Felt Decorations

This project uses stranded embroidery cotton to embroider on felt.

Materials required:

Felt

Stranded embroidery cotton

Sewing needle (large eye and sharp point)

Fibrefill stuffing

Scissors

String (4 inches/10cm for each decoration)

Pen/pencil (to mark outline of shapes)

Template (to cut felt shapes)

Scrap fabric (to practise stitches)

Uses:

This project can be adapted to a variety of uses:

• Pincushion (useful for the course)
• Wardrobe/drawer freshener (stuffing could include dried lavender, potpourri, or cedar as a moth repellant)
• Christmas tree decorations
• Keyring charm
• Mobile decoration
• planets of the solar system (would need to make different sizes)
• sun, moon and clouds
• birds, fish, animals

Basic stitches:

Using lengths of stranded embroidery cotton no longer than 12 inches/30 cm, divide into three strands. 

Practise the stitches on scrap material. 

Running stitch

Make the stitches and the gaps between the stitches the same length.

Try to work each stitch individually rather than gathering several stitches at once.

Double running stitch

Work a further row of running stitches, working these new stitches in the gaps between the original stitches. 

This is also known as Holbein stitch as it is seen in Tudor portraits painted by the artist Holbein. 

Whipped running stitch and Threaded running stitch

Using a contrasting colour, loop this through the existing stitches (not the fabric).

Instructions:

1. Cut shapes using template

2. Cut two shapes for each item (back and front).

3. The shapes do not need to be the same colour.

4. Embroider each shape, for example “awake” and “asleep” face on each side

5. Join the two sides with blanket stitch, leaving 2 - 3 inches (5 cm) open in order to stuff lightly.

6. Join the remaining edges to complete the shape.

7. Thread the string between the two sides and tie a knot to use as a hanging loop.

 

Reviewing the project:

1. What guided your choice of colours?

2. Which stitches did you choose and why?

Discussion topics:

1. What did you enjoy most? What did you not enjoy?

2. Did you find it useful to practise the stitches first?

3. What would you do differently if you were starting this project again?

Images: stuffed felt decoration — awake face and sleepy face