Raccoon Scarf
This is a scarf that will keep you warm and make everyone smile! What's more, it's simple to make-you just need to use running stitch and whipstitch, two of the easiest stitches to sew.
You will need
Paper for templates
Templates on page 122
16 x 45 in. (40 x 115 cm) pale gray fleece
10 x 13 in. (25 x 35 cm) black fleece
5 x 7 in. (13 x 18 cm) cream fleece
2 black buttons, approx. ½ in. (12 mm) in diameter, for eyes
Black and cream embroidery floss (thread)
White sewing thread
Pencil and ruler
Scissors
Sticky tape
Pins
Embroidery and sewing needles
On the paper, draw a long rectangle measuring 24 x 6 in. (60 x 15 cm) and cut it out. Enlarge the templates on page 122 by 200% and cut them out. Tape the head and tail paper templates to the ends of the paper rectangle to make the raccoon pattern. Fold the gray fleece in half, pin the raccoon pattern to it, and cut it out carefully to give you two scarf pieces.
Using the templates, cut out the outer eyes, ears, nose, and the three stripes for the tail from black fleece. You'll need to cut two outer eyes and two outer ears, so fold the short end of the fleece over so that it's doubled-then you can cut both eyes and ears at the same time. Then cut out the inner eyes, inner ears, and face from cream fleece; again, fold the short end of the fleece over so that you can cut two inner eyes and ears at the same time.
Thread an embroidery needle with black embroidery floss (thread) and tie a knot in the end. Sew one black button onto each of the cream inner eyes (see page 11).
Pin the cream inner eyes onto the black outer eyes. Still using black floss, sew them in place with running stitch (see page 9), starting and finishing with a knot on the wrong side.
Pin the black outer eyes onto the cream fleece face piece, matching up the outer edges. Sew around the curved edge on both eyes with running stitch, as before.
Pin the cream face piece to the right side of one of the gray fleece scarf pieces. Using black embroidery floss, sew along the top and bottom edges with running stitch, as before.
Using running stitch, sew the cream inner ears to the black outer ears, then pin and stitch them above the face onto the scarf. Then stitch the black nose in place.
Thread your needle with cream embroidery floss. Pin the stripes to the right side of the tail end of the scarf and stitch across the top and bottom edges with running stitch.
Lay the second gray scarf piece on the table, right side down, and place the top piece right side up on top of it, matching up all the edges. Pin the two layers together all the way around. Thread a needle with white sewing thread and whipstitch (see page 10) all the way around, starting and finishing with a few small stitches.
Wrap up in a RACCOON!
Embroidered Buttons
Jazz up a plain bag with a scattering of these pretty buttons. Self-cover buttons can be bought from haberdashery stores, but try to buy plastic rather than metal ones as they are easier to use. You can make several buttons from one square of fabric, but they look more fun in different colors.
You will need
9-in. (23-cm) squares of plain fabric (I used four different colors; one square is enough to make several buttons)
Plastic self-cover buttons in different sizes (mine ranged from ¾ to 1½ in./20 to 38 mm)
Embroidery flosses (threads) in pretty pastel colors
5-in. (13-cm) or larger embroidery hoop
Pencil
Tailor's chalk
Embroidery needle
Scissors
Undo the screw on the embroidery hoop and separate the inner and outer rings. Place one square of fabric over the inner hoop. Place the outer hoop on top and tighten the screw, gently pulling the fabric so that it is tight.
On the packet of self-cover buttons, there will be a template for the size of button that you are using. Cut this out, hold it on the fabric in your hoop, and draw around it in pencil. This circle is much bigger than the button, because you need to leave a border of fabric around your stitching to fold around the button.
Thread the needle with embroidery floss (thread) in a color that contrasts with the fabric, and tie a knot in the end. Bring the needle up through the fabric from the underside to the front. Decide on the pattern that you would like to sew and follow the instructions opposite.
Tip
Don't put the template right in the middle of the hoop. If you put it nearer the edge, you'll be able to get several buttons out of one piece of fabric.
Embroidering the buttons
Be sure not to embroider right up to the edge of the circle-you need to leave space all around for when you fold the fabric over the button. To help you know where to stitch, place the button upside down in the middle of the circle and draw around it in tailor's chalk, which will rub off later.
For a dotty button
Make French knots (see page 10) randomly inside the chalk circle. Finish with a knot on the underside of the fabric.
For a spiral
Make backstitches (see page 10) in a spiral shape, keeping inside the chalk circle. Don't worry too much about it being neat-it will look lovely when fixed onto the button! Again, make sure that you do not go over where the button will be. Finish on the underside with a knot.
For a star or flower shape
Make four large stitches crossing over each other, or seven small stitches starting from the center and working outward.
For a sprinkles pattern
Sew small stitches randomly all over the center, inside the chalk circle.
Unscrew the hoop, take off the fabric, and cut out your embroidered circle, cutting around the pencil circle you drew in step 2. It doesn't matter if your cutting is a bit wobbly and it isn't a perfect circle, so long as you've left enough space all around the stitching to fold the fabric over the button.
Following the button manufacturer's instructions, separate the button into its two pieces. Be careful of the teeth inside the front of the button-they need to be sharp to hold the fabric firmly. Place the button front on the back of the embroidered circle, making sure that it fits neatly and the embroidery is in the middle. Fold the fabric around the button, stretching it tight and pushing it down over the teeth on the back. Press on the button back so that the two halves snap together. When you have made several buttons, stitch them onto a plain bag or purse (see page 11) to make a pretty decoration.
Felt and Ribbon Bracelet
Jazz up your jewelry box with these pretty flower bracelets. Make daisies from white and yellow felt or choose bright colors for a lovely summery look. Stitch the flowers onto gingham ribbon and simply tie the bracelets around your wrist to add the finishing touch to your outfit.
You will need
Templates on page 123
Three 2½-in. (6-cm) pieces of felt if you are using three different colors, or one 2½ x 8-in. (6 x 20-cm) piece if you want all the flowers to be the same color
2½ x 6 in. (6 x 15 cm) green felt
18 in. (45 cm) gingham ribbon, ? in. (1 cm) wide
Three buttons, ½ in. (12 mm) in diameter
White sewing thread
Paper
Pencil
Marker pen
Scissors
Pins
Sewing needle
Photocopy the templates on page 123 or trace them onto scrap paper, and cut them out.
Pin the paper flower to a piece of felt, draw around it carefully with a marker pen, then take off the pattern and pins. Cut it out carefully. Do this twice more, so that you have three felt flowers altogether.
Pin the paper leaf to the green felt, draw around it, then take off the pattern and pins. Cut it out carefully. Do this two more times, so that you have three felt leaves altogether.
Thread your needle with white sewing thread. Find the middle of the ribbon and make a few small stitches. Bring the needle up through the bottom of a felt leaf (turn it over first if you can see any pen marks) and back down through both the leaf and the ribbon. Do this three or four times to fix the leaf securely to the ribbon.
A bright BUTTON bracelet
Bring the needle back up through the bottom of the leaf, then through the center of one of the felt flowers, and then through one of the holes in the button. Take the needle down through the other hole in the button (or across the diagonal if there are four holes) and back down through the leaf, flower, and ribbon. Stitch up and down through the ribbon, leaf, flower, and button four or five times (see page 11) to fix the flower and button firmly in place. Finish with a few small stitches on the back of the ribbon to secure the thread.
Stitch the other two leaves,...
