For the Love of Felt: Making Fancies and Embellishments

Posted on November 3, 2015

by Michelle

As the holiday season approaches, many of us are looking for ways to add a little love to our decorations and gifts. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just starting, there’s one versatile material that can take a handmade project to a whole new level – felt. It’s inexpensive, easy to find, and comes in so many different colors. I love using the stuff to create unique and whimsical accessories and fancies. In today’s post, I’ll show you how to make these little felt embellishments in under an hour.

And just for fun, we’ll stuff them with plastic bags. It’s an awesome way to recycle and save the planet at the same time. Right, before the “how to”, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram. And don’t forget to subscribe so you’ll never miss a post!

What you need

Felt in contrasting colors
Flower or heart template (you can download templates off the internet or you can use this one)
Embroidery thread
Plastic bags for stuffing
Embroidery needle
Scissors

How to make felt fancies and embellishments

Using a template as a guide cut out basic felt shape. Flowers, hearts, and stars are all good choices. For each fancy or embellishment you’ll need two equally sized pieces.

To add interest or detail cut a smaller shape using a contrasting color. Pin the smaller shape onto one of the larger shapes and stitch it on using a basic in and out stitch.

For a glamorous look you can add beads, sequins, or buttons. I used small pearl beads on my flower and heart. Once that’s done, place the two larger matching pieces together and use blanket stitch, and embroidery thread to sew them together. If you’re not a big fan of sewing you can use fabric glue instead.

Leave a small gap. It should be just big enough for you to get your finger inside to stuff the fancies.

Eco-Friendly stuffing

We try to avoid plastic bags whenever we can. It’s not always possible though. Some shops still haven’t got the memo that plastic is bad for the environment. So instead of tossing them out, I cut them into thin strips to use as stuffing (batting) for projects like this. Stuff the embellishments firmly, before sewing the gap closed.

And that’s it. So easy, right?!!

They can be given as a Valentine’s gift or you can use them to jazz up a pillow. Add a safety pin to the back and you have a quirky brooch or hang them in your Christmas tree, the possibilities are endless. What would you do with yours?

If you like the idea of making these easy felt fancies and embellishments, pin the tutorial for later.

Oh, and if you’re looking for some of the things we used, we’ve got you covered. Disclosure: Clicking on the links below means we may receive a commission from Amazon. But don’t worry, it won’t come out of your pocket, and it helps us make more amazing crafts to share with you 😉