Hello there! It's been so long since my last post that I actually couldn't figure out how to get into my Blogger account! It's taken me most of the morning to get to this point and after many attempts and a google search, I found a post saying it might be helpful to switch the internet server I'd been using, and voila, it worked!
Anyway, now that I've got things sorted, I have a quick and easy project to share with you. It's an appliqued owl hanging ornament made from scrap felt, a couple of brads, which are used as eyes, and a few tiny star sequins (totally optional).
● Brads are otherwise known as brass fasteners, butterfly clips or split pins, and they're mainly used to secure multiple sheets of paper together ●
These are suitable for sewists with a basic knowledge of hand sewing. Finished ornaments measure about 3 x 3 inches.
🌼 Scraps of felt
🌼 Matching embroidery thread
🌼 Light Effects embroidery thread for ornament loop and accents
🌼 2x 5mm metal brads
🌼 Dressmaker's scissors, and a sharp pair of embroidery scissors, an awl
🌼 Disappearing ink marker and ruler
🌼 Pins and needles
🌼 Optional: 3x tiny silver star sequins
🌼 Click here to download the pattern template.
● Prep ●
➸ Set your printer at 100% and print pattern templates onto
regular printer paper. There’s no need
for re-sizing unless you’d like to enlarge or minimize the outcome of the
project.
➸ Cut out paper pattern pieces.
●🌼I've included two Outer Eye templates - choose the design you'd like to use.
➸ Use a large needle to pierce the eye dots on the Body, Outer Eyes and Inner Eyes paper templates.
➸ Pin
pattern pieces onto felt. Cut around each pattern piece, using a
dressmaking scissors to cut out the larger pieces and a pair of embroidery
scissors to cut out the smaller ones.
● Transfer the Eye dots from the paper templates (Body, Outer and Inner Eyes) onto corresponding felt with your disappearing ink marker. (A.)
● Insert the tip of an awl (or the tip of one end of your embroidery scissors) into the dot in the center of the Inner Eye, then insert it into the dot in the center of the Outer eye, creating a hole through each circle. Insert a brad into the hole. Repeat with the other Inner Eye and Outer Eye. You now have a pair of Eye Posts. (B.)
● Insert the tip of the awl into one of the eye dots on the main Body of the owl. Place the pointed end of one of the Eye Posts into the hole and then repeat with the opposite side. (C.)
● Split the post and flatten each pin onto the back of the felt. (D.)
●🌼For the following steps, refer to the Placement Guide (Base) template to help you determine how all the pieces are assembled ●
●🌼I've used a single strand of regular embroidery thread when stitching the pieces onto the base, but have doubled the strand when using the Light Effects thread when stitching on the accents to add more depth. Keep your stitches small, neat and evenly spaced as this will ensure a nice, clean finish on your project.
● Position the Beak onto the Owl's face, then applique it in place using small straight stitches. (A.)
● Position the Tail onto the lower body, placing the top edge of the tail behind the body. Applique the base of the body onto the tail. (B.)
● The back view. (C.)
● Use your marker to draw four little lines onto the tail. Stitch each line using the Light Effects embroidery thread. (D.)
● Refer to the Placement Guide and position the Branch onto the lower part of the Owl's body. Use your marker to draw the owl's claws on. (A.)
● Pin branch in place and stitch the claws on using the Light Effects embroidery thread (two or three strands of thread together). (B.)
● Mark four lines on the owl's chest and then add a the lines across his forehead. Stitch with Light Effects embroidery thread (two or three strands together). (C. and D.)
● Position the Placement Guide (Base) paper template onto one of the two cut out felt Bases. Use a couple of pins to mark the center line at the top and bottom of the base. This will become the front facing piece and the pins will help with the placement of the moon. (A.)
● Position the Moon onto the front facing piece using the guide for placement. (B.)
● Stitch the inside curve of the moon onto the base. (C.)
● Now position the owl onto the base, laying it over the moon as shown in the guide. (D.)
● Stitch the outline of the owl's body and tail onto the base, then stitch the branch on. Place the leaves onto the end of the branch and stitch on with a single stitch in the center of each one.
●🌼Optional - stitch a few sequin stars onto the base felt. (A.)
●🌼Another option is to cut tiny slits around the outer eye to add some dimension. (B.)
● Mark the center of each base (front and back) using the pins as you did earlier. (C.)
● Cut a length of Light Effects thread to measure about 8 inches. Fold thread in half and make a knot close to the cut ends.
● Stitch the knotted end of the loop onto the back of the front base piece, centering it beneath the pin. (D.)
● Blanket stitch around the outer edges using the Light Effects thread. You've now completed your little hanging owl ornament!
