Living the Creative Life

Using felt, fabric and die cuts to alter clothing

I've found a great new way to alter clothing! 

My friend, Emily Falconbridge, shared on her blog last week that she had altered some sweat pants for her girls (apparently, they call them "trakky daks" in Australia?). I thought it was such a cute idea, especially because Emily had used some felt and she hand stitched the details and I'm all about felt and hand stitching.

I got to thinking about the blue pair of sweat pants that were sitting in my daughter's dresser drawer and how she'd only worn them once. My daughter used to be all about sweat pants and how comfy they felt, but this past school year, she's been all about wearing leggings and jeans so those blue sweat pants sat in the drawer, unworn. I've tried to get her to wear them but she refused. When I saw Emily's alter job, I knew that the only way I'd get Girly to wear the blue sweat pants was to alter them. So, I took out my die cutting machine, some of my dies and beads and got to work. 

I already had some fabric flowers cut out that hadn't been used when I was making fabric flower pins last year, so I took those out of my stash and put them to use on blue felt that I cut shaped like a scallop circle.

I cut a couple of pink felt flowers for the center of the big flowers. I used contrasting colors for my stitching to add to the whimsical feel. I used the whip-stitch applique stitch for the bottom flower, a running stitch for the middle flower and the top flower and a back stitch for the swirl in the center of the pink flower. 

I used decorative X stitches around the edge of the blue felt scalloped circles (and on the petals of the two bottom flowers) to secure the finished pieces to the knees of the sweat pants. 

For the bottom of the pant legs, I cut blue felt using the a trim die. Instead of cutting them in two pieces to go around the width of the legs, I folded the felt in half and put it up against the end of the die so that it would cut one long piece.

I used a running stitch to add glass beads and also to secure the trim to the bottom of the pants. 

Something I hadn't thought about until after I finished the pants is that the felt circles that I put on the knees will double as protection for the pants. My kids tend to wear out the knees on their pants so fast! Hopefully these fun "patches" will help the pants last longer than they usually do with all the wear and tear my daughter usually puts her clothes through.

And here's the girl-child herself, ready for school this morning with her altered sweat pants on. And....we found the sweat shirt she has on in the coat closet....another item she hasn't been too keen to wear since I bought it for her a couple months ago due to her aversion to wearing sweat pants/shirts. She put her clothes on and said how comfy they were and how well they went together. I think this is MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

 

Another felt belt with red & coral leaves

Last summer, my daughter needed a belt but she's so tiny in the waist that it was hard to find anything that would fit her correctly. I did a book review on a felt embroidery book and loved the belt that I made using the book. I've been making a few more belts lately since my daughter wanted another one. They do take a lot of time, but I enjoy the process. I have added a couple belts to my Etsy Shop and I just finished the belt in this post and added that to my shop, as well. 

For this belt, I used the Baskets & Blooms die and the Big Shot die cutting machine to cut out all the little flowers. Using a die to cut out the pieces on a belt like this makes it super easy to make sure that all of the flowers are of uniform size. I cut little pieces of felt (also a great way to use up small scraps of felt) and then stacked them 3 to 4 on top of each other and ran them through the Big Shot. 

(Click on pictures for a larger view.)

I used the small sized flower from the Baskets & Blooms die. This belt measures 1 1/4 inches by 36 1/4 inches (it fits a young girl.)

I used a whip-stitch applique stitch (in deep red and coral) to hold down the flowers and then used a back stitch for the mustard colored swirls in each of the flowers. I added a single black glass bead in the center of each flower. I used a back stitch in olive green for the tendrils on each side of the flowers. 

I did a blanket stitch around the edges of the belt with coral colored embroidery floss and added some D-rings to the end to finish it off. 

So, have you used your Big Shot dies with felt? What have you made with it? 

Now, I'm off to cut some felt with my new Circles #2 Originals die. I'm still tossing up what I'm going to create, but I know it'll be fun!

 

Big Blooms Felt embroidered journal

My daughter just got dropped off at a slumber party for one of her friends that turns 11 this weekend. We like to do handmade gifts for friends because we know they won't get anything else like it. Also, we like putting our time and love into something because we know the recipient will really appreciate it. 

So, for my daughter's friend, I made a felt covered journal (you can check out the one I posted the other day HERE and I also have some on my Etsy Shop). This seems to really be the age of these girls writing in journals and diaries so I hope this will give her something really special to write her thoughts in. 

(Click on photos for larger view)

I used the Big Shot die cutting machine, the Flower Folds die and the Baskets & Blooms die for the three flower pieces. The coral and yellow flowers were cut using the two smallest flowers on the Flower Folds die. The small red flower on top was cut using the mid-size flower from the Baskets & Blooms die. 

This journal measures about 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches when closed. 

For this one, I used regular copier paper for the inside since I knew the birthday girl would likely just use it as a diary rather than putting any pictures inside and needing it acid/lignin free. I added some black glass beads to the binding on the front of the journal and I think I'll do this on all of the other journals that I make in the future. It adds a really nice touch to them. 

For those of you that like to embroider, here are the stitches I used:

* Running stitch for around the egde of the journal, the small red flower and on the yellow flower

* Applique whipstitch for the large coral flower and around the leaf edges

* Back stitch for the curly green tendrils on the stem and on the inside of the leaves

* Chain stitch for the stem

Every time I finish a journal, I can't wait to get started on the next one. It's snowing outside and we're supposed to get about 3 inches so it's a good night to stay in and get to work on another and pop in a good movie.

Make sure to check out the Be a Big Shot with Felt tutorial CD that I have if you'd like to try some other projects with felt and the Big Shot. It has stitch video tutorials, as well! 

Felt embroidered journal - Bright Beads and Trims

When I saw theTasteful Trim die, for the Big Shot die cutting machine, the first thing I thought of was cutting felt out with it. Sure, I've used it with paper, but felt was my first thought. I finally got to use it with felt this past weekend and I LOVE the way this little handmade journalturned out. The bright colors, the patterns of the trims, the beads....it all makes me smile every time I look at it!(You can find this journal on my Etsy Shop - with more to come!)

Yes, this did take a lot of time and yes, I am a perfectionist when it comes to my stitches (I just can't help myself). But....it keeps my hands busy when I'm sitting. I'm determined that I'll never have arthritis when I get older if I keep my hands busy with needlework. *wink*

I love using my Big Shot for felt projects. Because felt doesn't fray, die cutting shapes out of felt makes embroidering felt on projects so easy! In fact, last year, I created a Tutorial CD that deals specifically with the Big Shot and felt projects: Be a Big Shot with Felt is still available as a CD!

I did a double lining on the journal cover so that it hid the stitching from the back of the front cover. I also made the trims go across the entire cover of the journal. 

I did 12 folded pages of cardstock (for a total of 24 double-sided pages) and used my Crop-a-dileto punch holes in the fold of all the pages at once (LOVE that tool!) and double-stitched the pages into the binding so they're extra secure. 

When the journal is folded, it measures 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches. It can be used for so many different purposes:

• A journal
• A sketchbook
• A quote book
• An art journal
• A mini scrapbook 

Since the cardstock inside the journal is acid and lignin free, it makes for a great mini scrapbook and you don't have to worry about your photos being adversely affected. 

A lot of people ask me what type of felt I use and where they can get it. Most fabric stores have eco-felt (made from recycled plastics and the cheaper option, also known as craft felt) and wool-blend felt by the yard. You can also get felt on Ebay stores and one of the best sites I've found online is Felt-o-rama.

 

Felt embroidered eyeglass case

It seems like the winter is when I pull out the felt and embroidery floss and sit in front of the fire and get to work. I've never been one to sit still long. I need to have something to do with my hands. This is one of the reasons I much prefer to watch a movie at home than in the theaters.....it's too dark in the movie theater to see a crochet or embroidery project. Yes, I do actually watch and keep up with what's going on in a movie or show on my TV, but it's much easier for me to watch and not get antsy if I have something to keep my hands busy. 

This beauty is on my Etsy shop as of this morning but I love it so much that I'm going to make another one for my glasses (which I used to only need for driving at night, but now it seems I need them for watching TV and embroidery in low light). 

I used the Big Shot die cutting machine and Baskets & Blooms die for the flowers and cut them out of felt. I hand cut the leaves and then set to work with my embroidery thread and needle. 

I used whip stitch, blanket stitch, back stitch and running stitch for my embroidery, including the hand cut button hole. I also added some glass beads for the center of the flowers. 

I know I say over and over again that doing embroidery with felt is therapeutic but it just IS! I'm always thinking about what I can make next and as soon as a project is finished, I'm almost sad that it's done. But....then I get started on the next one. No wonder I can't sit still!

Looking for Handmade Christmas Gifts?

 

I can help with your 
Holiday Shopping!

Handmade Gifts for the Holidays

 

Chances are, your holiday shopping isn't yet finished.....and I can help you with that!

Most people know me for my paper crafting, but I also dabble in all sorts of other craftiness and I've just filled up my Etsy shop with all kinds of handmade goodies that make for awesome holiday gifts for young and old.

Gifts for the young and the "young at heart!"

You'll find gifts for all age groups over on my Etsy Shop.

I've filled up the shop today and you'll find:
* Felt Finger Puppets (see photo at left)
* Felt Coin Purses (see photo above)
* Flowered Headbands
* Whirly Twirly Skirts
* Woodland Elf Hoods for children and adults
* Night Owl Sleeping Masks
* Felt Cell Phone Cases
* Embroidered Felt Purses
* Crafter's Back Buddies
* Handmade Jewelry

And MORE!

All items are ready to ship!

All items will go out in 1-2 business days.

You can also get shipping discounts when you purchase more than one item from My Etsy Shop!

Get a bunch of your Holiday shopping done on my shop and save on shipping! I've already made shipping super low so you can save even more!! Each item that you purchase after your first item comes with FREE shipping!

Happy Shopping!

Hand stitched felt eyeglass case

 A friend of mine has a birthday coming up on Valentine's day and I wanted to make something hand made and special for her.  After all, she's one of my best friends!

Hand stitching on felt has been one of my newest obsessions. It's so easy to work with and I've always loved hand stitching.

I made my friend an eyeglass case, though it can be used for other things like crochet and knitting needles if you have a friend that loves to do fiber arts.

I got the original idea from Kata Golda's Hand-stitched Felt Book. I modified the pattern a bit so that the top flap wasn't as long and I made the case just a bit wider.

I started off with red felt and hand stitched my leaves and vines onto the front panel and then used dark gray embroidery floss to blanket stitch the edges. I also used the same floss to put a running stitch along the top flap.

I cut a button hole in the top flap and reinforced it with some stitching. I then stitched a white flower outline around the button hole and attached the button to the case.

So incredibly simple and so much fun! With quick stitching, an eyeglass case can take about an hour or hour and a half.

 

Butterfly embellished felt messenger bag

I've been experimenting a lot with wool felt, craft foam and my Big Shot dies. Just recently, I decided to combine all of them together.

I bought Kata Golda's book: Hand Stitched Felt, and fell in love with the messenger bag in the back of the book. A very generous woman in town gave me a garbage bag FULL of beautiful textured wool felt. The colors were all right up my alley.....gorgeous earth tones! I picked some colors out and cut the pieces I needed for my bag and then started hand stitching.

Hand stitching is one of my favorite ways to sew. I used to love cross-stitching when I was younger. I put it away after my kids were born and crawling around because I was afraid they were going to find one of my needles and get hurt. I have a habit of using my couch arms as pin cushions (I'm REALLY trying to get out of that habit now) and figured it wasn't good with little hands around. Now that my kids are older, my daughter has been joining me with hand sewing and she's got quite a knack for it. She's been creating some adorable little animals and gifts. I'll have to share those over on her blog soon. 

Anyway.....as the bag was coming together and I added the hand stitched vines and hand-cut felt leaves, I found that I needed a big button to put on the front of the bag. I looked through the tin of buttons that my grandmother gave me years ago and I couldn't find anything big enough. I realized that I was either going to have to buy one or somehow make one of my one. Because I tend to be impatient when I get sucked into a project, I didn't want to have to drive anywhere to get a button (the closest craft store is 30 min. away). I started looking around my craft studio to see what I could use.

I knew I wanted to incorporate butterflies onto my bag. My Beautiful Butterflies Big Shot die was going to be used for that. Then I started thinking about the craft foam I had and it all started coming together in my mind.

I cut yellow foam butterflies with the smallest of the butterflies on the die and then cut out two felt butterflies for each foam piece. I adhered the felt butterflies to the foam with some SNAIL adhesive and then stitched them together and did detail stitching with embroidery floss. (See? All that cross-stitching floss has come in handy even though I've put the cross-stitch stuff aside for now.)

I stitched the first butterfly onto the panel under the front flap so that it sat where a button would normally have gone. I stitched it to the bag in the center of the butterfly so that the sides could stay free. By stitching in the center, the stitches form the abdomen of the butterfly. I cut a button hole in the top flap and stitched around it to reinforce it. I simply fold the butterfly wings to put them through the button hole. When the wings spread out, they keep the flap closed.

 
I stitched some extra foam/felt butterflies on the front flap and then also stitched 5 of them along the rust colored shoulder strap. (Click on any of the photos for a larger version in a pop-up window.)

I'm so jazzed with how it turned out. It took me 9 days to finish it, but I wasn't working on it non-stop either. It was a great way to do something for myself and I especially love that it's all hand stitched.

Hope you have a beautiful and creative week....and an even more creative and inspiring 2010!