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Felt Easter Eggs
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EDIT: Please note: The original pdf for this pattern needed changes. If you made a copy of the pattern before 4/3/09 at 11:00 a.m. est please download the revised pattern. The old pattern instructed you to only cut 1 egg piece instead 2... and that just wouldn't work! Also, there are 2 different sized eggs on the pattern, which are now labeled "small egg" and "large egg".
This is the last egg project of the week. If you're not into making eggs out of roving, then try some of these Traditional Felt Eggs. VERY easy to make. Copy the pattern then you simply take 2 egg pieces, blanket stitch them together, leave an opening at the bottom, stuff and finish blanket stitching them closed. You can leave them plain or add embroidery or fabric paint to decorate. I did a combination. Although you can paint or embroider the eggs before you stitch them together, if you want a uniform pattern around the egg, wait until after it has been stuffed. The pattern includes 2 different sized eggs. The smaller eggs will fit in a standard egg carton. Perfect size if you'd like to make a dozen white or brown eggs for the play kitchen! There are no additional directions since it is very straightforward, but the pattern is available in the FREE Open Pattern section. Enjoy!
FYI... If you can't tell from the photo you are either being very kind or I did a remarkable job of camouflaging... I really am puff paint challenged! I always felt like my embroidery flowed like paint... thank goodness I was wrong! I was all thumbs as I tried to transfer my mental image to the eggs. So... there are smudges here and blobs there. Alas, not perfect, but the colors are still lovely, right? And if you squint your eyes just a wee bit, you can hardly notice the imperfections. Ah, we all need to be humbled occasionally!
Here from the Crafty Crow. I love these. I'm going to make some soon :) It definitely beats the plastic egg look :) Thanks!
Two of my favorite things are felt and the blanket stitch so I love this. But I have a question for you. I usually embroider before I stuff because I don't know how to get my knotted thread inside something once it's stuffed. Do you still knot it and if so, how do you hide the knot? Say, for example, you were going to add button eyes to a stuffed felt bear. How would you do that? Thanks, Kimara!
Patty
Patty
Whenever possible, I do embroider on a flat surface. Obviously, much easier to handle. BUT don't be afraid to embroider on stuffed projects. What I normally do (and perhaps I'll soon add a tutorial on this) is make a very small knot and when I pull my needle through I jiggle the knot until it pops in. Most fabrics are forgiving of small holes, and with the felt it you gently rub the area where the knot went in, it becomes all but invisible. I usually make this knot an inch or two away from where I want to sew something on and have my needle "travel" through the inside of the stuffed object allowing the knot to become tangled in the stuffing. Hope that makes sense without seeing it. Also, another way I use is to not knot the thread, and again put my needle into the object about an inch away from where I want to sew. When I come up at the desired spot, say under the eye, I make a couple of very small tack stitches. Your thread is knotted securely now, and you can go back to the tail that is sticking out, pull slightly, clip it close to the object, then when it's clipped, the tail pulls into the object like a worm! Hope that helps!
Kimara
Wee Folk Art Publisher
Thank you so much for explaining how to do this! I'm going to have to give it a try now.
Patty
I suppose I should have added to finish, reverse the process. You can make a small knot about an inch away from your last stitch, and pull the thread through your stuffed object, wiggling the thread to help the knot pop through. Let your needle travel in the fluff another inch before you bring it up and clip it close to the object. Or if you can discretely make 1 or 2 tack stitches (a very small straight stitch) on object, insert your needle back into the object where you finished your last stitch, let it travel in the stuffing for an inch, bring it back out and clip it close to the fabric.
Kimara
Wee Folk Art Publisher
We have egg allergies in the house so we never eat eggs. Every year I dye eggs to have the Easter look. I always feel guilty throwing them out after the holiday. Your eggs are a wonderful substitue. I'm going to make a dozen and let my children paint them. And I think the blobs and globs just add to the charm. Thanks for sharing the pattern.
Same in our household. We've done the same thing so we can color eggs but I think the kids would just as happy decorating these. My oldest has started embroidering and I think she'd really enjoy this and the younger ones can paint them.
After seeing this very cute tutorial, I say easter crafting is officially open! Thank you Kimara!
These look easy enough that I think I can do them. But I don't have your selection of colors. You must have an incredible stash! And you are far too hard on yourself. What you think is messy I would strive for. Hehe.
Kimara
Wee Folk Art Publisher