Saturday 30 November 2019

Felt Fox & Badger Brooches PDF Tutorial

UPDATE: these tutorials are now available in my shop and in my Patreon pattern library.

Subscribe for a small monthly fee and you'll get access to a growing library of PDF patterns and tutorials, with an email whenever I add a new project. You can cancel any time. 

Click here to check out my Patreon page and sign up!

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Sew a pair of cute woodland animals: a fox and a badger.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/757621111/new-fox-badger-pdf-patterns-felt-brooch

The pattern download includes clear step-by-step instructions for sewing the fox and badger (including lots of photos!), plus three easy-to-print sizes of the templates (the size shown in the photos and two larger ones).

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/757621111/new-fox-badger-pdf-patterns-felt-brooch

The tutorial shows you how to turn your finished felt animals into cute brooches to pin to an autumn sweater or winter coat, but I think these little guys would also make adorable ornaments for your Christmas tree! Just add a loop of ribbon instead of a brooch clasp and, ta-da!, one woodland animal decoration.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/757621111/new-fox-badger-pdf-patterns-felt-brooch
 https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/757621111/new-fox-badger-pdf-patterns-felt-brooch

You could also use the fox and badger to embellish other things, either by using them as a patch or by sewing them directly onto a larger sewing project.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/757621111/new-fox-badger-pdf-patterns-felt-brooch


https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/757621111/new-fox-badger-pdf-patterns-felt-brooch

Tuesday 26 November 2019

Retro Felt Christmas Baubles Tutorial

Sew a set of felt ornaments for your Christmas tree, or to give as gifts this holiday season!


These decorations were inspired by pretty vintage glass baubles and are so much fun to sew. Make them in classic red and greens, retro pink, turquoise and lilac, or any colour combo that takes your fancy. You can also choose whether to stuff the baubles (as I did with the red and green set) or leave them unstuffed - flat ornaments are perfect for posting in a Christmas card!


Mix and match the colours across the set, and decorate them with co-ordinating embroidery thread, ribbons and trims, plus sequins and beads to add some festive sparkle. You could also use things like mini buttons and mini pompoms, or even strips of festive fabric cut with pinking shears.

 

This tutorial is an updated version of my vintage felt baubles tutorial. This version originally appeared on The Village Haberdashery's blog - visit their shop for lots of crafty goodness!

You will need: 

The template sheet provided (click here to download and print the PDF)
3 co-ordinating shades of felt for the baubles
Light grey felt for the bauble caps
Sewing thread to match all the felt colours
Embroidery thread in co-ordinating colours
Narrow ribbon for hanging the baubles (approx. 7 inches per bauble)
Assorted co-ordinating ribbons, ric-rac, sequins and seed beads for decorating the baubles
Sewing scissors
Embroidery scissors (these are great for cutting out small shapes!)
Sewing needles and pins
Optional: an air erasable fabric marker, a ruler, toy stuffing, and pinking shears

To make each bauble: 

1. Use the templates provided to cut two matching bauble pieces from your chosen shade of felt, and two cap pieces from light grey felt. Pin or hold the paper templates onto the felt as you cut around them.


2. Use pinking shears to cut a contrasting strip of felt to sit in the middle of the bauble. You can cut this by eye, or use a ruler and an air erasable fabric marker to draw guide lines to cut along. You can make this felt strip as wide or narrow as you like, but it must be long enough to overhang each side of the bauble as shown. Don’t have a pair of pinking shears? Just cut a straight edge with your sewing scissors instead.


3. Pin the felt strip to one of the bauble pieces and trim it to size. Using running stitch and matching sewing thread sew along the top and bottom edge, then remove the pin.


Now comes the fun part: decorating the bauble! You can use the photos in this post as inspiration, or get creative and come up with your own bauble designs. The basic design principle to follow is to add the embellishments in rows, keeping things as symmetrical as possible. 

4. Start by adding ribbon and/or ric-rac. To add each piece, cut a length slightly wider than the bauble (so it overhangs the edges by 1-2 cm at each side). Pin or hold the ribbon/ric-rac in place and sew along it with matching sewing thread. You can use running stitch, or sew tiny whip stitches along the edges. Fold the ends of the ribbon / ric-rac over and secure it at the back of the bauble shape with a few whip stitches, sewing into the felt but not through it.


You could add one piece of ribbon or add several pieces (as shown above). Create contrast and detail by sewing a narrow ribbon on top of a wider one, or by sewing a piece of ric-rac onto a second strip of contrasting felt (add this felt strip using the same method as in steps 2 and 3, but without the pinked edges).


5. Next, add some embroidery. Use co-ordinating embroidery thread, separate half the strands (so for six-stranded embroidery thread, just use three strands at a time) and switch to a larger sewing needle if necessary. If you’re an embroidery whizz you can add any stitches you fancy. I decorated my baubles with lines of running stitch and simple patterns of Xs and Vs, each sewn from pairs of stitches. To help keep your designs symmetrical, sew outwards from the centre of each row then fill in the second half with the same number of stitches.


Tip: If you have trouble keeping your stitched lines straight, use an air-erasable marker and a ruler to mark guide lines to sew along.

6. To finish the decoration, add a selection of sequins and small beads. Use matching sewing thread to sew each embellishment in place – I used thread to match the felt / ribbon I was sewing onto, but you could match your thread to the embellishments themselves if you prefer. Sew each seed bead with a double thickness of thread, using one stitch per bead. Secure each sequin with two or three stitches, depending on the size and shape of your chosen sequins. I used two stitches for the round sequins, and three for the stars.


7. Turn over the undecorated bauble piece. Position the two cap pieces on the top of the bauble pieces (which will become the front and back of the bauble) and sew them in place with two stitches each: one between each scallop. You’ll see that the cap pieces are larger than the cap shape on the top of the bauble – this is so that when you sew the grey felt caps together the bright felt of the bauble tops will be completely hidden inside the grey caps.


8. Turn the back bauble piece over again, and add a ribbon loop to the top. Cut a length of narrow ribbon about 7 inches long, fold it in half to form a loop and sew the ends in place with whip stitch and matching sewing thread. Take care to sew into the felt, not through it.


9. Place the two layers of the bauble together and begin joining the edges. Start with the cap, sewing around it with whip stitch and matching grey sewing thread.


If you want to stuff the baubles, add a very small piece of toy stuffing to the cap. Then start sewing around the edge of the bauble, using whip stitch and matching sewing thread. If you’re leaving the bauble unstuffed, sew all the way round the bauble and finish your stitching neatly at the back.


If you’re adding stuffing, sew most of the way round then stuff the bauble evenly with small pieces of toy stuffing and sew up the gap.

Tip: When sewing the long bauble, I’d recommend stuffing it gradually as you sew up the second side.

Enjoyed this free tutorial? Buy me a "coffee" and help support my blog!

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This tutorial is for non commercial use only: you can use it to make as many baubles as you want for yourself or as gifts, but please don't make any for sale. You may borrow a couple of photos if you want to blog about this project, but remember to credit me and link back to this page on my blog, and do not reproduce my entire tutorial / share my templates on your site. Thanks!

P.S. Subscribe to my newsletter for a monthly free pattern and visit my crafty tutorial archive for lots more free projects.

Visit my shop to buy my printable PDF sewing patterns:

Monday 25 November 2019

Buy My Printable PDF Sewing Patterns on Folksy.com!

This weekend I re-opened my Folksy shop!

https://folksy.com/shops/lupin

If you've never heard of Folksy, it's basically a smaller, British version of Etsy. Only British makers can join to sell their wares, but you can shop from anywhere in the world (as long as people ship to your country!).

I had a busy shop on Folksy for years, selling my handmade designs and colourful craft supplies. I was actually one of the very first sellers to sign up, joining on the first day they opened! I shut up shop there when I changed the focus of my business... but now I'm back, and have filled up my shop with my current range of PDF patterns.

https://folksy.com/shops/lupin
 
If you buy a digital sewing pattern on Etsy, the PDF file is available for you to download automatically after your purchase. Very convenient for you, and for me! Unfortunately with the EU's current regulations on the sale of digital items this means that if you're in the EU you have to pay VAT on your pattern purchase.

Over on Folksy, they don't offer instant downloads so if you buy a pattern from my new shop you'll have to wait for me to email it to you. But there is a silver lining to this cloud: because the file delivery isn't automated, VAT doesn't apply, so your pattern will be cheaper! Woohoo!

It's been so long since I've had an active shop on Folksy, I'm excited to see how it goes.

Click here to visit my shiny new shop.

P.S. Do you sell or shop on Folksy? What do you think of it?

Tuesday 19 November 2019

Snowflake Embroidery Patterns

free snowflake embroidery patterns


UPDATE: these snowflake embroidery patterns are now available on my Patreon.

Subscribe for a small monthly fee and you'll get access to a growing library of PDF patterns and tutorials, with an email whenever I add a new project. You can cancel any time.    

Click here to check out my Patreon page and sign up!

The snowflakes are perfect for embellishing your winter sewing projects, or for making felt Christmas ornaments!

You can also use them to create December's A Year of Wreaths project: a sparkly snowflake wreath.

make an embroidered snowflake wreath for winter or Christmas

 

Subscribe to my newsletter for a monthly(ish) free pattern and visit my crafty tutorial archive for lots more free projects.

Visit my shop to buy my printable PDF sewing patterns:

Friday 15 November 2019

5 Fun Felt Animal Mask Tutorials

UPDATE: this set of five felt animal mask patterns are now available via my Patreon.

Subscribe for a small monthly fee and you'll get access to a growing library of PDF patterns and tutorials, with an email whenever I add a new project. You can cancel any time.      

Click here to check out my Patreon page and sign up!

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Make lots of fun felt masks for costume parties, Halloween, or just everyday dressing up!

There's a cat mask pattern, which you can use to make cats, foxes, tigers, and leopards...

http://eepurl.com/dvfYO1

... and a pattern for making brown or white bunnies.

http://eepurl.com/dvfYO1
 http://eepurl.com/dvfYO1

You'll also be able to dress up as a mouse, a bear, or a wolf. So many fun costume possibilities!

(Posing for silly selfies is, of course, optional but highly recommended).

http://eepurl.com/dvfYO1


Click here to visit my tutorial archive for lots of free patterns and project ideas.

Thursday 14 November 2019

DIY Felt Autumn Wreath Tutorial

Use wool blend felt to make this colourful woodland wreath decorated with toadstools, a mushroom and lots of embroidered leaves.

 

UPDATE: my felt autumn wreath tutorial can now be found as a printable PDF pattern over on my Patreon. 

Subscribe to get instant access to a growing library of PDF embroidery patterns and craft tutorials, and updates when I add something new!


Subscribe to my newsletter for creative updates, and visit my crafty tutorial archive for lots of free projects.

Visit my shop to buy my printable PDF sewing patterns:

Tuesday 12 November 2019

How To: Sew Felt Mushrooms & Toadstools!

This week I'm sharing some fun autumnal crafting projects: tutorials for sewing felt mushrooms and toadstools then using them to create an awesome autumn wreath.

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UPDATE: my felt autumn wreath tutorial (including templates and instructions for making these fun felt fungi) can now be found as a printable PDF pattern over on my Patreon. 

Subscribe to get instant access to a growing library of PDF embroidery patterns and craft tutorials, and updates when I add something new!

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These felt mushrooms and toadstools are so easy to make! You can use them to decorate larger autumn craft projects, or add brooch clasps or ribbon loops to turn them into brooches or Christmas ornaments.

 
If you're making Christmas decorations why not give them some extra sparkle by adding beads or sequins to the toadstools, or using metallic embroidery thread for the mushrooms. You could also decorate the backs of your toadstools as well as the fronts, or use the space on the back to embroider the year you stitched them.
 
 
Subscribe to my newsletter for a creative updates, and visit my crafty tutorial archive for lots of free projects.

Visit my shop to buy my printable PDF sewing patterns:

Sunday 10 November 2019

Heads Up: I'm Retiring a Few More Tutorials from My Archive!

As the title of this post says, I've decided to retire a few more tutorials from my blog.

The rest of my archive of free crafty tutorials will remain as it is, but the tutorials for this set of Christmas ornaments will soon be vanishing from my blog, being revamped, and reappearing as a printable PDF pattern in my shop (thus helping to pay my bills! hurrah!).


1. Angel Bauble.

2. Reindeer Bauble.

3. Snowman Bauble.

4. Santa Bauble.

5. Jingle Bell.

6. Button Heart.

7. Stripey Stocking.

and 8. Sparkly Star.
 
All of these projects will be removed from my blog on or after December 1st, so if you'd like to make them for free please get any instructions and templates/patterns printed out or saved before then!

The PDF versions will be in my shops in December. All the free tutorials here on my blog are intended for non-commercial use only, but you are very welcome to sell any items made using patterns purchased from my shop as long as you make the items yourself and credit me as the designer.

Friday 8 November 2019

Grab a crafty bargain!

I'm having another clear-out, and have posted lots of leftover craft supplies, stitched project samples, and other bits and bobs at bargain prices over on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/lauralupinsells/

Head to lauralupinsells to see all the details!

The UK postage shown for each item is for it posted solo. I'll combine postage for items bought together - you can send an approximately shoebox sized parcel weighing up to 2kg by 2nd class post for just £3 in the UK, so most packages won't cost more than this to send (yay!). If you're elsewhere in the world, let me know your country and I'll check the postage for you.

Don't have an Instagram account but spotted something you fancy? Send me a message via my contact form.

Tuesday 5 November 2019

A Year of Wreaths: November Felt Holly Wreath Tutorial

UPDATE: my holly wreath tutorial is now available as a printable PDF pattern on my Patreon. 

Subscribe for a small monthly fee and you'll get access to a growing library of PDF patterns and tutorials, with an email whenever I add a new project. You can cancel any time.    

Click here to check out my Patreon page and sign up!

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This month's wreath is nice and simple!

Perfect for crafting during a cosy winter evening in, or a lazy weekend, this bright holly wreath will add a pop of colour to your decor this winter or Christmas.

the finished holly wreath


The yarn-wrapped wreath is decorated with a ring of felt holly leaves and red felt ball “berries”. 

I used bright red yarn to wrap my wreath for a cheerful look but this design would also look great on a pale background (perhaps a white yarn or strips of a neutral fabric?).

I love the 3D effect of the felt balls but you could cut small red felt circles, or use red buttons instead.



Subscribe to my newsletter for a monthly(ish) free pattern and visit my crafty tutorial archive for lots more free projects.

Visit my shop to buy my printable PDF sewing patterns: