• The One Where the Needle Gets Lost

    Date: 2010.03.11 | Category: Sewing | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,

    Here comes the Easter Bunny. This is a very inexpensive project, which is great for beginners or young crafters. I got this idea from my mom this afternoon and I had to go to Hobby Lobby to get felt. Basically, I just look for a reason and it doesn’t take much. Hobby Lobby has patterned felt, glittery felt (which you know I bought), and large sized felt. You can get a ton of it for $5-10.

    You will also need batting (again super cheap and found in the quilting section) and thread, which again thanks to my mother, I am well stocked for into the 22nd century. Other items such as buttons and sequins are fun to add.

    Design: I began by drawing out a simple shaped bunny. If the shape is very complex, it will be difficult to stuff. Then I used my template to cut two felt bunnies (front and back). A quick plug for scissors. This is an essential for any crafter. You are only as good as your tools. I highly recommend a GOOD set of scissors that give you a variety of sizes. This will be very handy in your creative future.

    Details: Using a different pattern felt, I cut out an oval for the tummy and a flower for her ear, basically I needed an excuse to use the $4 of sequins I had to purchase. Shocker. I could have spent WAY more than that. Shiny things get me every time.

    Embellishments: That one is for you Mom! Attach the tummy circle to the front side of the bunny using a blanket stitch. If you choose to be inspired by Picasso, you could attach it to the back or his ear. The stitch gives the piece a homemade feel, which if you have my luck you didn’t really need the help. I highly recommend cross stitch floss for several reasons.

    Flossing is Recommended: The floss is thick so it can hold the felt together, its cheap (I’m sorry…. inexpensive), and my favorite reason, it comes in every color imaginable (including glittery colors)! How many more reasons do you need?

    About Face: I used buttons for the eyes, but you could also use a simple X stitch. I used the X stitch for the nose and created whiskers with white floss, although an iridescent white would have been way cooler. Sigh. Then I attached the flower to the bunny’s ear and used a sequin to give the flower some sparkle.

    Tail Spin: The irony of this is I was on the Pom-Pom isle and gazed over all of the wonderful options, but did not have a reason to buy. After deciding to make a bunny and all the craft stores were closed, I decided to improvise. Be afraid, be VERY afraid. I cut out three flowers, the largest about the size of the one on Bunny’s ear.

    Attached at the Tail: I stacked the flowers and attached them to the back of Bunny, making it look like either a layered flower or a cotton tail. I am really okay with either, but I will be putting Pom-Poms on my shopping list.

    A Stitch in Time: I have no idea how the hell it saves nine. What if there are only eight to save? Time to sew up the bunny. First I recommend you Google blanket stitch and get a visual on how the stitch works. I taught myself tonight, so I assure you it is very simple. However, it can not be explained, only experienced.

    Sew Me Up: When you start to sew your bunny, you want leave a hole so you can easily stuff the bunny with batting. I hightly recommend, from personal experience, you stay away from body parts like arms, ears, and feet. Once you have sewn most of the bunny, leave a couple of inches to stuff his guts full of batting. :) For small areas like the ears, a pencil is a great tool to get the batting packed.

    Finish Me Off: Once the stuffing is complete, finish the blanket stitch to close the hole. I knotted the thread twice (and towards the back side of the bunny) then cut very close to the knot. You have to look for it to tell it is there.

    Happy Easter! Create this for the little ones in your life for their Easter basket. Let your imagination run wild and create other critters or objects or dolls or automobiles or…. Well, you get the picture.

    One more friendly reminder and this will probably be one of my next projects. The pin cushion. Know where you needle is at all times or you will end up like me.

    Midnight… contacts are getting blurry… husband laughing… and there you are franticly looking for a damn needle.  I finally found it, in my pajama pants, where I left it.  Sigh.  Luckily I did not end up like my aunt, she found her needle alright… in her foot. Point made, literally.

    Question of the Day – “What does a stitch in time saves nine” actually mean??