This free project is so easy, you really don't need instructions. They are called Cat Pencil Toppers but for prim projects, wouldn't we use a nice stick from the yard or a wooden dowel
stained or painted? They could be put together as a "bouquet" and planted in a rusted flower-
pot (see post for rusting with spray paints). Or, they could be held by a prim doll or cat
or bear, you get the idea...
FELTED WOOL CAT PENCIL TOPPERS
A few quick stitches are all it takes to sew these cute cat pencil toppers for Halloween.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
Scraps of felted wool (Choose different colors for the face, eyes, and nose.)
Freezer paper
Pencil for tracing
Perle cotton or wool thread (in black and orange)
Fiberfill
Unsharpened pencil
Ribbon
How to Make It
Download BHG free cat template here.
To felt wool, machine-wash it in a hot-water wash, cool-rinse cycle with a small amount of detergent; machine-dry and steam press.
Lay the freezer paper, shiny side down, over the pattern. With a pencil, trace two head shapes, two eyes, and a nose. Cut out the freezer-paper shapes.
Using a hot, dry iron, press the freezer-paper shapes onto your fabrics (use different colors for cat face, eyes, and mouth); let cool. Cut out the fabric shapes. Peel off the freezer paper.
Position the eyes and nose on the cat face. Use the black perle cotton to blanket-stitch each eye in place. Use the black perle cotton to make a French knot in the center of each eye for the pupil.
Use the orange perle cotton to blanket-stitch the nose in place.
Straight-stitch the whiskers and ear marking (as shown in the photo).
Place the appliqued cat face on top of a plain head shape with the wrong sides facing togehter; baste, leaving an opening at the bottom.
Using the orange perle cotton, blanket-stitch around the cat face. Stuff with fiberfill, then place the cat head on the eraser end of an unsharpened pencil. Tie a ribbon around the pencil underneath the cat head.
They are so inexpensive and quick to make they could be a freebie included with one of your customers' orders or made up in a floral arrangement in a rusty tin can and have as a giveaway on your blog. You can add a strip of burlap fashioned into a bow or tied under the heads, raffia or rag strips tied and left to hang or fashioned into a simple bow. I'm sure you can think of more ideas (two criss-crossed added to a fall wreath where you add your nice wreath bow). O.K., I'll stop now...
Warm Regards,
Susan
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