I look at sewing blogs with great enthusiasm and a little awe, I even print out patterns with great intentions but apart from the dog quilts there has been little productivity from me and my sewing machine for the last 4 years. I had a massive burst of nursery accessories before the Princess was born and they are still in daily use but are shamefully the most recent testament to my limited (I won't be making a wedding dress anytime soon) sewing abilities.
Spool sewing inspired these birds with their free pattern, they have made beautiful mobiles with them.
This little project caught my eye because I had some coordinating scraps of fabric (formerly duvet covers and shirts) that would fit in nicely in our room.
The pattern is simple and easy to follow. I make them by hand sitting on the sofa once I have the pieces cut out.
I listen to the TV, but this only works for programmes you are familiar with the characters in, and movies you've already seen. I "listened" to Off the Rails fashion programme oing these and it was obviously not very informative without the visual! Don't ask me why I didn't turn on the radio as I don't know?!? I made 5 birds in two evenings. Admittedly no tidying or laundry happened those evenings but tidying and laundry were never as pretty as these, and were still waiting for me the next night... in case you think the rugby player does nothing, he does tidy the kitchen in the evening!
I stuffed mine with polyester wadding cut into little pieces I found it easiest to stuff them a little piece at a time. You do need contrasting fabrics and if one of them is plain I think it makes for prettier bird if you use it for the belly...that is subjective though.
The nice thing about this project is you don't need a machine and if anything goes wrong (can't imagine what, but if it did...) you've only wasted a tiny amount of fabric and a little time so you can just start again!
My favourite thing about this project is that I can admire it while lying in bed, and this is what it looks like:
Finding the branch was easy after stormy weather, and I secured them with several stiches in black thread around the stick, about where their feet would be if they were real birds!
I know one regular cleansheets reader has made baby shower gifts - I think these birds would make a good one, just the right combination of arty and cute!
The princess wants some for her room now too, and the Happy One ran around the house with them shouting "Bird, fly, up, sky" so I'd better get going...
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