Fun Felt Toys

When I scrolled through my Pinterest pages a few days ago to find images of the button-down shirt pillows  for my last post, I came across several projects that caught my attention—again. I printed several of them, including these wool scrap pincushions from Better Homes and Gardens. And this one, also from BHG.

Then I rooted through my stash and found some hoarded felt and got busy.

How’d I do?

I started with the heart pincushions. I cut out a heart shape free-hand and then stacked it on a variety of colors and cut out more of them so I could mix and match in assembly.

While I was cutting—I tend to do things assembly-line-style—I also cut out a couple of daisy-type flowers, two different sizes, and a tulip.

I assembled the hearts first and used a simple blanket stitch around the edge. As the tiny pillow neared completion I stuffed in little bits of fiber fill. I tacked a small circle of felt on a larger circle of felt for the flower. Then I snipped notches in the larger circle to make the petals and attached the little flower to the heart.

For the daisies, I found out I have to stuff the petals as I go, and next time I won’t make the base of the petal so skinny.

As suggested in the BHG pins, I attached a ribbon to the center back of each of the hearts and flowers. They suggest tying one to the handle of a sewing basket. I also suggest they can be tied to the arm of your sewing machine, or for hand-work, you can tie it around your wrist.

After the original shapes were complete, my imagination was running pretty rampant and I made a block which will be a dandy toy for a tot. I started with flowers on two of the sides, then a butterfly seemed appropriate for the garden-theme.

A caterpillar inches along a little branch. It’s one of those camo caterpillars with a fake eye at the tail end so predators can’t tell if they’re coming or going.

A friend is a fan of frogs, so I came up with this guy for another panel. I was very pleased that everyone recognized it as a frog.

And on one of the pictures above you can see I put a little blue bird on the last panel.

I wanted a ladybug on one panel, but I was manning my booth at the flea market and I didn’t have any black felt with me. But lo and behold, I came across a box full of scraps, some already cut into quilt pieces and there was a small stack of felt, including black, in the mix so now I could make my ladybug. I just love her.

If you’re handy with a needle, you can easily craft your own and show friends or family how to do it. However, if you’re someone who doesn’t even know which end of the needle to thread I can turn this into a tutorial that will show you how. Just ask.

I have one more week at the flea market and then I’ll put these on etsy. Or maybe I’ll put a kit on etsy and you can sew your own. If that’s something you’d like, let me know and I can certainly put them together for you.

Easy Peasy.

If you want to keep up with my next project, follow me. And “like” my Jan Made It facebook page while you’re at it.

I’ve shared this post on:

• Homemaker on a Dime Creative Bloggers’ Party & Hop #98
• Elizabeth & Co.: Be Inspired Features and Link Party #55
• Or So She Says: Link Party #21
• Suzy’s Sitcom Commercial Break Thursday Craft Idea Link List

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