Primitive Folk Art Snowman
Soft Sculpture Project by Rita Vainius
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Part 1 Materials needed: White Felt - either smooth or plush 2 pieces, approximately
15" x 15" |
Instructions:
1. Print out patterns for snowman's body, hat and scarf.
2. Place the snowman's body pattern face down over the 2 pieces of white felt.
3. Secure the pattern to the 2 pieces of felt with straight pins.
4. Cut out the body following the shape of the pattern.
5. Print out the pattern for the snowman's face and coat.
6. Place 1 piece of white felt face up and place the transfer paper face down over it. Cut out the face pattern, leaving about 2" of extra border around the pattern. Use straight pins to secure the pattern to the transfer paper and the felt. With a pencil that is blunt, trace the features (eyes, nose and mouth) of the face over the pattern. This will transfer them to the felt.
French Knot Stitch
Bring the thread out at the spot you want to make your stitch. Hold the thread down with the left thumb and wind the thread two times around the needle (A). Still holding the thread, twist the needle back to your starting point and put it back through the fabric close to where the first thread came out. (See arrow). Pull the thread through to the back and go on to the next stitch (B).
7. Using 2 ply of Midnight thread, refer to the diagram for the French knot stitch to make a French knot for each of the eyes and then make 6 French Knots to form the mouth.
Straight Stitch
This is a single stitch, which can be worked in a regular or an irregular manner. The stitches should not be too long or too loose.
8. Using the diagram for the straight stitch and 1 ply Tahiti Watercolours thread, follow the pattern of the nose going from left to right to make horizontal stitches and going from top to bottom. Cut the piece of Watercolours thread to use just the orange color thread. At the top, the stitches will be longer and will get shorter as you go down to make a carrot shaped nose.
9. Take the paper with the design for the snowman's coat and trim the paper to approximately 2" all around the pattern. Following the same instructions as in Step 6 and 7, trace the pattern onto the white felt in the appropriate place.
10. Using 3 ply Tahiti Watercolours, use straight stitches to make the "X's" on the snowman's coat from top to bottom. Cut the Tahiti thread to use only the green thread.
11. Place the other piece of white felt face down and place the piece you have just embroidered over it, face up.
12. With 1 ply of Watercolours Snow White, starting at the neck on the left side and working towards the bottom of the snowman, use a simple, single stitch around the edges of the felt to attach the front piece to the back piece. Place the stitches approximately 1/8" to 3/8" apart and no larger than _" long from the edge. Continue until you have secured the lower body all the way around the neck on the right side. Do not cut your thread. The only piece not stitched together yet will be the head.
13. Take your snowman and spread apart the 2 pieces of felt at the neck. Pour in the dried beans to fill the bottom 2" of the snowman. These will give the snowman some extra weight at the bottom so he can be freestanding. Then fill the rest of the body with the poly-fill stuffing, making him as "plump" as possible.
14. Continue stitching around the head from the right side up, around the top and down to the neck on the left side with the 1 ply Snow White Watercolours. When you are about 1 _ to 2 " from where you started, do not cut your thread but fill the rest of the snowman with stuffing. Holding the 2 edges of the felt together tightly (to keep in the stuffing), finish stitching the snowman's head closed.
15. Take one twig and insert it into the side of the snowman, between 2 stitches, approximately 3 _" down on the right side. Take the other twig and insert it approximately the same place on the left side. Your snowman has just "popped" to life!
16. Cut out your hat pattern leaving approximately 1" of paper all around the pattern. Place the 2 pieces of dark colored felt face up and place the pattern for the hat over them. Secure the pattern to the felt with straight pins. Cut out the hat following the shape of the pattern. The triangular shape of the pattern will form the top of the hat and the rectangular part underneath it will be folded up to make the brim. See hat pictures below.
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Buttonhole Stitch B Bring the thread out on the lower line; insert the needle in position on the upper line, taking a straight downward stitch with the thread under the needle point. Pull up the stitch to form a loop and repeat. |
17. Using 1 ply of the Midnight Watercolours thread and using the Buttonhole stitch, start to connect the front part of the hat to the back on the left side bottom and continue all the way around the top to other side so that only the bottom is open. Make the stitches about 1/8" apart and 1/8" _" long. Do not cut your thread.
18. When the top of the hat is attached, fold up the flap that will be the brim, all around. Then continue to stitch the buttonhole stitch around the edge of the brim on both sides. Put the hat on the snowman and see him really come to life!
19. Take the scrap piece of fabric and tie it around your snowman's neck. Look how jaunty and proud he is! Time to name him.Be sure to come back for Part 2 in an upcoming month.
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