Snowflake Ornament Instructions

 If you haven't already. Head on over to our website to download the free snowflake ornament design.


Here is a little in the hoop design for you to play with. The 4x4 file stitches one snowflake ornament. If you'd like to do more than one at a time, the 5x7 file stitches two snowflake ornaments.

INTSRUCTIONS:

 Hoop your water soluble stabilizer, tear away stabilizer, or matching color stabilizer.

 The first stitch pack is your placement line. I forgot I was taking pictures for instructions and used white. Trust me, the placement line is there.

If you want to use ribbon, position your ribbon over the line using clear tape or adhesive spray.

Don't stitch yet!

Place your felt (I wanted to go frayed so I used flannel) over the ribbon and placement line.

Run your tackdown stitch.

And run your decorative stitching. There are stops to change colors. I just really wanted all gray right now. 

When your decorative stitching is finished. Turn your hoop OVER. Place your covering fabric on the BACK side of the hoop using adhesive spray to hold in place.

Like so.

Stitch your final tackdown.

Remove from your hoop and cut out your ornament. 

If you used ribbon, remember to carefully trim!

And you are finished. 

Reusable Gift Tags

Some time ago I had this great idea to make in the hoop reusable luggage tags. 

I think they turned out well. 

However, I cannot get my directions clear enough and need to take more pictures. 

Yes, I do NOT release files that aren't clear enough to be stitched.

The above also had a felt version that IS simple.

Simple enough to change from a luggage tag to a reusable gift tag. 

Yeah!

And they are coming out in cute new shapes for all occasions.

From seasonal to plain.

These instructions contain photo instructions on how to make the gift tags with chalk fabric, a photo (or hand drawn picture) or with vinyl.

But the possibilities don't stop there. Think outside of the box!!

Take our new Reusable Heart Gift Tag.

Attach this to your gift on Feb 14th. 

 But maybe you need something for a classroom?

When stitching out the final tackdown, add an extra piece of felt to the back. You can use this pocket to add a piece of candy or if you are being healthy, a piece of chalk!

Flip the way direction of the felt and you have sucker covers.

Simple and quick!

Now, while I have chalk in my house (4 kids, we have chalk!), I love the crispness of chalk markers. I checked our local Micheal's and they didn't have any but they directed me to Staples. They had neon markers that would have worked, but I really wanted chalk! I asked at the counter if they carried them and they said they could order one! Free shipping to the store and it was there within two days. I'm not sure what stores near you carry them, but it never hurts to ask!

Cheer for the USA!

 The Olympic Games are almost upon us!

I come from a swimming family. Started when I was young, became a lifeguard at 15, started coaching when I graduated, and watched my siblings in their swimming pursuits. 

All three of my siblings swam in college. I guess I should say they swam at a major university with other top athletes, some of those Olympic medalists.

Me, eh, not so much. 

I spent most of my time in the Athletic Training Room with a bum shoulder. Sometimes we just aren't built the same way.

So, instead I pursued Athletic Training and followed around a bunch of swimmers (and other athletes) taking care of all of their ailments. Ahhhh, the stories I could tell if I hadn't signed a confidentiality agreement. 

Oh don't worry, I'm just a full time mom now.

Working to pay off her student loans. 

From 12 years ago.

Yeah, I know.

I didn't even need college to find a guy. I married my high school sweet heart!

Anyway, enough about that tangent.

All that just to say we enjoy watching swimming in our house.

My kids like to pretend play.

 They LOVE this set of Felt Medals.

Don't worry, full picture PDF instructions are included in the purchase.

If you haven't made any ITH items, here's a quick overview.

 You'll stabilize your WSS and stitch a placement line. For the medals, there is an extra placement stitch to add the ribbon. Or you can skip it if you have other ideas on how you want to use the file.

Add your felt on top and stitch.

Flip your hoop over.

Add your felt on the back side of the hoop. Use some adhesive so it doesn't fall off while you stitch!

Stitch the final tackdowns.

Unhoop and trim. Be careful not to cut the ribbon!

Fold the ribbon and add snaps or hook & loop.

 And you are done!

The Felt Medal Clippies are a smaller version of the medals.

There is no extra placement line to add ribbon. 

If you want to add the ribbon while in the hoop, just run the original placement line over and over until you have the ribbon secure. 

Or, you can add the feltie to a ribbon montage after you've stitched and cut it out.

Either way,

GO USA!

Turning your feltie into a frayed embellishment.

 Let's review how to make a feltie, shall we?

Here, I am using the (Frayed) Heart Flower Feltie

Hoop either a clear water soluble stabilizer or a tear away stabilizer (personal preference).

Stitch out your placement line. 

Because I wanted to give you options and I like options, this feltie stitches out THREE hearts :)

Lay your fabric OVER the placement lines. 

 Tackdown!

Lay your fabric over the placement line for the larger heart.

More tackdown!

Now flip your hoop OVER! Place your fabric on the BACK/UNDERSIDE of the hoop. Use adhesive spray to adhere the fabric.

Final tackdown!

Oh wait! There is another set of tackdown lines. Let's have some more fun :)

I have been using the word "fabric" instead of "felt" in this post. 

Have you noticed?

Who says you can't use fabric on your felties?

Lay a few layers of fabric over your placement lines. 

 Tackdown!

 Lay a few layers of fabric over the large heart.

 Tackdown!

 Don't forget to trim if your colors are overlapping!

 Again, flip your hoop over.

 I added a layer of flannel and a layer of felt.

Use some adhesive spray so it sticks.

Turn your hoop over and stitch out the final tackdown lines!

 Trim.

I allowed 1/8th inch of excess on my feltie.

I trimmed my frayed design a little more loosely. Once trimmed, "fray" your edges.

(The felt I used on the back is for additional support. I did trim that down to size.)

Assemble.

Using a hot glue gun or fabric glue, attach the hearts in the pattern that you like best!

 But have some fun!

How many ways can you stitch out cute?

Quick Tip: Adding ribbon to your felties.

 How many of you use your design files exactly as the notes specify?

(cough, cough) Not me!

Sometimes I add my own flair.

Let's go back to that basketball feltie.

Placement lines are sometimes annoying, especially if you are stitching out a lot and you know what you are doing. Skip them!

But, placement lines are perfect for those of you who haven't made a feltie before, OR want to add a bit of flair to your feltie.

Here we go again. Stitch out that placement line!

Now, instead of adding felt, add some ribbon! Any way you want! 

Go back and stitch that placement line A SECOND TIME!

Next, fold your ribbon in using tape or adhesive to hold in place. 

And stitch that placement line A THIRD TIME!

Next, unsnap your hoop and trim a bit of that ribbon away. 

Now, continue with the design. Add your felt and stitch your tackdown lines. 

Stop, unsnap your hoop and look at the back. 

YIKES!

Using adhesive spray, add a layer of felt to the back/bottom/underside of the design.

Like so.

Turn your hoop right side up and snap back into place.

Stitch that final securing tackdown line. 

Trim.

CAREFULLY!

And look!

Add your feltie to a hair clip, use one of the ribbons to add a ring to and make a keychain, OR.....

Grab a safety pin and pin to your shirt!

(At this point I would insert a "Go ****" but I'm not sure what team has these colors and I don't follow basketball. I will say "Go Blue!" though.)

Hopefully you are having fun thinking "outside of the box!"

Basketball feltie available here.