Felt Ningago Keychain

I woke up at 6:00 Monday morning with an idea. I must dream in crafts, because I often wake up with some scathingly brilliant or totally lame idea… my dreams don’t always transfer well to wakefulness! Anyway, I knew I wanted to add something to Bug’s Art Supply Messenger Bag, and somewhere in the night I decided to make a key chain of sorts instead of appliqueing a design on the bag. It didn’t take me long to decide what I wanted to make. Bug Loves Legos, and is currently into the Ninjagos.

So, I drew out a pattern based on his favorite character, Kai. I am so pleased with the way it turned out and I think Bug is going to love it! Do you have someone in your life that is into Legos? If you do, this might be the perfect gift to whip up… just in time for the holidays 🙂

The original post, Bug’s Christmas Gift, can be found HERE.

Materials:
Felt
Embroidery floss
2 split rings (key rings)
Copy of the pattern

Note: If you haven’t done so already, you may want to read How to Cut Out Felt.

Note: Our stitch glossary can be found HERE.

Make a copy of the pattern.

Cut out the pieces out of felt. Note: When you cut out the hood, your background felt will become the face of the ninja. Pick out the background color you want for the face.

Begin by laying out all the pattern pieces on the front background.

Remove all the pieces except the arms and hands. Pin or staple them in place. Sew the hands on using a running stitch and 1 strand of floss. Sew the arms over the hands with a blanket stitch and 2 strands of floss.

Sew on the body using a blanket stitch and 2 strands of floss.

Position the hood on the body. Using a disappearing marker, mark the opening of the hood. Remove the hood, and draw on the eye brows and eyes using the pattern as a guide. Using a stem stitch and 3 strands of floss, embroider the eye brows. Using a detached chain stitch and 3 strands of floss, add eyes.

Sew on the hood using a running stitch and 2 strands of floss around the outer edge of the hood, and using a blanket stitch and 2 strands of floss, sew around the hood opening.

Add the chest detail: Add the belt, then the ties, using a running stitch and 2 strands of floss. Sew on the small face using a running stitch and 2 strands of floss. Add the eyes, nose and mouth using a straight stitch and 2 strands of floss. Using a stem stitch and 6 strands of floss, add the roping. (Note: I didn’t get a photo at this stage

If you wish to add initials to the back of the key chain, do it now using a stem stitch and 6 strands of floss.

With wrong sides together, blanket stitch the front to the back using 2 strands of floss. Cut out a small circle for the key rings. (This will become an eyelet.) Using a blanket stitch and 2 strands of floss, embroider around the entire eyelet. Keep your stitches close together to give strength to the opening. To reinforce. you can go around the circle a second time.

 

Put one of the key rings through the eyelet. Put a second key ring through the first and attach it to a bag, keys, etc.

“Go Ninja, Go Ninja, GO!” Okay… I know this song is for a VERY different group of ninjas, but I couldn’t resist this piece of nostalgia 😉 Ya’ gotta admit, it’s a hoot 🙂