Category: how to

angry snowmen ornament tutorial

December 13, 2024
by annwood
comments 37

When life gives you lemons…. Make angry snowman ornaments.

Fun story: just before thanksgiving, while running, in the dark, I took a huge spill. It was the end of the run so I was not at a jog but full middle aged craft lady speed. The momentum was considerable.

I broke the fall with my face. So painful. And smashed my brand new glasses. Two weeks later I’m mostly healed and new glasses finally turned up a couple days ago. The interruption at a busy time is super frustrating and I’m considerably behind on all my wassailing projects.

stitched cotton snowman with wool scarf and angry embroidered features

These little disgruntled snowmen feel like perfect expressions of my holiday rage. Look at this guy – he’s livid.

And so quick and easy to make. Plus you can turn his frown upside down if you feel like it.

let’s make some angry snowmen

you will need

the template
a basic sewing kit
fabric scraps
wool scraps
stuffing
embroidery thread – brown, orange, black

DOWNLOAD THE TEMPLATE

1.  Pin the snowman template to doubled fabric- right sides together – and cut out.

2.  Separate the pieces and trace the features onto the right side of one piece.

3. Pin the pieces right sides together-  mark the  1/4 inch seam line – and sew- leaving open where indicated on the pattern.

4.  Clip  wedges around the curves.

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Support free patterns like angry snowmen! It’s been a priority here for years to create high quality free patterns (there are tons) on an ad free site. There are not very many of those left…  Help keep the awesome free projects flowing.

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5. Turn right side out. Run the large end of a chopstick or similar firmly around the seam inside  to push out the curves.  Add stuffing.

6. Fold in the edges of the opening and whip stitch closed.

7.  Embroider the simple eyes and mouth with backstitch.  Use this trick to hide your knots.

8. Embroider the nose with satin stitch ( I only had sewing thread in orange and that worked)

9.  For stick arms – make a knot about 2 and 1/2 inches from the end of brown embroidery thread.

10. Insert the needle in the side seam.

11. Bring it out on the opposite side and pull until the knot catches.

12. Make a knot at the seam.

13. Trim the arms.

Pro Tip – use wax or starch to stiffen the arms a little.  A stiff hair product can work too. It’s all about those arms – lots of rage potential.

Tear a 1/2 inch strip of wool,  tie it around his neck and trim. Add a hanging loop  to the head. I’m wishing I used red and white bakers twine…

They are silly! Silly is good.  Do you know somebody who needs a disgruntled snowman? Let us know in the comments and check back next week for handmade christmas 2024!

new sewing tutorial : turkey leg treat bag

November 22, 2024
by annwood
comments 15

Did you know that the paper things they put on turkey legs are called frills? And/or booties. That’s the official name. I’m a little disappointed, I thought it would be a fancier and more obscure sounding word. If I was in charge of naming them it would be something like bufflenotters or tipplewads or whimploons. I think whimploons is perfect – who do I need to get in touch with to fix this?

This was on my mind while I was making you something fun for the holidays. It’s silly. And super easy and fast to make. It will delight somebody little or somebody big. You probably have everything you need to make it – just some brown for the turkey part and some white for the whimploon.

let’s make turkey leg treat bags

you will need

the template
a basic sewing kit
fabric scraps
ribbon, twill tape or cord
large safety pin
optional – a tiny bit of stuffing

DOWNLOAD THE TEMPLATE

1.  Pin the turkey and frill templates to doubled fabric – right sides together – and cut out. Also cut a strip from the turkey fabric that is 2 inches by 12 and 1/4 inches.

2.  Mark the seam lines on the turkey and frill.

3. Fold the end of the strip 1/4 inch.

4. Fold it 1/4 inch again and stitch along the fold. Repeat the  2 –  1/4 inch folds for the other end but don’t stitch it yet – just press.

support the ann wood handmade free pattern library with a happy donation 

Support free patterns like turkey legs! It’s been a priority here for years to create high quality free patterns (there are tons) on an ad free site. There are not very many of those left…  Help keep the awesome free projects flowing.

Click here to add your support.

 

 

5

5. Fold the strip in half -wrong sides together – and press. Sew the frill seam– leave it open at the top and sew one side seam on the turkey leg.

6. Press the top 2 inches of the seam open.

7. With the right side of the fabric facing you pin the strip to the edge. Begin at the seam line – 1/4 inch in from the edge. The folded edge of the strip is on the bottom and you’r matching the raw edges of the leg to the strip.

8. The other end of the strip needs to end 1/4 inch from the edge. Adjust if needed then stitch the fold in place. Pin it to the edge.

9

9. Stitch together at 1/4 inch.

10. Clip notches around the curves of the frill.

11. Optional – add a little stuffing. If you do it should be pretty minimal and leave the top 3/4  inch empty.

12. Pin the frill inside.

13. Fold the turkey leg sides together and pin.

14. Stitch the side and bottom seams.

15. Turn right side out and unpin the frill. Run a chopstick firmlyaround the seam to push out the curve.

16. Attach a large safety pin to a cord or ribbon. You need about 25 inches.

17. Feed it through the top channel.

 

draw string bag in the shape of a turkey leg

Fill your drumstick with treats or treasures and tie shut.

I hope you stitch some drumsticks and happy Thansgiving!

 

new sewing tutorial : make a hooded doll cloak

June 28, 2024
by annwood

This little doll cloak is made with just one seam and one piece of felt. Magic – it’s almost too easy. Details are optional and there are so many possibilities… Little folks will be delighted by the process and the transformation of this flat shape into a sweet hooded cloak just right for the tiny rag doll.

tiny rag doll wearing felt cape in my hand

doll cloak materials

the template
felt -quality matters- wool or wool blend is best
embroidery thread
embroidery needle
small button or bead

download the template

 

materials for the doll cloak on a workk table with the tiny dolls

That’s it! That’s all you need. The cloak is assembled with just one little seam and the rest is decorative. You can use any edge stitch and add as much embroidery detail as you like. Find lot’s of edge stitch tutorials here. My first cloak is super simple. Its sweetness surprised me. The result is so delightful I feel like it should have been harder to do.  And it’s just so spot on right for the tiny rag doll.

Cut out the template and use a sharp pencil to poke holes at the ends of the two lines. Pin the pattern to the felt and use a colored pencil or disappearing marker to mark dots at the ends of the lines. Cut out around the template.

Remove the pattern and draw the two lines- connecting the dots.

Cut the lines  – sharp embroidery scissors or thread snips make this easy.

Using matching or contrasting embroidery thread (I’m using 2 strands of embroidery thread) insert your needle close to the edge at the center of the V shape. I used a tiny knot at the end of the thread and I’ll clip the tail super short.

*the commercial break

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Support the always growing free pattern library.

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Fold the felt in half and make one little stitch and knot it. Stitch the seam to the point using whatever stitch you like. I’m using a simple whip stitch.

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jolly flies : tiny santa hat tutorial

December 1, 2023
by annwood

These guys definitely have a “too much to drink at the office party vibe” or SantaCon but with flies…  And the little scrunchy bend in the hat really delivers the holiday magic.  The hat works on mice too or anybody really little.  They only take a few minutes to make.

how to make a tiny santa hat

download the hat template

You will also need:

The house flies are made from this free tutorial.

  • felt (wool or wool blend is best)
  • extra fluffy chenille stems – I got these at Joanns
  • white and red thread
  • basic sewing kit

1. Cut out the hat shape from felt. PS – we don’t use the glue for the hat but I did use it to make the flies legs a little stiff. Put a little on your fingers and rub it onto the threads. Also- I love that glue.

2. Bend one end of the chenille wire over- about 1/2 inch.

3. Use your finger to separate the chenille as you stitch it to the edge of the felt with matching thread. Wetting your finger a little will help to flatten the chenille. Stitch over the wire in the center. We’ll fluff it back up after.

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Support the always growing free pattern and tutorial library! Your happy donation will help me keep creating and posting new free patterns and tutorials.

 

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4. Here it is form the back – stitch to the end.

5. Clip the stem (with scissors you don’t love) a little past the end.

6. Bend the end in towards the back.

7. Bend the end of the remaining stem over about 1/2 inch.

8.  Place it on the back so the bend extends past the top edge. Trim the other end and bend the it up a little past the bottom edge.

9. Wrap the felt around and whip stitch with matching thread.

Open the bottom to its round shape and bend the tip over in a jaunty flop.   You can pin it to the head or use a few stitches to make your fly permanently jolly.

I hope you make jolly house flies! You definitely know somebody who needs one!

ghost kitties : a new tutorial and notes from the forest

September 22, 2023
by annwood

boo! sew up a batch of friendly cat ghosts

They are sweet and silly and  I’ve made you a tutorial and everything. It’s super easy and quick  to do and you probably already have everything you need to make them.  Sew by hand or machine. This is also a perfect pattern for using freezer paper if you have it. Trace the template onto your freezer paper and iron it on (shiny side down). You can stitch around with the freezer paper still attached. And you can use the freezer paper template multiple times.  For the demonstration below I’m using a plain paper pattern.

More on the ghost kitties in a moment….

notes from the forest

mark making with stamps and paint on newsprint in progress

In other news I’ve just come back from the Squam Art Retreat in New Hampshire.  A glorious time  was had by all. Maybe mostly me. I so needed the change of pace and some time to play and experiment and listen to the loons and the wind in the pines. The group energy is wild and motivating. I came home with lots of percolating ideas.  The class (taught by myself and Autumn Song) was a day of creative play that began with mark making. The rest of the day is top secret…

And you never know who you might bump into in that big pine forest….

The dastardly owl and sleepy very nice mice and little  wire bed by Mary B. So sweet!

make a cat ghost doll

download the pattern

You will also need:

  • cotton fabric
  • a basic sewing kit
  • chopstick or similar
  • stuffing – I like wool
  • buttons
  • embroidery thread for the features

1.  Download and cut out the template.  Pin it to a double layer of fabric (right sides together) and trace with a pencil or disappearing marker. Mark the space for the opening indicated on the pattern.

2. Remove the paper pattern and re-pin the fabric (use lots of pins).  Cut out around the seam line with 1/4 inch seam allowance.

3.  Stitch the seam by hand or machine.  Clip tiny wedges into the seam allowance around the curves. Clip close to the seam but be careful not to snip it. Clip off the tips at the ears and tail and remove a little of the seam allowance. Reducing the bulk at the points will make them turn out more easily.

back to the cats in just a moment:

It has been a priority here for years to create high quality and fun free patterns (there are tons) like the ghosty cats on an ad free site. There are not very many of those left and it is becoming increasingly difficult. In an effort to keep the free awesomeness flowing I’ve created an opportunity for you to support and show some love to my free pattern library.

support the ann wood handmade free pattern library with a happy donation

Support free patterns like ghosty cats with a happy donation. 

Click here to add your support.

 

back to the cat spectres:

4. Turn it right side out. Use a chopstick to push out the small parts.Gentle pressure and a twisting motion will help push the tips all the way out.

5. Place the pattern over your right side out cat and use a pencil to poke through the paper to make guide dots for the simple features.

6. Stuff -I’m using this wool stuffing.  Add a little at a time and be careful not to block narrow parts.

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house fly rag doll : sewing tutorial

May 19, 2023
by annwood

simple fly rag dolls that fit in the palm of your hand. Made from cotton scraps with button eyes and simple details. Their expressions are very happy.

Who could be mad at these guys? Sew up some little fly friends, you’ll need a handful of scraps, stuffing and buttons. Pretty much. Their expressions crack me up. And the funny little legs definitely have “flyness”.

The idea for them first turned up in the daily paintings. I love to celebrate the less loved creatures and who is less loved than the dreaded house fly?

little fly dolls in miniature wire beds with vintage cotton mattresses

And why not make them cozy? They fit perfectly in the little wire beds.

let’s make a batch of dear little pests

 

fabric fly doll, on it's back on a windowsill next to a vase.

 

download the template

supplies

  • basic sewing kit
  • embroidery thread  (I’m using dmc perl cotton 12)
  • buttons – 1/4 – 1/2  inch-ish
  • cotton fabric scraps
  • a little stuffing

It’s helpful to read through all the steps before beginning.

1. Pin the body pattern to 2 layers of cotton fabric – right sides together – and cut out 1/4 inch from the edge. With the pattern still attached, stitch around the edge of the paper. Leave open between the marks.

2. Clip the seam allowance at the marks.

3. With the paper pattern still attached fold the edges of the opening over and press.

4. Clip little triangle sections out of the seam allowance – be careful not to clip the seam.

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Support free patterns like happy flies! And keep the awesome free projects flowing.

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back to the flies…

5. Turn the body right side out. Use a chopstick or similar to push out the curves.

6. Stuff the body and stitch the opening closed with tiny whip stitches.

For adding the details and features you will find this tutorial on how to hide your knots helpful.

 

7. Cut out the stomach patch and stitch in place.

8.  The wings are made from 2 layers of fabric. Pin the wing pattern to a double layer of cotton – wrong sides together – and cut out around the edge of the pattern (do not add seam allowance). Repeat for another wing.

9. Stitch all the way around the edge of both wings with contrasting thread –  about 1/8th inch from the edge.

10.  Stitch buttons close to the edge of the head. I used a half inch button here – you can use 2 or 4 hole buttons.

11. Stitch two straight lines in contrasting thread to finish his simple features.

12. Pin the wings in place. The short side goes in the center with the edges overlapping slightly. Make a few stitches in the center and down the side. Stitch with the same color thread over your previous stitches.

13. Make a knot 4 inches from the end of your leg thread (I used dmc perl cotton #12). Insert the needle into the side seam at the top to the stomach patch.

14. Bring the needle out the other side until the knot catches and make a knot at the seam.

15. Make a knot in the thread and before tightening it use the needle to pull it down the thread util it is 1/2 inch from the body. Tighten the knot.

16.  Trim the leg about 1/2 inch from the knot. Repeat the knot and trimming on the other side.

17. 1/2 inch below the first legs add the next two. For the last two legs Make a knot 4 inches from the end and put the needle in 1/2 inch from the bottom of the body. Bring the thread out the other side until it catches and make a knot at the seam.

18.  Make a knot 1 inch from the body.

19. Trim the leg  3/4 inch from the knot. Repeat the knot and trimming on the other side.

hello fly friend!

Do you know somebody who needs an aggressively friendly fly?  Is there an adorable swarm in your future? Let us know in the comments.

stitching mini tetras from scraps

May 5, 2023
by annwood

work table with multi colored mini fabric charms in pyramid shapes

These mini tetra charms are super quick and fun to sew (they are also pretty addictive).  All you need is a tiny scrap and a little stuffing and you are minutes away from a completed charm. I have no real plans/reason for these yet but I love making them. There is something so satisfying about the shape and size and variety of colors together. They are lucky charms or bookmarks (on a longer string) or garlands or jewelry.

I came across a tutorial years ago on the mairuru blog  (she has lots of great diys) but got around to trying them just lately.

I made charms in two sizes – very mini – using a rectangle 2 ½ by 1 ¼ inches and a larger size using a rectangle 2 by 4 inches.

Cut your rectangles and follow the diy here.

 

tiny fabric pyramid shaped charm - about 1 inch high in my hand

indigo pyramid shaped charm in my hand

You can also make an even larger version for a pincushion or pattern weight.  Start with a rectangle twice as long as wide.

The name, tetra, comes from their shape – tetrahedron- a triangular pyramid. The construction is magical and simple. You can also make little paper packages with pretty much the same technique. Check out this vintage tetra milk carton. So cool, but it apparently did not stand the test of time…

pyramid treat boxes in paper and card stock

I also made the packages in 2 sizes. The smaller size is made using a 4 ½ by 6 inch rectangle and the larger with a 6 by 8 rectangle. If you’re using heavier paper like card stock the larger size is best. For the little one I used kraft paper. a shopping bag is ideal.

*this post contains an affiliate link, meaning if you purchase through the link I get a small commission.

Roll the paper into a tube, overlapping the edges and tape or (glue stick) them. I used washi tape. Double sided tape is also great for the join.

Fold the edge over twice. You can glue or staple or even sew the edge. It also does not need to be folded – you could  trim the edge instead. Put treats or surprises (or little tetra charms inside).

Close the other end with the taped join on the side instead of the middle, fold and staple.

And we gotta talk about the stapler. Who new staples could be so charming? It was a Christmas gift and everything about it is appealing, the box it comes in, the midcentury design and the tiny staples. You can find it here * this is an affiliate link meaning I get a small commission if you purchase through the link.

I love the simple little packages! You can find more variations of them and other simple and sweet packaging ideas on my pinterest packaging board.

Will you stitch up some mini tetra charms? Do you love cool packaging? Does a tiny staple make you swoon? Let us know in the comments.

exciting developments in tiny curtain hardware for the cardboard doll house

March 31, 2023
by annwood

What’s more luxurious than a little wood stove in your bedroom on a cold spring morning? #lifegoals  There has been major work on the cardboard house for the tiny doll. Decisions have been made and actions have been taken.

doll house made from corrugated cardboard with diy furniture

miniature curtains

The big news is an exciting development in tiny curtain hardware, such a break through, let’s start with that. The original plan was to just tack up little bits of fabric and lace but the idea of hardware and removable rods would not leave me alone.

The twig solution is just right for a cardboard house and super easy to do. All you need are some twigs and hot glue. Snip off sections with a little limb and glue to the wall.

Stitch or tie on fabric or weave a little twig through the lace.

*this post contains an affiliate link highlighted and marked with an asterisk

bedroom walls and floor

The upstairs walls got one more coat of paint in warm white and a border with a carved rubber stamp. I made the downstairs and upstairs stamps with this easy block kit (*this is an affiliate link – meaning I get a small commission if you purchase through the link). It really is easy and I want to make lot’s more.

There is a closer look at the stamped downstairs walls here.

The bedroom floor needed to be super simple and playful in scale. The removable cardboard floor  is painted a reddish brown and simple planks were added with darker colored pencil.

wood stove and hearth pad

The wood stove for the bedroom needed a hearth. It’s a matte board (on the wall) and a half circle of foam core for the floor. The stones are made using this tutorial. The little stove (made with this DIY) also got a roaring fire. Cut the door on three sides with an xacto knife and bend it open. I painted the inside black and orange and yellow tissue paper was added.

It’s the coziest room ever. I want to live in it.

Checkout the miss thistle society for more tiny world tutorials. Are there twig curtain brackets in your future? Are you working on a world for somebody tiny? Let us know in the comments.

little chicks : free sewing pattern

February 3, 2023
by annwood

Little chicks! Super quick and easy to make.  And you can make little chicken families using the free chicken sewing pattern.

You just need fabric scraps and a few other things to get started.

**download the pattern**

You will also need:

  • fabric scraps – light cotton or linen
  • felt (I like wool felt)
  • embroidery thread
  • glue stick
  • stuffing
  • a basic sewing kit
  • pencil or disappearing marker

1. Pin the body pattern to 2 layers of fabric with the right sides together and cut out.

2. Mark the seam line,  location for the beak and opening marks lightly in pencil or disappearing marker. Cut out the beak from felt. Pin the body pieces – right sides together – near the tail end.

3. Add a tiny bit of glue to just the back edge of the beak.

4. Fold back the top layer of fabric and place on the body fabric exactly as shown – point facing in. Use the guide lines on the wrong side of the fabric to check the placement.

5. Fold the top layer back down, pin and stitch the seam with very small, straight stitches. I got a much better result stitching these by hand. After stitching trim little triangles into the seam allowance being careful not to clip the seam.

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Support free patterns like little chicks! And keep the awesome free projects flowing.

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6. Use your chopstick to turn the chick right side out. Push all the curves out with firm pressure.

7. Stuff with wool.

8. Fold in the opening of the edges and stitch closed.

9. You will  find this method for hiding your knots helpful for embroidering the details. I added an X on each side for eyes using 2 strands of embroidery thread.

10. You can leave the beak as is or clip a little triangle out of the center.

11. For the legs use embroidery thread. Put the needle in the bottom seam as shown – coming out about 3/4 of an inch from where you inserted.

12. Pull the thread through so you have some length on each end and knot close to the fabric

13. Trim the legs. Use starch to give them a little stiffness (pro tip – hair gel works too)

You could also add a couple stitches on the side for a little wing detail and a hanging string (use this method again to hide the ends).

hello little chicks!

I hope you make lots of little chicks! If you do I’d love to see. Please use #annwoodpattern on instagram. Or share in the ann wood handmade community.

the shimmering space between

January 6, 2023
by annwood
materials, fabric and fabric scraps gathered on my worktable

When I began my first 100 day stitch book last year the plan was to be purely abstract. To commit to a “yes and” improvisational process, let go of outcome, be concerned only with making marks with stitches and responding to those marks. Create for the sake of creating.

a collection of very small fabric scraps and colored thread ends in a little ceramic dish

On the first day there was a little pile of fabric scraps and a blank page. The scraps were odd and unintentional shapes – off cuts from other projects.

The vision of pure abstraction dissolved almost immediately, representation crept in, sometimes obviously (to me) and sometimes subtly. There were boats and trees and castles and mushrooms, vessels, and lots more. My first impulse was to work to banish those recognizable images. The problem was they snuck in on their own. I didn’t plan for them. And that really was the improvisational process I had committed to.

day 6 2022

So I let them come. Sometimes they took over and sometimes they shimmered in and out as I worked. The revelation was the images I ended up liking the best, the pages where I felt like I got out of my own way (the whole point of the exercise) shift between abstraction and figure.

2 slow stitched collages in a textile book

Did I make the image or did it just appear?

It’s sort of like looking at clouds. Clouds don’t try to look like anything in particular but it happens all the time, we perceive an image. There is a word for it and everything – pareidolia

“ the tendency to perceive a specific, often meaningful image in a random or ambiguous visual pattern. “

That was the biggest revelation and lesson of last year’s 100 days. It pointed me towards a place that feels inspiring and creative and challenging, a good place to play. The ambiguity is freeing.

Let’s talk about another word- intuition

“the ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning.”

The point of this 100 day exercise is to listen to yourself, to learn to feel for and trust your intuition. Really listening, connecting to your intuition and expressing yourself is difficult. Daily practice helps. What might 100 days of showing up and listening reveal about your own work, process, imagination?

materials, fabric and fabric scraps gathered on my worktable

I’ll close this post with your warm up assignments :

Checkout the stitch book I made last year- starting at the bottom of the post you can see each page over the five days and you can see the book assembled here.

Gather some materials and put them in a box. Label the box 100 day stitch book. The hard part is over, you already started.

make scrappy trees from recreational patchwork

November 11, 2022
by annwood

These little tree ornaments (or garland) are a quick and easy  project perfect for scraps and a great excuse for indulging in some recreational patchwork: sewing lots of random fabric scraps together (on the sewing machine) without thinking about it too much, inviting happy accidents.

The trees have batting inside and are finished with quilting stitches. As many or as few as you like.  I used muslin for the back, I like that they feel like tiny quilts.

To make the patchwork start with a big variety of light weight cotton and join pieces together. Press the seams open, trim the edge and sew more together etc. etc. 

When a bunch are joined you can cut it into smaller sections and join those together. You get the idea.  It could go on forever – joining, cutting and joining again. I love doing it and it also get’s me moving if I’m feeling stuck or  keeps my hands busy while an idea is percolating.

how to make the trees

download the tree template

You will also need:

  • embroidery thread
  • a large sharp embroidery needle
  • cotton batting
  • optional – muslin for the back
  • chopstick for turning
  • basic sewing supplies

1. place the tree template on your patchwork and cut out with about a 1/4 inch seam allowance

2. Place your tree back fabric (I’m using plain muslin) over thin cotton batting. If your back fabric has a wrong and right side you want the right side facing up.

3. Place the cut tree over the back fabric with the right side facing down.

4. Pin the pattern back on and cut out.

support the ann wood handmade free pattern library with a happy donation 

Support free patterns like scrappy trees! And keep the awesome free projects flowing.

Click here to add your support.

 

 

back to the trees:

5. Sew around the edge of the pattern leaving one side partially open. The opening should be about 1 and 1/2 inch.

6. Trim off the points close to the seams being careful not to clip the seam. Clip little triangles out in the corners of the trunk and clip away any excess seam allowance.

7. Turn your tree right side out through the opening.

8. Use the larger end of the chopstick to push out the general shape and the sharper ends to push the points all the way out.

9. Fold in the opening edges and press the tree. Don’t sew it shut yet – leaving it open is handy for hiding the ends of your threads if you’re quilting it. Add some quilting stitches. I made the executive decision  not to care what the stitches on the back of the tree look like – wabi-sabi style. If you do care just turn the tree over with each stitch to make sure you’re bringing the needle out where you want it.

10.   When you’re done quilting bring the thread out at the tip to create a hanging string and finally whip stitch the side closed.

These are super quick – I made a bunch in just a couple hours and they go fastest in batches. They’re sweet to hang on a tree or anywhere and  a nice extra on a package.

I hope you make scrappy trees! You can use #annwoodpattern on instagram to share or join the community!

crow sew-along week 2 : top secret trick for wing texture

October 7, 2022
by annwood
stitched crow wings with black feathery ruffles at the top

Welcome to week 2 of the crow-along!

Your goal for this week is to make your wings and tail. That’s steps 33 – 54 in the pattern. Please read through those steps before you start, it helps a lot to see where you are headed before you begin.

week 1 of the sew-along is here

stitched crow wings with black feathery ruffles at the top

The wings and tail are easy and quick and I’ve got a couple tips to make them even more crowy.

Tip #1 – Stripes are your friend.

Stripes give your feathers a little extra bang for the buck. With 2 layers of fabric, right sides together, place the feather pattern piece on the  diagonal and cut, super simple. A variety of scale is nice too.

The pieces are tacked down with a little glue stick. You can hand or machine sew the lines (step – 47 in the pattern.

Tip #2 – My top secret method for making feathery texture with a light weight fabric

 

Please watch the video above (click here if you don’t see the video). And I’ll go over the basics below.

You need a strip of lightweight fabric. The strip should be about 16 inches (it’s more than you will use but you don’t want to run out) of un-gathered fabric per wing. It’s about 1 and ¼ inches wide.

Gather the strip by hand or machine. My stitch line is slightly off center. It’s super quick and easy to do on the machine by turning the tension to the highest setting and the stitch length to the largest setting. If you’re gathering by hand make a back stitch after every couple inches to keep it from all unbunching.

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