Hand Sewn Felt Owl by Rhonda Turrell, Chenango County 4-H You don’t need a sewing machine to make this cute little owl. This little stuffy is made using a few hand sewing techniques, felt, a needle and thread. An easy to make pattern, a few step by step stitches and you will be making lots of these that you can use for many different projects, from cat toys to mobiles. Use your imagination to create a lot of different owls. Change their color and give them different accessories. It’s your project so make it personal by giving it your own fun look. I have included the pattern and one kit to get you started. Join me on a zoom meeting as I guide you through steps like; what is the right size needle, separating your embroidery floss, teach you a few different hand sewing stitches, and what is the right way to sew on a button. Let’s get started…. Supplies needed: Owl pattern Felt Embroidery floss (3 strands) Needle (with large eye) Stitch guide Scissors Rule Pen Stuffing – polyfil Button – (2) ½” or smaller (eyes) Straight pins - optional

In your kit you will find pre-cut felt pieces so we can begin right away learning the hand sewing techniques. If you enjoy this project and want to make more I have included the pattern so feel free to make many more of these cute little owls. 1) First, lay out your kit making sure you have 12 felt pieces, 2 buttons, stuffing, a needle, and embroidery floss. 2) Before each piece is sewn together you will need to prepare your embroidery floss. I will tell you approximately how long your thread should be for each step. Embroidery floss is wound together into 6 strands. For this project you will be working with 3 stands so you will carefully pull apart the strands and set the other 3 aside to use later. 3) Begin with a 12” long piece of floss. Separate the floss so you have 3 strands, set the other aside. Go ahead and thread the needle placing a *knot in one end. 4) Take one owl body piece and the tummy section. Hold the tummy in place as you stitch across only the top part using a *running stitch. ______On the back side of the body knot your thread, cut. 5) Using your pattern as a guide lightly mark the bottom of the tummy where the wings should be placed. You will need 26” long piece of floss, 3 strands. Find the wing pieces, holding in place sew them to the owl body using a *backstitch. ------Just stitch the inside edge of the wing. Knot your thread, cut. Do the same to the other wing. 6) Use the other 12” long floss you used in step #3. Find the beak piece, hold the widest part of the triangle toward the top with the point toward the tummy. Stitch only the top edge of the beak using a small running stitch. Knot your thread, cut. Save the unused floss for later. 7) Eyes – find the largest circles. Line up one of the circles with the center part of the beak you just sewed. Use a 28” long piece of floss, (3 strands) sew that using the running stitch. Line up the other circle matching to the same center of the beak, it will overlap the other eye piece slightly. Sew that using the running stitch. Knot and cut. 8) Eyes – Find the smaller eye pieces. Use the other 28” long floss. Sew those on top of the larger circles (leave a small space between them) using the backstitch. Knot and cut. 9) Add the buttons to the smaller circle using the *button attachment technique and 12” floss, 3 strands. I like mine toward the bottom right edge of my small circles. 10) Now it’s time to add the flower, use the other 12” floss. Place the tiny circle in the center of the flower piece, hold it where you would like it sewn onto your owl. Attach this with a *French knot. I used three little French knots. 11) Time to sew the owl together. Prepare a 48” long floss. Hold the two body pieces together (pin at the top if you need to). Start at the bottom edge where the wing meets the tummy and start sewing around your owl using a *blanket stitch. /_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_ Stop at the bottom of the other wing and stuff with polyfil. Pinch together and finish stitching to meet the start point. Knot and cut. Alright, nice job! Your owl is complete. Did you like making this owl? Create one on your owl, try adding other fun accessories, make a few and hang them like a mobile, or make one for your cat by adding a little catnip to the stuffing & remove the buttons. *STITCH GUIDE

KNOTTING THREAD – Before you begin your hand sewn project it is important to knot your thread. It is different than your finishing knot. Knotting your thread does take practice, but don’t give up you’ll be making knots like a pro before you know it. 1) Place the end of the thread across your pointer finger, hold it in place with your thumb (same hand). 2) Wrap the thread over your pointer finger 2 times. 3) Use your thumb to slide the thread loops toward the end of your pointer finger. The loops will slip over around each other creating a loose knot. 4) With your fingers slide the loose knot to the end of the thread tugging firmly.

RUNNING STITCH – One of the most basic types of hand stitches. This stitch is finished with either a knot or a couple of backstitches in order to lock it in place. Bring your needle through the back (wrong side) of your fabric. Once the knot hits the fabric, skip a small distance to the left or right and place your needle back through to the backside, skip a space and push the needle back to the right side of your fabric. Repeat this across the area needed. Finish with a knot. BACKSTITCH – Before the use of sewing machines the backstitch was used when making clothing. This stitch is a strong, reliable stitch. To make the backstitch insert the needle from the back of the fabric where you want to start the seam. Take a small stitch like the running stitch however after coming up through the fabric for your next stitch go back down into the end of the previous stitch when you come back up skip a space and go back down into the end of the previous stitch. Continue across working into each previous stitch. BLANKET STITCH – This is a fun stitch used to decorate the edges of your sewing projects. Using a longer or shorter stitch, different types of thread, or different colored thread can make your project stand out. 1. Once you knot the thread, slide needle between the layers of your fabric, out to the front side of your project. Place the needle over the top into the back of the fabric at the same point you came out. Pull leaving a small loop at the top, place your needle through the loop and pull snug. This is the starting stitch. 2. Go in through the back a stitch length away from your first stitch, pull leaving a loop to slide your needle through, then pull snug. 3. Repeat this process all the way around your project. 4. Finish by going into the first stitch you made. Slip you needle into the top of that stitch leaving a small loop pass the needle through the loop pull snug. Repeat a second time. This will lock your stitches.

BUTTON ATTACHMENT – When attaching buttons people often forget to leave room for the button to be used easily. Your owl buttons are just decorations however it is good to practice the correct way to attach a button. Mark a small dot or X where you want to place your button. Bring your needle through the back side of your fabric up through your button. If it has 2 holes simply go down the opposite. Go up and down about 3 times pulling snug but not too tight. (Go up and down more if the button is not decorative) If you have 4 holes you will want to come up and down the diagonal holes which will form and ‘X’ on the top. The last time you start up through do not go through the hole but slide your needle just under the button. Wrap your thread around the base of the button 3 times. Finish by placing your needle through the bundle forming a small loop. Slip the needle through the loop, pull snug and down through the fabric to the back. Slip your needle through those stitches to knot, catching the loop each time, do this twice.

FRENCH KNOT – Bring your needle up through the back of your project where you want your knot placement. Wrap the thread around the needle twice, snuggly. As you insert the needle back into the fabric be sure your thread remains taught. You should insert your needle close to the hole you came up through but not in the same hole. Slowly pull the working thread taught through the wrapped loops to finish off. It’s easier to place your thumb on top of the knot as you tighten it to aid in a consistent French knot. The needle should slide through the loop smoothly. Finish off by knotting on the back side. BLANKET STITCH BUTTON ATTACHMENT