DIY : a hand stitched felt mobile

WHEW! It’s been a little bit of a crazy, slightly unproductive week for myself with a sick little one. We just can’t seem to stay well this winter and it’s kind of torturous for all of us. I’m sure most of you have been there, done that…so it just is what it is. And in the meantime it leaves me with a heap of wahs. From my little ones and  me

So, wah.

But this week, I wanted to include a mobile tutorial for all of you to try out.

I stopped making these handmade mobiles, and ever since then, I’ve received quite a few requests for more. I won’t lie, these little puppies are too tedious for me to reproduce. So I’d much rather share a little tutorial with all of you, if you’re interested in having your own for your awesome spaces. It’s the perfect piece to complete a child’s room, whether they’re your soon-to-be newborn, or settling into a big kid room. Or even older. It’s a fun, super cheap way to bring some fun personality to the walls, while you draw the eye, bring in color and play with fun textures and patterns. And the best part? You made it.

My kids absolutely adore theirs.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• a selection of buttons.

• felt colors of your choice (I choose predominantly off white, and then mix it up from there)

• scissors

• embroidery thread & needle {I use the embroidery needle (the bigger kind=easier to thread)

• fabrics with various patterns (whichever color theme you decide upon) I recommend ordering a heap of fabric scraps from etsy. This keeps it super colorful and makes it super affordable.

• a thread slightly heavier than the embroidery you’ll be working with (almost yarn-like, but more silky) to serve as the main mobile composition.

• glue gun

• a wooden embroidery hoop (take out the part on the inside-this will serve as your main circle-I usually choose one around 14-15 inches)

I’m super organized. Take that, Martha.

These are the main shapes that I cut, and I will list the following sizes. I think the sizes I use are GREAT for the layered, eclectic feel of the mobile, and go nicely together.

You have two options for cutting, and I will cover those in a second. but..

In inches, the sizes you’re seeing:

Circles: 2.5, 2. 1.5, 1

Scallops: 3.5, 1.5

floral: 2.5, 1.5, 2.5

You can cut the simple circles on your own. Simply make a paper template with each size, and start cutting away. You could even do a few simple flower shapes that way.

But a much easier, save-yourself-from-wanting-to-claw-out-your-eyeballs, kind of way…would be with a die cutter. (I even think you can purchase punches at your local craft store, it just depends on how well they work with fabrics. Sometimes they aren’t strong enough, so be forewarned. {I may or may not have made that mistake})

Because the scallop shapes are a different story in the cutting realm. So it depends on which route you take. You can either hand cut the basic shapes, or cut with an apparatus.

If you want the shapes to be smooth and easy, and if you plan on doing lots of fun things in the future, like flower bows…small gifts, pins, garlands, etc… If you are one for handmade projects, I gotta tell you guys, this thing is one of my favorite purchases of all time.

Grab up a Sizzix Big shot, with the following dies: flower layers # 3, circles # 2, and Circles Scallop # 2

You’ll thank me later. {helpful hint: ebay}

Mine payed for itself in no time with all the flower bows I made for Emerson, and gifts for her friends. Emmy literally owns about a hundred of these. One for every outfit. And for a while, I sold these, too. So it paid for itself.

A basic example of how the shapes are layered: but, you basically cut all your shapes, repeating the exact same ones in the felt, and in the fabric. When you think you have enough, lay them all out on the table, (and the fun part) layer them. They look like little decorative cookies, all lined up on my table.

Then choose 3-4 colors of Embroidery thread, and get creative with the stitching.

If you’re nice and prego, this is a GREAT little project to keep yourself busy in those last few weeks. Take my word for it. {cut to me, late at night, feet up in front of the tv stitching away, one piece at a time.}

For my mobiles, I do 5 strands with 6 on each strand. Front and back. That’s 60 pieces.

Yep. 60. It adds up fast. Yours can be smaller, but I like the size this makes for the corners of a room if your space has tall ceilings.

I basically lay all of my pieces out, and eyeball them as I go, to see which pieces form a better pattern together. Small, big, small big, etc. along with the spacing. I make the center strand longer than the other four, then I make two shorter, and two longer, so that they hang symmetrically, and the pieces alternate in length once the mobile has been hung.

Helpful hint: don’t feel like to have to stitch each and every piece. I do the majority, because of the additional layer of interest it brings, but you can stitch a piece together on one side and then join the piece to be paired with it on the other side, with a glue gun. (once you run your string through the center) The stitching on the outer edge of the larger piece will show on the backside of the joined piece. (That one is kinda complicated to explain.) SO, you can cheat, with less stitching, if you plan out your pieces to be paired together nicely.

Then simply run your string through the center, of both of your layered pieces, and sandwhich them together, so that both pieces show when the string rotates. Just zap it with your gluegun and let it dry for a few.

Bust out your hoop, and choose four strings at the desired length you want. Tie them in between each strand, at an equal distance apart from each other. These will be your hanging ties.

I find it helpful to hang the mobile, and get it level from there.  (it will take some playing, to achieve the final look you want once it has been screwed into the ceiling.)

Choose four places equally spaced apart from each other on the circle, and tie the top part of your string with your new little medallions you’ve made, to the wood.

Take your center piece, and tie it at the top part of the knot you have made with your hanging ties. This way the center string, which is longer than the others, will come through the center. If you take it down and lay it on the floor, your mobile will basically look like this on the floor.

 

Take the end part of the hanging ties, and join them to an eye hook. The eyehook will simply screw into the ceiling, and will enable you to hang the mobile.

And there you have it. Your own creation for your little ones to cherish for years to come.

You’ll love it, and so will they.

A cautionary, yet necessary side note: Please always use caution when hanging these pieces above your little one’s crib. This includes long strands and small, simple pieces…all of which could cause a major choking hazard. We’ve never had a problem because we adjust the crib height and the mobile accordingly. BUT always use your instincts and your parental smarts when using something handmade like this with your child. Adjust your heights, and keep it out of baby’s reach!

It’s a touch of whimsy for their spaces, no?

Let me know if you try it! I seriously want to see, and I’m starting to think we should start a flickr group. Thoughts?