Embroidering

 

EDIT: This posting was originally published March 9, 2009, but I thought it was worth moving to the top of the blog again! The kids loved these, and it is a project quite easy for children that are comfortable with a needle and thread to do. Make a dozen decorated for Easter, and a dozen for the play kitchen. 

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!

Sending everyone a "felt heart", um, we mean a"heartfelt" wish for a Happy Valentine's Day!

Fondly,
Kimara and Michelle

Like all our blocks, this one was made to fit a 6” x 6” but can be enlarged or reduced to meet your needs. (Note: I forgot to add the little groupings of 3 tiny flowers on the pattern. They are French Knots made with 3 strands of floss.) You can find the pattern HERE or in the FREE Applique Patterns. Enjoy!

http://www.weefolkart.com
Copyright © Wee Folk Art 2008 - 2010. All rights reserved.

All photos, text and patterns are copyright protected. You may not copy, reproduce or redistribute any material found on WeeFolkArt.com without written permission. Wee Folk Art retains all rights.
 

This has been a great week for us. We've gotten many emails and links from friends sharing the projects they've made using our patterns. When people post one of our patterns on a blog, we link to it on Facebook. But many of readers do not have blogs, so we get emails and photos instead.

Today I would like to share a project that Marta made using Our House applique block. I think the reason I'm so drawn to it is because of how she personalized it. I'll let you read part of her email:

My name is Marta and I am from a little town near Barcelona, Spain.

I just want to thank you for your big generosity sharing your beautiful patterns that inspire a beginner like me. Your explanations are so clear and easy that I feel I can make a project.

This week I finished my house. I started making your design, but then my daughter Sara asked me if she could keep it when I finish, and then I decided to make our house and I changed some things. The roof is red, the house is white, the chimney has a hat, the two cats that visit our grass,... I got dared and I started with my own details, and I send you my final result (in addition, it was my first serious experience with the sewing machine to make the frame).

Obviously I am very proud and Sara is very happy with her little house hanging in front of her while she's doing her homework. And that's why I write to you, because you started this blend of happiness, satisfaction and self-confidence for next projects thousands miles away with your generosity.

Well, I must admit we are pretty proud, too. We are so happy that our patterns and projects find their way into the homes of so many friends around the world! If we ever need to justify why we do what we do, we just need to share the myriad of emails we receive.

So, to Marta, thank you so much for sharing with us. You did a lovely job. And to Sara... you are a lucky girl. I know it must make you smile every time you look at your house. And to ALL our readers... think of our projects as a starting point. Use your own creativity and visions to make all our projects your own :)

What a busy time in the Thicket. Britta is bustling around readying the house for a Valentines Party she is throwing for some friends. She just finished this lovely banner with flowering vines meandering over a Valentine's heart. Although cold weather is still evident throughout the Thicket, hearts are warm with Valentine Cheer. There is no doubt that love is in the air!  

Here is a lovely Valentine Banner displayed prominently in the gnome's home. Make your own banner to share with your gnome friends or for a doll house. Haven't got either? Not to worry. The applique and embroidery can be used on any project that needs a little Loving Embellishment. The directions for the Gnome Valentine Banner can be found HERE or with our FREE Patterns. Hope you and your gnomes Enjoy!

This banner was designed to fit a branch in our Gnome Home. You may wish to customize the banner to fit a preexisting branch in your Gnome Home or add an angled twig to hang the banner as is.

Materials:
Pattern
9" x 12" piece of wool felt
wool felt scraps
6 strand embroidery floss
embroidery needle

Directions:
1] Make copies of the pattern.

2] Using the pattern, cut out 2 banner pieces and 1 heart.

3] Using the pattern as a guide, place heart on the front piece of the banner. Use a blanket stitch and 3 strands matching floss to attach heart to banner. Using the pattern as a guide, embroider the banner.

4] Place wrong sides of banner pieces together. Pin in place. Use 3 strands of embroidery floss and a a running stitch, sew along the top stitching line and the bottom stitching line. This will create a casing for hanging. Using 3 strands of embroidery floss, blanket stitch sides and bottom below bottom stitch line.

OUR "DISCLAIMER"! We are sharing patterns we have designed and made for our own children, families and friends. Every effort is made to share information in a clear and accurate manner. DUH, right? But we are only human, although I often long for superhuman powers, and as humans, mistakes will be made. We offer preemptive apologies for any aforementioned mistakes. Please let us know via comments or emails if you stumble upon a mistake or if you encounter directions that leave you scratching your head! We will rectify the situation as soon as humanly possible! Before beginning any of our patterns, think of yourself as a Beta Tester. We do not have a staff, editors or even volunteers that are crafting our projects before we share them. YOU are the first to have a go at them. As such, other than a heartfelt apology, we accept no responsibility for mistakes made, or in an extreme circumstance, for time or supplies wasted. Please tackle our projects in the same manner that we are sharing them, with a spirit of goodwill and global friendship!

http://www.weefolkart.com
Copyright © Wee Folk Art 2008 - 2010. All rights reserved.

All photos, text and patterns are copyright protected. You may not copy, reproduce or redistribute any material found on WeeFolkArt.com without written permission. Wee Folk Art retains all rights.

We are always encouraging our readers to use our applique patterns to meet your own needs. I have a little wall with shaker pegs where I hang my Easy Cotton Shawls. I wanted a little something above the pegs... something that added a little color and a lot of fun. I crafted a banner using our Running Kitty and Running Mouse. I added a few funky flowers, and a fun, tie-dyed border, and came up with combination that I love. Bug noticed it as soon as he came in the room. All the grandbabies were "oohing" and "ahhing" over it, and immediately noticed that it was like the cat and mouse running up our stairs. Leave it to Bug to say, "Say, Gammy. You need to paint flowers on the stairs for them to be more beautiful like this." Hmmm... I think he is right!

The completed size of our Cat and Mouse Banner is 20" x 7", but can easily be adapted to fit a different space. Also, although I've included a pdf with a couple of cloud shapes and some flower patterns, let your imagination run wild and embellish your banner any way you like. The directions and patterns for the Cat and Mouse Banner can be found HERE or with our FREE Patterns. Enjoy!

Do you have a wide but shallow spot in your house that needs a little "something"? Try making a long, skinny banner to fill the spot with some playful happiness. For this banner, we combined our Running Kitty and Running Mouse Appliques, but use your imagination and our applique blocks to create your own banner! The finished size of our Cat and Mouse Banner is 20" x 7" but you can adapt the size to fit any space you'd like to fill!

BTW... Directions for the Easy Cotton Shawls pictured above can be found HERE.

(Original blog for the Cat and Mouse Banner can be found HERE.)

Materials:
wool felt piece 6" x 18" for background in blue
wool felt piece 3 1/2" x 18" for grass in green 
material for border and backing
felt pieces for appliques
embroidery floss
pattern: running kitty
pattern: running mouse
pattern: flowers and clouds

NOTE: You may notice some discrepancies between directions I am giving and the photos; specifically, when I tell you to applique and embroider . I kept changing the pattern, so the photos don't always match the directions. (Example, in the photo there are flowers appliqued on the banner before I tell you to do that.) I learned from my mistakes. I really did not want to redo the project to match the directions, so... in this case... do as I say, not as I did :)

1] Make copy of patterns.

2] Cut out cat and mouse using patterns as a guide. To make the grass, simply draw a wavy line down the length of the 3 1/2" x 18" piece of green wool felt which is being used for the grass, mimicking rolling hills, cut it out along this line. Using 3 strands of floss, blanket stitch the grass to the banner along the wavy hill edge. Sew the grass to the banner along the remaining 3 sides close to the edge using a running stitch. The running stitch will become part of the seam allowance. (Sorry, no photo of the grass by itself, but use this photo for ideas.)

3] Using photos as a guide, position cat and mouse on the 6" x 18" piece of felt. There is no template for the exact positioning of the cat and mouse. There will be 1/2" seam around the entire piece of felt so do not position the cat, mouse or flowers in the seam allowance. Using the patterns as a guide, applique the cat and mouse to the banner. Note: do not add flowers or clouds until the border has been sewn on.) (Sorry, no photo of only the cat, mouse and banner. Use this completed banner for placement ideas.)

4] To add the border, cut strips of fabric 2" wide. Pin a strip of border to both short ends of the felt banner, with right sides together. Allow the strips to overhang a little. Sew border to banner using a 1/2" seam.

5] Iron the seam flat, with the seam allowance lying on the border, not the felt. (Note: excessive heat can shrink the felt. Try not to overheat the felt.

6] Turn the banner over, and using a straight edge, trim the strips so they are even with the upper and lower edge of the banner.

7] Attach the top and bottom borders using the method described above. The strips should over hang the attached side borders.

8] Iron the seam flat, with the seam allowance lying on the border, not the felt.

9] Turn the banner over, and using a straight edge, trim the strips so they are even with the side edge of the banner.

10] Referring to the photos, and using the appliques and embroidery stitches found on the flower and cloud pattern, add flowers and clouds. Note: just use the pattern and photos for suggestions. Be creative and embellish the banner in any manner you find pleasing.

11] To finish the banner, lay the banner on the backing material, with right sides together. Pin the banner to the backing so the backing fabric extends beyond the banner. When placing pins, make sure they do not extend beyond the banner, since you will be cutting along the edge.

12] Cut the backing using the banner as a guide. Doing it in this matter instead of cutting a banner piece before hand, guarantees the backing is exactly the same size as the banner front. DO NOT remove the pins.

13] Sew the backing to the banner using 1/2" seams, pivoting at the corners. Leave a 3" opening at one of the ends.

14] Trim the corners to remove bulk and turn the banner right side out.

15] Iron the border flat.

16] Slip stitch the opening closed.

17] To hang, pin to the wall using straight pins, concealed on the back of the banner near the top.

OUR "DISCLAIMER"! We are sharing patterns we have designed and made for our own children, families and friends. Every effort is made to share information in a clear and accurate manner. DUH, right? But we are only human, although I often long for superhuman powers, and as humans, mistakes will be made. We offer preemptive apologies for any aforementioned mistakes. Please let us know via comments or emails if you stumble upon a mistake or if you encounter directions that leave you scratching your head! We will rectify the situation as soon as humanly possible! Before beginning any of our patterns, think of yourself as a Beta Tester. We do not have a staff, editors or even volunteers that are crafting our projects before we share them. YOU are the first to have a go at them. As such, other than a heartfelt apology, we accept no responsibility for mistakes made, or in an extreme circumstance, for time or supplies wasted. Please tackle our projects in the same manner that we are sharing them, with a spirit of goodwill and global friendship!

This is the little mouse that is running up our stairs. The kitty had been on the stairs for a couple of years when Bug decided it should be chasing a mouse. So, tah dah, a mouse! I like to think they are in a well spirited, playful game of chase, and once "tagged", the mouse turns around a chases the kitty! (Although, personally, I've yet to see that happen... but it might!) Anyway, here is the applique of our Running Mouse. Perhaps a little plain on his own, BUT, next week I'll share something I made with the kitty and the mouse that has a bit more pizazz.

This mouse does not fit well on a 6" x 6" block... it needs to be a little longer, but the proportions are the same. As always, it can be enlarged or reduced to meet your needs. If you would like the Running Mouse Applique Block it can be found HERE or with our FREE Appliques. Enjoy!

A few weeks ago I share pics of our playroom. On the stairway, there is a painting of a kitty chasing a mouse... all in good fun :) When the children we very little, and low to the ground, they crawled up and down the stairs, putting them at eye level with the kitty and mouse. It became a ritual, when passing the cat, to stroke it and say "Hello, Kitty". I always knew one day I would "immortalize" our kitty and mouse by stitching them into something. Over the next few days I will share the project I made.

But for today, I am simply sharing the applique block for the cat. It is 6" tall, like most of our applique blocks, but longer. As always, this can be enlarged or reduced to meet your needs. The pattern for the Running Kitty Applique Block can be found HERE or with our FREE Appliques. Enjoy!

Watch the next few days for our mouse applique and the project I made with them.

One easy way to herald in any Holiday, is to simply set the table with Holiday themed napkins and napkin rings. Here are my go-to napkins... the old Rip and Tears. Easy and fast to make. Then, I reworked a heart motif that I had used last year for a necklace and brooch, and fashioned felt heart shaped napkin rings. Buying 1 1/8 yards of fabric will give you 4 18" square napkins.

Materials:
Cranberry Wool Felt
Rose Wool Felt
Off White Wool Felt
Cranberry Embroidery floss
Green Embroidery floss
1 1/8 yard Valentine print fabric
Copy of Pattern

Napkin Rings: (Makes 1 napkin ring)

1] Make a copy of the pattern and use it to cut felt as follows:
    2 large hearts - cranberry
    1 strap - cranberry
    1 medium heart - rose
    1 small heart - off white

2] Using 3 strands of cranberry floss, blanket stitch small heart to medium heart. Transfer flower design to small heart. Using 6 strands cranberry floss, embroider flower on white heart using a lazy daisy stitch. Using 6 strands green floss, stem stitch stem, and use detached chains to add leaves.

3] Attach medium heart to large heart with 6 strands of cranberry floss using a small running stitch.

4] Using 3 strands of cranberry floss, sew a running stitch along the 2 long sides of the strap. This will help it from stretching out of shape during use.

5] Following the pattern placement, pin the strap to the back heart. The strap will bow. This allows room for the napkin. Make sure the strap is right up to the heart's edge.

6] Pin the embroidered heart to the heart backing with wrong sides together. Using 3 strands of cranberry floss, blanket stitch the front to the back. Make sure you are stitching through all 3 layers when you come to the strap.

Napkins:

Follow the directions for the Rip and Tear Napkins found HERE. 1 1/8 yards of fabric will make four 18" square napkins.

Assembly:
Grab the napkin by the center and thread through the napkin ring so the bottom of the heart is pointing to the raveled edge of the napkin. The napkin ring should rest in the middle of the napkin.