal in half, sew a row of stitches on the back side of all three petals. 

This will add dimension to your flower and make it look more realistic.

Now layer the two petal pieces off set from one another to make a six petaled daffodil.

Place the center piece on top and sew it in place, going through both layers of petals, to secure everything.

With your awl or doll needle poke a hole through the center of the flower.

Take three floral wires and poke them up through the hole into the center of the flower.

With the ends of the floral wire sticking out a bit from the center of the flower, wrap the stem in green floral tape.

Use your needle nose pliers to curl the ends of the floral wires.

Add a dab of craft glue where the base of the flower meets the floral tape to secure the flower in place.

Cut a freeform bit of beige felt and wrap it into the floral tape near the top of the stem to add that brown crinkly bit where the flower bud used to be before it bloomed.

Bend the stem a bit so that it looks the way real daffodil stems look.

Cut a long, thin oval from green felt for a leaf and wrap that onto the stem with a bit more floral tape.

And there you have it.  Make a bouquet for your springtime table or give out individual flowers as favors at your next party. 

Happy spring everyone!