I love wool and felt. Maybe it’s the influence of living up north and the cold.s. These fabrics are the most forgiving fabrics and so versatile. I have a decent stash, ahem, OK maybe bigger than that. In addition to this fabric I love the look of free motion feathers and normally when I do quilt, that it inevitably my go to pattern.In addition I love having a hand project going.
So I thought I’d combine all 3 loves. I hope this appeals to you as it really is a make it your own kinda project project. My color choices were based on the fact that it is going in my family room and I already have a lot that I made based on the colors from Art Gallery fabrics Lavish collection. I had some hand dyed wool felt blend, some wool and purchased wool felt blend fabrics all used in this pillow.
I used a marble gray for my pillow base, my goal was a 16″ pillow , so I cut this somewhere around 18″. I used my sizzix die for my feathers and then trimmed them to help them all nest. I used some “feathers” as is from the sizzix( included in pattern) but many I trimmed with super sharp scissors(also included). I used a couple different shades of green, pinks, very light gray and very dark gray. My birdie was made out of light gray wool. He is heavily embroidered with a lazy daisy stitch and french knots.
Download the feather pattern here ( there are some other shapes on there as well)
Trace your shapes onto paper side of freezer paper and cut out, I cut a turn of “feathers” in multiple sizes to audition my design.I used DMC floss in a matching color to the felt. All of the feathers were stitched with a blanket stitch. I tried to get smaller stitches near the fine points. I used 2 strands of threads.
For this project I did not use a fusible product, I just pin each feather. I honestly just sit there and audition everything. I started with a circle ( use the bottom of a shot glass as a good pattern) and built my feathers around that. I did the bottom of the pillow first, making sure to curl up the row for some interest. Kinda of imagine a center line where all of your feathers are reaching from. For more interest I also added small pieces on top, again randomly. I added a couple of layered circles and of course the birdie.
The one bad thing that I have run across with a wool felt blend is they tend to curl when you wash them. When you purchase wool/rayon combo felt it looks like craft felt, I wash mine to give it that bumpy, worn look. When you do that sometimes you lose that flatness ( it also shrinks, so always buy more!). I had thought about turning this into a framed picture and doing three but the gray would never lay flat, so a pillow it became. By no means am I unhappy with it, I love it actually! The picture doesn’t do it justice ( I might be bias).
For the birdie:
download the pattern: boho-birdie011
I traced the birdie on the paper side of the freezer paper and cut out with sharp scissors(affliate link) I set it in the corner, pinned and attached with blanket stitch. Then I did a bunch a lazy daisy stitches and french knots making tiny daises all over the bird. I used the same thread as I did to attach him.
Once everything was placed I actually did envelope style backing with wool blend felt, Its cheap and easy because you can use the raw edge. I rotary cut the raw edge first with a krimper blade. My backing was 2 pieces 18 1/2″ by 10 1/2″ layer the pieces to be a square.
Then lay your finished piece on top, good side up. I sewed with black thread about 1/2 away from edge. Then I used the krimper rotary cutter and went all around. I used my ruler just like I normally do.
I hope you love this. I can’t say that this is a beginner project, but it is all blanket stitching, once your comfortable with that you will be fine to do this.
Enjoy!
affiliate link- I might earn a small commission through the affiliate link listed here and through out the blog. In no way does this affect what you will pay for an item. It is the same cost as if you found the item yourself. However, it does help pay for my time for providing things free on this blog. Thank you as always! Colleen
So lovely!! I absolutely adore felt and this project is stunning. ^_^
Thank you so much, that is very kind, I love it too but I’m sure it’s my bias talking 😉