Dec
16
Tutorial — Quilted Felt Xmas Tree Ornament
Filed Under Crafting, Sewing | Leave a Comment
If you’re looking for the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day post, it’s here.
I’m not sure how it happened, but Christmas is less than 10 days away! I wanted to share a quick tutorial with you for a felt Christmas Tree Ornament. If you’re still decorating, or perhaps you need a hostess gift, this little ornament might be just the ticket. And it only takes about 30 minutes to make!
What you need:
Felt. See below.
Beads. 2-4 for the “trunk”, 5 fairly large ones to go between the “branches”, 1 to serve as the “tree topper”, and 15-20 seed beads to make the hanger.
Needle and thread.
This template. (PDF)
What to do:
If you have 3mm felt or thicker, you only need one piece. Most fulled sweaters will be thick enough as is, but all I had on hand was this thin green felt. I decided to take two pieces and quilt them together using random straight lines.
Cut out the templates, and pin them to your felt. Then cut out the felt pieces.
Thread your needle with a longish piece of thread (doubled over) and tie in a knot.
If you’re like me and used two pieces of felt quilted together and you actually care which side is up, then insert the needle into the top of the largest star (if you don’t have a top, then just pick a side and poke), and pull it all the way through. (This hides the knot on the inside)
Next thread your “trunk beads” onto the needle followed by one seed bead and pull it all the way through.
Insert your needle into the trunk bead closest to the seed bead, not the seed bead, and poke it back through the center of the felted star. Pull taut. (I know, “taut” looks weird, but I looked it up and it is right… as we always tell the kids “English is hard”.)
Thread one of the “branch separating beads” and the next largest star onto the stack. Repeat for all remaining stars.
Add your “tree topper” bead. I chose this cute red star, but I have also used large round yellow beads. You can use anything you like, or nothing at all.
Now add the rest of the seed beads. I have these sterling silver seed beads left from ages ago, and I really like them for this application.
After all your seed beads are strung, insert your needle back into your tree topper bead from the top (or into the top star “branch” if you didn’t use a topper bead). Pull your thread all the way through and you should have a loop.
Push the needle back through a couple of “branches” and their separating beads and knot off.
And you’re done! I’ve sold I don’t know how many of these in my etsy shop (now closed), so I hope you enjoy making your own. I’d love to see them, if you make one!
Dec
11
Giveaway Day!
Filed Under Giving, Quilting, Sewing | 109 Comments
Twice per year SewMamaSew.com hosts a Giveaway Day. A whole bunch of bloggers get giveaways together, and SewMamaSew compiles a big list. Or in this case, there are multiple lists for different categories. And this giveaway day is actually a giveaway week! You’ll want to head over there to find all the other give aways! But not yet….
Today, I have 4 patterns to give away. All of them are uncut. Some are extras that I won’t use, some are from Sewing Summit swag, and one is a pattern I bought forever ago and have never managed to make. But it’s so cute I think someone should try it out.
The first is a much sought after copy of Simplicity 3835 Built By Wendy top. I bought it as an extra ages ago when I had a very lucky day! It’s the smaller size range from size 4-12. I have hunted high and low for a second copy in the larger size, but have not found it.
Next up are two patterns left from my Sewing Summit swag. I know that I will not have occasion to make either of these, so I’m offering them up to someone with a little girl of their own to sew for.
One is an The Maddie Bee apron style top from Brassy Apple. So cute. (Sizes 2 – 7)
And the other is a modkid pattern… emma. An adorable dress with lots of layers that reminds me of a butterfly costume for some reason. (Sizes 2T – 7)
And finally, The old quilting pattern that I never got to, but someone should! It would be an adorable wall hanging in a newborn’s nursery. It’s the first block from the Giraffic Park series quilt by McKenna Ryan called “Tippy Top“. And in my humble opinion the cutest block from the series… but I have a thing for giraffes.
I’m going to give away each pattern as a separate prize, so I will randomly draw 4 winners after December 16 (Friday), 2011 at 7pm CST. All you have to do to enter is leave me a comment telling me what one of your favorite blogs is and why. (For a second entry, leave another comment telling me one way I can improve my blog.)
First name drawn will get to choose which pattern they want, then the 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Feel free to leave your first choice in your comment. And this one is open to everyone. Even overseas.
I hope you are all as excited about this as I am!
Dec
9
Another short update on Alexis’ new quilt. Quilting has commenced. When I started this project I thought for sure I would just tie it (which I had never done before), then after Sewing Summit, I thought I might try free-motion quilting it. But as you can see, I opted for the current trend of big-stitch quilting with perle cotton.
I think I like it, but I’m not sure.
What do you think?
PS — stay tuned for Monday’s Giveaway Day! I’ve got a surprise for someone!
Dec
7
Wordless Wednesday
Filed Under Cooking, Painting | Leave a Comment
Dec
4
It’s raining! After such a drought, I’m not about to complain about a rainy weekend. So instead, I’ll baste Alexis’ quilt. Yeah, that’s the batting. I have a hair brained idea about the top. I’ll let you know how it works out.