DIY Felt Leaves | 6 Varieties

Whenever you are making a craft project that calls for a leaf, wouldn’t it be fun to make the leaf out of something unique and charming? These DIY felt leaves will do just that. I am going to show you how to make 6 different leaf varieties in this tutorial.

When it comes to making felt leaves, there are several different kinds of felt and fabric that you can use. Felt is a textile material that is produced by matting, condensing, and pressing fibers together. Felt can be made of natural fibers such as wool, or from synthetic fibers such as petroleum-based acrylic or acrylonitrile, or wood pulp-based rayon.

Different types of felt, much like yarn or fabric, have different properties, making them perfect for certain projects and not so ideal for others.

Here is a quick review of a few types of felt to consider for your projects.

Craft Felt 

Craft felt is made from 100% synthetic material. This type of felt is inexpensive and available at craft stores and online. Most craft felt comes in pre-cut sheets, but can also be purchased by the yard. Best used for: simple crafts of all kinds.

Blended Wool Felt

Blended wool felt is made from a blend of real wool and rayon. Wool felt is much softer to the touch and has a slight two-tone effect. Blended wool felt comes in over 100 different colors. It can be purchased in sheets or by the yard. This felt is more expensive than draft felt, but still reasonably priced and worth the cost if you are making a project that needs to be a little more durable.

Best used for: home décor crafting such as pillows, table runners, and heirloom quality crafts.

100% Wool Felt

Wool felt comes in different thicknesses and is usually sold by the yard and is quite expensive. It has a luxurious feel and is used for professional apparel and home décor.

Felted wool sweaters

Felting a wool sweater (70% and higher wool content) can produce a wonderful piece of material for making crafts. Check out this post and video for detailed instructions on how to felt a wool sweater. A felted sweater can add so much texture and character to a craft project. Make sure you are saving your wool sweater scraps for projects like this!

Felt Leaves materials & Items needed

  • Green felt scraps. Use different shades of green to add contrast. Craft felt is usually acceptable for this type of project; however, you are free to use any kind of felt including felted sweater material.
  • Embroidery floss and embroidery needle (Shades of green)
  • Scissors
  • Sewing machine (optional)
  • Green floral stemwire
  • Glue gun/tacky glue
  • Felt Leaves instructions
  • Bamboo skewers painted green (tall skinny leaf)
  • FREE PRINTABLE PATTERN 

**You can apply the mistletoe leaf technique to any leaf to add a wire and flexibility to any leaf. Simply make your leaf of choice and then add the backing wire shown in step 6 to any leaf.

1- TWO TONED, BASIC FELT LEAVES

  • Cut out two basic leaves, one large and one small. (Each a different shade of green).
  • Apply hot glue or tacky glue to the back of the small leaf. Center the small leaf on top of the big leaf and glue it in place.
  • Apply to a craft project.

 

2- BLANKET STITCH LEAF

This leaf can be made using the sewing machine blanket stitch if that is available on your machine. If not, you can sew the blanket stitch by hand using embroidery floss and a needle.

  • Cut out a small leaf of one color of felt and then a rectangle that is another shade of green. (Pattern available)
  • Center the leaf on the rectangle and pin it in place. Sew around the outline of the small leaf. You can use the thread and floss the same color as the leaf or a different shade of green to add contrast.
  • Following the small leaf outline, cut the rectangle felt just outside the smaller leaf about ¼ inch to add an outline effect.

3- LEAF VEIN CUT OUT

This is a fun free form design that adds a lot of character and texture to a leaf. I use this particular leaf for my upcycled sweater pumpkin pattern. This method can be used for all types and sizes of leaves.

  • Cut out two leaves using two different shades of green felt, or brown can be used as well. The top piece will be the color of the leaf veins.
  • Using a sewing machine or stitching by hand, sew the veins of the leaf. This is a free form design. You can draw the veins with a disappearing ink pen if you want, but I just usually get sewing and eyeball it.
  • Start at the bottom of the leaf and sew the main center vein. Backstitch at the beginning and end of stitching. (Don’t worry about cutting the threads just yet).
  • Go back down to the bottom of the leaf and sew each individual vein. DO NOT SEW ALL THE WAY TO THE EDGE. STOP AT LEAST ¼ INCH FROM THE EDGE.
  • When you have all the veins sewn that you want, clip all the threads.
  • Take a pair of scissors, (small tip scissors work best) and trim around the veins, close to the seam. This will cut away most of the top layer leaving a contrasting vein. LOVE IT!
  • Add a supporting wire if needed and then apply the leaf to your project.

4- TALL SKINNY LEAF ON STEM

This is a leaf that is good to use for Lillie flowers, coneflowers, and daisies. Get my felt flower variety pattern set HERE. This leaf can be made using a bamboo skewer for the stem or a thick floral stem wire.

    • Cut out the leaf using the available pattern.
    • If using a bamboo skewer, paint it green using acrylic paint.
    • Get your glue gun hot. I like using a low temp glue gun.
  • Apply a strip of glue just halfway up from the bottom, in the center of the leaf.
  •  
  • Fold the leaf edges in, so it wraps onto the stem. You can arrange it however you want it to look.
  • Adjust the upper leaf to your liking, and apply the flower of your choice to the top of the stem.

5- EMBROIDERY VEINS LEAF

This is a basic leaf, and this technique can be used for all shapes and sizes of leaves.

  • Thread an embroidery needle with the desired shade of green embroidery floss. Depending on how bold you want the stitching to be will decide how many strands of floss you will use. I usually go with 3 strands of floss.
  • Follow the instructions for the two-toned basic leaf, except don’t glue the layers together quite yet.
  • Knot the end of the floss and insert the needle into the backside of the small leaf. (So the knot is sandwiched between the two felt pieces.
  • You can either eyeball the leaf vein design or draw on with an invisible ink pen.
  • Using a backstitch, or small running stitch (individual preference) sew along the vein. Knot by taking a very small stitch, wrap the thread around the needle and insert the needle and pull out. Clip thread. You can get the instructions for these stitches here in this post.

 

6- MISTLETOE LEAF

This is like a mistletoe leaf, however, this technique can be used on your own leaf shape as well. To make this leaf, you will need a sewing machine set on a zigzag stitch setting.

See the mistletoe tutorial HERE

  • Cut out several leaves. You can vary colors and textures of felt.
  • Take a floral stem wire and place it down the center of the leaf, with the end of the wire in line with the end of the leaf.
  • Go to the sewing machine which you have threaded with matching thread and set to a zigzag stitch.
  • Before sewing, test the width of the stitch to make sure it is wide enough, but not too wide. You want the stitch to hug the wire but not be too close so you hit it with the needle.
  • Stitch over the wire from the bottom of the leaf to the top of the leaf. Backstitch at the beginning and end of stitching.
  • Bend and shape the leaf as you desire.

There you have it. Now you can make your floral crafts stand out with the authentic charm and character of handmade felt leaves.

Have fun crafting!

 

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Jan Howell

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

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Sew Simple | A Beginners Guide To Sewing Course Launch

sew simple

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you are having a wonderful day wherever you are and whoever you are with or having to be without. Such interesting times right now. Despite all the chaos in the world right now, we have to rally and find things to do that bring JOY!

What brings you joy?

 

 

If you’ve been following me, you know that SEWING is something that keeps me going and makes me happy.

For the last several months, I’ve been putting some things together to share with you.

When the pandemic hit, there was a shortage of face masks. Those of us who knew how to sew were scrambling to make face masks for ourselves and to share with others. Many people reached out to me to tell me that they dug out their sewing machines, after being tucked away for YEARS to start making masks and realized how much they had missed sewing. They’re making all kinds of fun things now.

There were many others, who had NEVER sewn before, that learned how to make a simple face mask and want to learn more.

Sewing is a good thing to know how to do right now!

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF KNOWING HOW TO SEW?

  • You can save money!
  • Create fun gifts
  • Make practical items for your home
  • Alter and repair clothing
  • Make your own custom clothing
  • Become more resourceful
  • Repurpose and upcycle clothing
  • IT’S JUST FUN!

So what have I been diligently working on? A BEGINNER SEWING COURSE

I am excited to get this out there for you and help you be able to start sewing NOW, and to be able to enjoy it! Are you ready to fill your creative bucket back up and invest in some “ME” time?

WHO IS THIS SEW SIMPLE COURSE FOR?

  • Those who are totally new to sewing, and may not have even touched a sewing machine before.
  • Those who know how to sew, but would like a refresher course.
  • Those who are TOTALLY frustrated with the sewing process and want some help troubleshooting their issues.
  • Those who would like some guided instruction on how to make some very simple, practical, and fun sewing projects.

FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS I’M GIVING ALL MY PEEPS A VERY SWEET DEAL!

That’s You!

GET THE WHOLE SCOOP HERE

The “Sew Simple Plus” course is loaded with project tutorials and printable patterns ($87.97 value)

You’ll have until Sunday, November 29th to invest at this reduced level.

 

ONLY $39.99 FOR A LIMITED TIME! 

This is an $87.22 Value!

Use the codes below when checking out to get the discount.

 

SEW SIMPLE PLUS-Use Coupon Code: SEWNOW30

SEW SIMPLE-Use Coupon Code: SEWNOW10

 

*There are two different levels, obviously the Sew Simple Plus option is the best investment.

*For those of you who have already purchased some of the patterns in the course, you can get a refund for those patterns. Details are in the course description.

Check it out and if you have any questions, send me a note.

 

Enjoy your day! Stay safe and keep smiling!

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Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

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Simple Christmas Stocking Sewing Tutorial | Lined With Contrasting Cuff

Christmas is just around the corner and what a great time to get out your sewing machine and make some fun holiday decorations. This Christmas stocking sewing tutorial is a very simple project that you can whip up in no time at all. The stocking is lined and has a contrasting cuff.

You can make these stockings out of all kinds of fabric.

WATCH THE VIDEO TUTORIAL HERE

Christmas Stocking Items & Materials Needed

There are two different styles of the stocking. You can make them all one solid color, or piece several types of fabric together to get a patchwork design.

Christmas Stocking Instructions

 

Cutting Out

  • Two of the outer covering and two of the lining pieces.
  • One cuff piece, on the fold where indicated on the pattern. You can also use an upcycled sweater cuff. (The bottom edge of a sweater or the sleeve cuff can be used). If using a sweater cuff, you won’t need to double the fabric, so don’t place the pattern on the fold).
 
  • Loop piece, on the fold where indicated on the pattern

Sewing 

You can use a serger or single needle machine to sew the Christmas stocking. All seams will be 3/8” (usually the edge of your pressure foot) and you will always backstitch at the beginning and end of seams unless directed otherwise.

  • With Right Sides Together (RST), place stocking front to back.  Pin in place.  Sew all the way around, leaving the top open.

 

CUFF:

  • Fold cuff piece in half (RST).  Sew the side seam.
  • Fold the cuff over and in half so the right sides are facing out. (If you want to add lace or trim to the cuff, do it now)
  • With the seam on the left, press in place. Mark the halfway point with a pin, on the right.

PIECED STOCKING:

  • If you want a pieced look, like in the photo on top, follow the directions below. For a more rustic look, you can expose the seams on the outside of the stocking.
  • With (RST) place pieces A & B together matching darts. Pin in place and sew the seam.
  • Open the stocking up and with (RST) place on top of piece C, matching darts. Pin in place and sew the seam.
  • If you want more than three pieces sewn together, like the stocking on the left, you can sew several sweater strips together and then cut a front stocking piece. 
  • Cut out a solid piece for the back.
  • Place these pieces (RST) matching seams and edges, pin in place.  Sew all the way around leaving the top edge open.
  • Place the loop on the stocking lining, centered on the back seam.  Pin in place.
  • Baste the loop onto the stocking. (No need to backstitch) You will be sewing through the lining, stocking, and the loop

SEWING THE CUFF ONTO THE STOCKING

  • Place the cuff inside the stocking, with the RIGHT side facing the stocking.  (If using a sweater cuff, the sweater cuff seam will be facing out and visible).
  • Align the cuff seam with the stocking seam. (There will be 4 layers, 3 if using a sweater cuff)
  • Pin in place.
  • Sew all the way around, through all layers. Stretch and ease sweater cuff as needed.
  • Flip the cuff over. Press seam towards the stocking.
  • Flip the cuff down and Ta-dah…….You are ready to hang your stocking!

There is no limit to the color and fabric combinations that you can do. Make a stocking for each one in the family! 

Have fun sewing. Reach out if you have any questions.

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Jan Howell

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

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How to Put On a Duvet Cover the Easy Way

Putting on a duvet cover can be so frustrating and exhausting, but it doesn’t’ have to be! I am going to show you how to put on a duvet cover THE EASY WAY!

 

It’s getting a little chilly where I live and so last week I switched from my lightweight duvet to my big fluffy down one.

This task used to require my husband’s assistance, BUT NOT ANYMORE!

I have learned a few ways to make this process a lot easier, and I thought while I was doing it I would film it to show you how it’s done.

I’m sure some of you have heard of the “burrito” method- where you roll up the duvet with the cover and then unroll it and voilà, the cover is magically on.

I find this method works like a charm if you have a lighter weight duvet, however, if you have a big fluffy one, it’s a little awkward.

The “grab and pull through method” works best for bulkier duvets.

I am going to show you both methods and hopefully one of them you’ll find helpful.

Grab and Pull Through Method

This is the method I like to use on bulkier duvets. If yours come with ties on the inner corners, this will help with the process, but if not, no big deal. (Mine doesn’t have them).

Turn the cover inside out and spread it over the top of the duvet, with the open end of the cover at the foot of the bed. This doesn’t have to be perfectly neat, just have it so you can see the corners of the cover.

(If you have ties, tie them around the corners of the duvet at this point. If not, proceed as follows). Reach your hand into the duvet cover through the bottom opening and grab the top right corner of the cover with your hand. No with that same hand, grab the top right corner of the duvet. Pull it out the bottom opening. Set that aside while you do the same thing to the top left corner.

Grab the bottom left corner of the duvet and place it in the bottom left corner of the cover. Hold both the cover and the duvet with your left hand while you pull the cover over the duvet. Do the same thing for the bottom right corner.

Now that the duvet is RIGHT SIDE OUT, and the cover is on, shake it out and smooth out the duvet. Zip or snap the bottom opening closed and you are good to go.

Now wasn’t that easy!

BURRITO/CALIFORNIA ROLL METHOD

Place the duvet on top of your bed.

Turn the duvet cover inside out with the opening at the bottom and lay over the top of the duvet.

Starting at the head of the bed, roll both the duvet cover and comforter together toward the foot of the bed. (If you have a large bed, you may have to walk back and forth from side to side to get it to roll evenly-or you can crawl on the bed and roll it).

When you get the end, invert the duvet cover opening around the ends of both sides of the bundle (like you would do with a sandwich baggie).

Unroll the bundle in the opposite direction (back toward the head of the bed) and fluff in place.

Snap or zip the bottom of the duvet cover closed.

Tedeh!

 

Isn’t this the coolest thing ever! No more struggle! I hope this was helpful. 

YOU MAY ENJOY THESE BLOG POSTS:

HOW TO FOLD AND ORGANIZE SOCKS EFFICIENTLY

CREATING AN EFFICIENT, NON-TOXIC LAUNDRY ROOM – HEALTHY HOME TOUR

Watch some of my other YOUTUBE VIDEOS HERE

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Jan Howell

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

Read More