"Stick With Me" - Wool Felt Valentine Monster

 I wanted to share this pattern of a little felt monster I made last year for Valentines day.  I didn't get my blog started soon enough to share it last year, so I figured I would put it on here now!  He's really simple to make.  I cut mine out of red wool felt...a front and back of the body.  I sewed around it using a whipstitch, leaving a little opening for the fiberfill.  I also did a stab stitch through the arms, securing them between the body front and back. I know that it says to cut 4 pieces for the eyes...and you can, but another thing I did, was put a small piece of pipe cleaner bent like a V up and out of the eye-sockets. I then coiled the remaining pipe cleaner and glued on the felt eyes (you could also use googly eyes).  Once the monster is done, cut 2 pieces of felt  for the heart, whip stitching around it and filling it with fiberfill.  Bring the monster hands forward, either gluing or stitching them to the heart.
You can make this alien/monster happy or sad...or a combo of  both.  I called it "stick with me", but there's no saying it can't be "stuck with you" as well!☺
Like I said, it's quick to make,  fun and a good gift for a boy!
Here's the pattern.

Feel free to ask any questions or leave comments!
Enjoy! ♥

When it Rains it Pours!

"When it rains it pours!" my grandma would always say to me when things weren't going her way.  However, sometimes when it rains and pours, it can be the very cause of nothing going your way!
First I want to apologize for the lack of posts lately and offer an explanation for my absence.  My father owns a historical building that did not weather the recent storms.  A severe wind storm peeled back pieces of the roofing and left a historically huge disaster behind.  We were not aware of the damage until after it rained for days, filling the building up like a bucket.  When I first discovered what had happened, I wanted to cry.  Pieces from the 18 ft ceiling had fallen down, and the beautiful hard wood maple floors buckled up about 1 ft off the ground.  The whole building was basically ruined!
My father is out of town on business.  So for the last 2 weeks, I have been dealing with this disaster and a renovation team that is trying to determine if the building is even going to be salvageable.  It has been heart breaking to watch them tear everything out of there and toss it into dumpsters....100 year old doors, the entire original maple floor, all of the contents that we had in there.  The news just keeps getting worse and it looks like our historical building will soon be history.  I can't even image them knocking it down.  It is the 2nd oldest building in our town, and it has been there forever.  I have spent so much of my life in that building. I grew up dancing in there (yes I used to be a dancer haha!). I opened my first business up with my best friend there too.  Lots of good memories!

Anyway, sorry for rambling on.
I have still managed to get some crafting done in between the chaos.  I cut out about 350 wool felt covers for the needle felted hair clips I make on Etsy.  (It was actually kind of therapeutic.  Crafting often can be good therapy!)  I also did some needle felting...nothing helps you distress like stabbing something with a needle a couple thousand times!

I had a baby shower to go to for my cousin this weekend too, so I made her baby girl a matching gift set.  I appliquéd and sewed a onesie dress, two burp clothes, a pacifier clip, and a reversible bonnet.  I made everything the morning of the baby shower and still managed to arrive looking like I've slept and showered recently! =)








So, that's what's been going on with me for the last couple of weeks.  Hopefully, I will have so more free time soon, to put a decent tutorial on here, and catch up on my 870 items I haven't read yet in Google reader!  Wish me luck!

Mr Fickle Felt Funny Bunny is an Easter Hit!

Happy Easter Everyone!

I don't know about you, but I kind of cut it close to the deadline with my Easter sewing project this year. Yesterday I made my daughter and niece a felt bunny. He's no ordinary bunny though. He is Mr. Fickle funny bunny- a faceless bunny that has an attached pouch/egg full of different eyes, noses, lips, teeth, mustache, flowers. hearts, whiskers... etc! The kids can arrange his face however they like!
I was pleased to see this morning that Mr. Fickle was a huge success!
Here are a couple pictures of some faces they made!

The little facial pieces and decorations are stored in an attached pocket and Easter egg!

Here is a picture of my little ones Easter basket this morning!

She has played with her bunny for hours! Yeah! =)

Have a great Easter everybody!

Mommy's Little Helper ♥

I finally listed some needle felted hair clips in my Etsy Shop.  It took me long enough...only about 2 years of procrastinating.
I make hair clips that are covered in wool felt, and sew a little needle felted object on them.  I needed to take some photos for the listing, so I asked Cora for some help.  When I asked her, she said "Sure Mommy.  I'll help you.".  It was bedtime when I asked her...I meant we'd take the pictures in the morning.  So, I went to go brush my teeth, and when I came back into the bedroom, this is what I saw.

She said "I'm ready Mommy!".  I said "Oh my.  That's not quite what I had in mind, but yet a very effective way to display all of your clips at once!".
I love my little helper!

(I did also want to note.  These are my daughters hair clips, not the ones I am selling.  I don't want people to think we put them in our hair before I sell them!☺)

I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream!

As promised, I have come up with a new addition to the wool felt play food.  It's getting a little warmer outside and Cora keeps asking for ice cream, so I let her have it. (Sugar free of course!)

Do you want your own felt ice cream cone?  Well, here is what you will need to make one:

• Wool felt squares (tan for the cone and another color for the ice cream)
• Matching thread for the cone
• Red wool for the cherry, or seed beads/embroidery thread for the sprinkles
• Fiber fill/ poly stuffing
• Scissors
• disappearing ink pen or chalk
• ruler
• Needle and thread (yes hand sewing is involved!)
• Sewing machine (cone can also be sewn by hand if you have no machine)
• Wool Felt Ice Cream Cone Pattern - page1 page2

Let's get started!

First, print and cut out the pattern.  Cut 1 cone piece, 1 scoop circle, and 2 scoop drips (I forgot to show the 2 drips cut in the photo. Sorry!)

Once you have all of the pieces cut, we will get started on making the cone look a little more realistic.  Take your ruler and disappearing ink pen/chalk and mark lines going both directions on the cone.  I chose to start from the edge and mark every 1/2", giving me ten lines.  Do this from each edge for a total of 20 lines.  You can make your lines however far apart you would like them.  I found that 20 lines were not that big of deal to sew by machine, since they are so short.  Oh no, I gave away the next part...we will be sewing along these lines with the matching thread.  Line your sewing machine needle up with your marks and straight stitch on your lines.  I sewed all my lines going one direction first, then all of the lines going the opposite direction next. Try not to pull on the felt while sewing, so it does not distort.  You've made your cone look like a sugar cone, yeah!
Now it's time to make it look like a cone.  Put the right sides of the straight edges together and sew across from top to tip with 1/4" seam allowance.  Turn it right side out.  It should now look like a cone, as in the picture below.

What's a cone without ice cream?  First we are going to make the drip of the scoop.  Lay the 2 drip pieces on top of one another and sew along the edge of the curvy part (do not sew the ends closed).  Sew as close to the edge as you can (about a 1/8 " seam allowance).  Clip any curves that need it and turn inside out.  Now take both ends, opened up flat, and place them right sides together.  This will form a ring.  Sew them together with a 1/4" seam allowance.  Fold back in half and admire your new drip ring!  To attach the ring to the cone, slide it down onto the outside of the cone (matching up the seams), and sew along the inside edge (see photo below).

Now it's time for a scoop of ice cream, and some hand sewing!  I find it easier to do a gather stitch by hand rather than by machine for this next step.  On the big circle piece, do a running stitch along the outside edge.  Double up your thread so it will not break when you cinch everything together.  Leave a tail at the starting and end points so you have a way to pull and tie it all together.  Felt is thick, so just keep moving the fabric all together until it's closed like the second picture (leaving an opening for the stuffing).  Tie the threads in a knot, so it doesn't open back up while stuffing it.  Leave the thread and needle attached.  You will need it to attach to scoop.
Take your fiber fill and stuff the cone and the scoop as full as you can.
The next part is kind of tricky, but you can do it!  Place the scoop on top of the cone, holding it down with your 2 fingers (as in the 4th photo).   Use the same thread you used to cinch the scoop, to attach it to the cone.  Sew the scoop on with a ladder stitch.  Make a stitch right below the stitch line of the drip, then right above into the scoop (click the picture to enlarge it for better viewing).  Stitch like this all along the edge until the entire scoop is attached.

That's it!  You're done!  Now embellish it the way you want.  Make another little circle (like the scoop) to make a cherry, or sew seed beads (or embroidery thread) on for sprinkles.  Just make it age appropriate and safe.  We don't want any little ones choking on their ice cream.

I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial.

Do you want to see more felt play food tutorials?  Let me know what you are interested in seeing.

Please leave any comments or questions below, or contact me via email.

Mushroom Sweater Slippers

I made another pair of sweater slippers for Cora.  She gave her bird ones to her cousin, because she said they were too big for her.  I made this pair a little bit smaller...so they should fit her for a week or so right???  That's OK, because mom can just make more and more!  Not going to happen!  I told her no more until she outgrows them.

I made mushroom slippers per her request. The mushrooms themselves are appliquéd on, but I did needle felt the spots.  She asked if I could make her mushroom's smile.  So, I still have to needle felt the smiley faces on them.    

This sweater was the thickest felt I have ever worked with.  When I was sewing on the soles, it was almost an inch thick under the presser foot.  What a pain!  I am glad they are done.  

I wonder what I'll make tomorrow?

Thirft Store Wool Sweater Finds!

My supply was running low, so I ran to the thrift store today to look for some more wool sweaters.  I didn't do too bad.  I found 12 decent sized sweaters that are just waiting to be felted!  I wish that I had found some brighter colors.  I would like to have some primary rainbow colors to work with, but I'll take what I can get.  They should all felt up nice and thick!
I can't wait to make myself a new pair of slippers!  Mine are showing severe signs of wear.  You know what it's like when kids are around though.  You make everything for them, and eventually get around to making something for yourself...maybe!  =)

Cora's Wool Felt Play Food Collection

Cora has been asking me to make her some more felt play food lately. Like the little spoiled girl needs anything else, right? It's hard to resist those big blinky eyes though! I usually only make her things for the holidays, but she's been trying to behave extra good lately, so I came up with something to add to her collection.
I'll post more about it when I have the tutorial and pattern to share with everyone!

♥ Wool Felt Sweater Slipper Sock Tutorial and Pattern ♥

I have been making wool felt slipper socks for my daughter for the last 5 years.  She and my niece love them, so I wanted to share with everyone how I make them. 
(This tutorial is for personal use only.  I ask that you please do not sell any patterns or sweater slippers that are made from this tutorial.  Thank you! ☺)

Let's get started!

Here is what you will need.

• a felted (fulled) sweater
• scissors
• paper and pencil for making the pattern
• pattern weights and pins
• a sewing machine or a needle and thread if sewing by hand
• a flexible measuring tape and a willing participant to take measurements on
• scrap wool for an applique (optional)
• sewable heat-n-bond or similar for ease of attaching applique (also optional)

Here is a tutorial I wrote on making the pattern:
How to Draft the Wool Sweater Slipper Sock Pattern
(Google docs is glichy sometimes. If files are not available, just put a request of what doc you need in the comments or via email, and I will send you a copy☺)


Once you have your pattern made, lay it out on the sweater.  You want to make sure the sweater you have chosen is big enough for all of the pieces, also to figure out the best layout for the least amount of waste.☺  If the sweater is not big enough, it's not a big deal.  You can always mix and match pieces from other sweaters to complete the project.  For example, use different color soles than the rest of the slipper.  This is a fun thing to do even if the sweater you've chosen is the right size.  Mix and match...make your slippers unique!

Be sure to line up the top edge of the ankle cuff with the sweater ribbing so your slippers will have a nice edge.  It will also enable them to stretch well over your heel when putting them on.

Pin or put weights on the pattern pieces and cut them out.  I usually cut through the 2 layers at once so I end up with mirror images of my pattern.  Just be careful that a seam placement or knit pattern on the opposite side does not differ from the side you are cutting on.  I also make sure that the upper piece and sole are not on the ribbing part of the sweater.  Ribbing is usually wavy and it does not felt like the rest of the sweater.

Another option, depending on the thickness of wool, is to make a double soled slipper for extra cushion.  This is a little more difficult to sew.  If you are not really experienced, you may want to skip it on your first pair.  The sweater I choose was kind of thin, so I choose to double up the sole.
You can also hand sew a leather sole on for added protection.  My daughter just starts to wear out the sole of hers before she needs a new size, so I have never done this.  It would be a good idea for feet that have stopped growing though.  I think it would really extend the life of the slippers.

The following picture shows how I placed my pattern pieces and cut them out. (Do you like my excessive pattern weights?  Hey... Those patterns were going nowhere!)

Now that the pieces are all cut out, it is time to embellish them if you want to. (Unless you want to needle felt a design on them. That can be done later if you place a foam block inside them after they are made.)

I've Never Felt Happier!

I received my order of felt today from Wool Felt Central.  They are having a sale for 20% off until March 7th. 
I had never ordered from there before, but I was very pleased with my purchase.  The colors are pretty true to what they looked like on my monitor and the order shipped quick.  This is what it looked like straight out of the box.
Cora is going to be so excited when she sees all the new colors!  I was so excited to see them too! 
I wish I could just leave it in a pretty pile like that forever, but I can't wait to make something with it.
Oh the possibilities! =)