Working with Felt - Blanket Stitch

Welcome to my first post from 'Working with Felt' series in which I will demonstrate you the basics stitches I use on my works. It's a topic that I always wanted to work on for quite some time but, somehow, It just never happened. I guess I just couldn't get my ideas gathered properly and got caught in a web of scrambled bullet points where I couldn't decide where to start first, hence the delay. I know It should have been done a long time ago...but I guess It's better late than never, right? :P
Also, I would like to emphasis that It's going to be a topic where a brand new embroidery stitch tutorial will be released every month.

To achieve a beautiful work, not only talking about felt related crafts but all hand sewn works from all sorts of medium, lots of patience and discipline is required. Customers love attention to details.. and who doesn't love receiving a beautiful handmade work? Handmade or even machine made stitches are the next focal point, after the design of the product, that customers notice so It's very important to pay attention on how you work your stitches. The smaller the stitches are by keeping them equally apart from each other will naturally result into a more delicate and charming work.

Today's embroidery basics is the Blanket Stitch. One of my favorite and most used stitch used on my works. Best used to decorate edges of a blanket, towels and table cloths but also used to sew two pieces of fabric together. Although I work with only 1 style of blanket stitch, there is, in fact, lots of unique styles and designs with plenty of tutorials available online to help you achieve it but let's focus on this particular style shown in this tutorial. Here, I'll cover four main steps that will get you started in creating a project using this stitch: 1. How to start the Blanket Stitch, 2. Stitching corners, 3. Changing threads and 4. How to Neatly Finish Your Work.

Materials:
- 2 pieces of felt
- Embroidery thread
- Scissors

Note: I love using single strand on my works. But that's personal preference. I like how they make finished works look crisp and clean . During this tutorial, I used double strands for a contrast and to make it easier for you to see the results.

How to start the Blanket Stitch

Step 1.

Insert the needle from the inside of the 'front' felt. Pull.

Step 2.

Insert the needle through the same hole from behind. Pull until a small hoop is formed.

Step 3.

Insert the needle through the little hoop from the right side and pull.

Yay! You have made your first stitch!

Step 4.

To make the second stitch, insert the needle from the 'front' felt making sure there is a small distance between the first and the second stitch. Pull lightly until it forms a tiny hoop.

Step 5.

Go through the little hoop from the top and pull.

And your second stitch is done! Now just repeat step 4 and step 5 to create beautiful blanket stitch!

How to stitch corners using the Blanket Stitch

Step 1.

Corners are pretty easy to make too. It's three stitches meeting in the same hole or not necessarily. Its a matter of personal preference.

How to change threads

So what happens when your thread runs out and how to continue? Worry not! It's very easy too! There are other ways to do it but I've been using this technique for almost a decade and it works wonders for me. Try all different techniques to find out what works best for you :)

Step 1.

Once you are at the end of your thread, flip your work so that the 'back' is facing you. Slip needle underneath of four stitches.

Step 2.

Slightly pull your thread and cut.

Step 3.

Insert needle with new thread from the back and under the last stitch. 

Step 4.

Lightly pull and make sure the end knot or your thread is hidden inside between the two sheets of felt.

Step 5.

Continue your stitches as per normal. 

How to neatly finish your work

Step 1.

Once you have reach the end of your beautiful work, It's time to cut of your thread. It's pretty much the exact technique when you are changing threads. Just slip your thread underneath four or more stitch and cut :)

And you're done!

I'm a right handed person so I like starting stitches from right to left. If you're a lefty try flipping the images above... Might not be the ideal or right method but It will help you get started :) 

It will be a bit of a challenge at the beginning, specially when it comes with adjusting the distance between stitches. But once you dedicate time to practice this stitch you'll get into the flow in no time :) There are, in fact, tricks to achieve beautiful spaced stitches but I have never tried them. Take a look at this How to Get Perfect Blanket Stitch trick by Dream Crafter.

So remember, practice is the key for perfection!

Till the next 'Working with Felt'!

Colors to Inspire You Today and Everyday

My life here in my blog seem so bubbly and colorful and so full of things to do. And yes, sometimes that is true. But I would be lying If I said that my life is like this everyday. I do too have 'not-so-good' days in which I just want to be in bed the whole day, float around the house and do nothing at all! I have days where I feel such a failure...doubting everything what I have achieved till this day. I have inspiration blocks and it frustrates me. Nothing seems to have sense in anything I create.

But in days like these, I like to step back and just reflect only on the good things that I have accomplished and tell to myself  to go take a break from everything around me and to not be so harsh on myself. Blocks are normal and that everything will fine tune again...

So right now, besides of treating myself with a cup of tea and listening to relaxing spa music, I would like to inspire you with a little splash of color in hopes to reignite your desire to create. I am a big fan of everything colorful... and I try my best to include them always in my everyday life.. and you should too!

These are not my pictures. All images are taken from Pinterest and credits go to the rightful owner. But I thank you for such beautiful photos!

 I will just let everything flow and let go of all these negative emotions. I will take a bit of a break on my crafts and see what comes next :) Until then, wishing you a lovely week filled with colors, magic and sparkles.

"Life is about using the whole box of crayons" - Unknown

Free Pattern of the Month - The Love Socks Brooch

"I found my match!" :p

Love is in the air! There is love everyday in this household. And I'm praying, more than ever, that love is in the air for the rest of the world...everyday. 

This months free pattern I introduce to you the "sockmates". A pair of lovable socks that found their way into each others side after a rough spin in the washing machine. On this Valentines, stitch up the other sock for your love mate and show them how happy you are to have found your match! ;)

Hope you enjoy this mini and super easy tutorial!

Materials:

♡ Main felts for the socks

♡ Felt scraps for the cheeks and for the back of the brooch

♡ Embroidery floss 

♡ 2 pcs of 2mm round b;ack beads for the eyes

♡ 1 pc of 2.5cm brooch

♡ Water soluble pen

♡ Scissors

♡ Universal glue

Step 1.

Lay the 'cuff', 'heel' and 'toe' onto 1 piece of  'sock' cutout and applique stitch them all.

Step 2.

To determine the position of the eyes, lay the template onto the sock cutout making sure all corners are aligned. Next, take a thicker needle and poke through the eyes of the template. With a water soluble pen, draw 2 dots through the holes made previously.

Step 3.

Stitch on the round black beads on the dots drawn previously. Make tiny fly stitches for the nose and mouth then make tiny stitches for the eyelashes. 

Step 4.

Glue on the 'cheeks'

Step 5.

Make french knots using colorful embroidery threads. Use double strands for the french knots.

Step 6.

Take a light colored thread and applique stitch the 'cuff' but this time, make longer stitches.

Step 7.

Flip the remaining 'sock' cutout and place the brooch vertically, making sure that the brooch opening is facing downwards. for extra security and strength, stitch through the holes of the brooch. If yours doesn't have holes, skip this step.

Step 8.

Place a small scrap of felt over the base of the brooch and applique stitch the sides.

Step 9.

Combine both sock cutouts and blanket stitch them together :)

And you're done!

Make the other "sockmate" by flipping the pattern horizontally. My little sock measures approx. 8cm x 5.5cm but feel free to resize it to any size you want. If by any chance you make them bigger, turn them into a lovely sock garland by making other socks in different colors and patterns. How fun!

Hope you enjoyed this free little pattern and don't forget to spread the love...always...and everyday!

Kawaii Mermaid Sugar Cookie Pattern Charm

I finally decided to turn another forgotten sketch to life. I had this little drawing laying for ages in between the pages of my sketch book and I'm so happy how it finally looks like in felt. I was so tempted to create a mermaid but somehow I just couldn't get the finalize drawing right.. I suck big time on drawing arms and hands but I'm pretty pleased with the results ( Simple is often the key!)!

Also, I wanted to create something more challenging and different so this time, my little sugar cookies are now a little bit more realistic! That strip of felt to add the height of the cookie makes such difference! It's a bit challenging, as mentioned, as you need a good hand control on your stitches but once you get a hang of it, you can add this technique onto any of my other cookie patterns ( not to mention that It's pretty addicting too!).

To add that height in my sugar cookies, I used polyester quilt batting from Daiso. It comes in a 75 cm x 80 cm sheet for 15MOP (SGD $2) and It's super soft and light weight! I love using the batting, instead of using the regular polyfil, because of how it can keep the shape of the cookie. You can use polyfil as well, but it will be harder to control and maintain the shape. 

So are you ready to take up a little fun challenge? 

You can find the pattern here.

Well, I'll leave you guys for now and i'm off to my little magic corner and create more magical stuff for you all! Hope you enjoy making this tiny mermaid and I hope you'll love carrying her around with you <3

New Etsy Pattern - Beach Treasures..

I know it has been awhile since I took a break from my Etsy patterns due to apartment moving, unpacking boxes and ,overall, trying to finally settle down. My house doesn't entirely feel like home yet as I am still on the hunt for the perfect furniture to match the house which I can only afford to buy 1 set of furniture per month end! I don't have a dining table , chairs, cabinets to store my junk ( thank God we found, at least, a sofa at a bargain!) nor I have a working desk! So the floor has been my current working surface.. not the best place or comfortable posture but It's better than doing nothing at all hehe!

So the cold is finally settling in Macau ( Finally! Does 22C count as cold?) and I'm missing summer already. I miss the sun block and the salty ocean smell. So to comfort my summer blues, I was looking through my phone in which photos of my last vacation to Philippines slides by. Ah.. that blue ocean and white sand.. So I felt that inspiration to create this lovely and fun pattern to remind me of those best Summer moments. And who doesn't love adding a little bit of the beach at home?

You can find the pattern here .

Well, friends, till next time. I'm off to trace more patterns and do some work on lists in my agenda. Wishing you a lovely weekend from where you are <3

Free Pattern of the Month - Chinese Lantern Felt Ornament

Hello my dear friends! Hope your new year passage have been a blast! I stayed at home all day with my loved ones and ,as usual, I always have my hands busy on something related to work -_- something not entirely healthy when you're suppose to relax your mind and enjoy the day with your family! But oh well... how can we possibly ignore work when we actually live in our workplace? Is the struggle real or is it just me?

I know that the new year celebration has passed for some, but in some countries in Asia, the new year is just about to begin! It's the most important time of the year to have the whole family to celebrate as one! So for this months free pattern, I decided to get that festive feeling rolling by giving you all this lovely Chinese lantern to make. Why not start the new year colorful as this lantern?

Materials:

🍑 Main felts and patterned felt for the lantern ( I got my patterned felt from Daiso)
🍑 3 pcs of 4mm beads
🍑 embroidery floss or nylon cord (used in this tutorial)  in various colors for the tassel ( I got my nylon cords from Daiso)
🍑 2 pcs of 15 cm long nylon cord for the top and bottom hanging part of the lantern
🍑 1 pc of 10 cm long cord
🍑 Embroidery floss matching felts
🍑 Scissors and needle
🍑 Universal Glue

Step 1 and 2.

Wrap the red nylon cord or embroidery floss 10 times around the index and middle finger. Next, wrap the yellow cord around 6 times.

Step 3 and 4.

Take the pink cord and wrap around 4 times and the blue cord around 3 times.

Step 5.

Take 1 pc of the 15 cm long cord and insert through the cord wraps. Make double knot to secure.

Step 6.

Take the 10 cm long cord and do a double knot.

Step 7.

With a sharp scissor, insert through hoops and cut.

Step 8.

Trim off excess.

Step 9. 

Slide in the beads then make a knot on the loose ends of the cord.

Step 10.

Take the remaining 15 cm long cord and make a knot on the loose ends. Place it in the middle top of the patterned felt and sew it on to secure it in place. Do the same to the tassel.

Step 11.

Combine both 'top' cutouts and blanket stitch them together. Do the same to the 'bottom'.

Step 12.

Apply a little strip of glue on the 'top and bottom' and lay both in place.

Step 13.

Lay 1 'lantern' cutout and applique stitch the patterned felt and 'lantern' together. Please do take note that only 1 'lantern' cutout has the middle see through part removed.

Step 14.

Combine the other 'lantern' cutout and blanket stitch them together.

And you're done!! Yay! These lanterns are now ready to hang! 

They look equally good either stuffed with polyfil or flat so you get to decide which one suits best :) Hope you enjoy this mini tutorial and I hope it awakens your Chinese New Year spirits! Go ahead and resize it to any size you wish <3