Archive for the ‘Arty Crafty’ Category
ARTY CRAFTY
Posted 06.15.08 by annajohnson
FELT CRAFTS
On page 287 and 288 of the YUMMYMUMMY MANIFESTO I have illustrated some step by step decoration ideas involving simple geometric shapes cut out from felt.. You might like to scale these shapes up BIGGER if you are doing the crafts with your little ones, or if you are just getting used to the materials. As I stated on page 290 (WORKING WITH FELT MATERIALS) felt is fun and cheap but not colorfast. So if you re just making art then don’t pre-wash the stuff but if you want to decorate a handbag or children’s dress: soak in warm water to preshrink then launder your felts using a product like SHOUT COLOR CATCHER but remember ONE COLOR AT A TIME. Depending on fiber content, temperature of water and dryer and length of time washed and dried, you can expect wool to shrink anywhere between 3-5 inches in length and 2-4 inches in width. Like all craft projects it’s a science experiment. Be loose and be patient!
INSTRUCTIONS
Felt craft is a lot like using a paper pattern to make clothes. To get the outlines you need for your cut outs, trace shapes onto the smooth side of freezer paper (I have provided downloadable shapes in a simple to use template or you can freeform!) Cut loosely around the traced pattern. Iron onto wool felt. The wax side of the freezer paper will stick temporarily to the wool but will not leave a residue. Cut out shapes on traced lines. Remove freezer paper. I don’t recommend using an iron on adhesive as the pieces might be too stiff to stitch through.
OK, still with me? Position shapes as desired on background, using small drop of craft glue (for the eeny- weeny felt circles an extra small squirt will do well). I rater like the patterns in the book mounted on a board and used to decorate the nursery walls. For decorative projects appliquéd to clothing, use blanket or primitive (read: big fat clumsy) stitch shapes with pearl cotton or embroidery thread. I make things I know I won’t wash straight from the bolt. But anything involving kids will often get soaking so don’t heart ache over beloved dolls or bags mutating into fuzzy little miniatures. The spirit of craft for fun is anti-perfectionist.
DOWNLOAD TEMPLATES HERE
aj_felt templates -1
aj_felt-templates-2
aj_felt-templates-3
aj_felt-templates-4