Thursday 8 May 2008

Fat Quarter Friday Tutorial - Chicken bookends



For a pair you will need:

About half of a fat quarter
Some buttons or beads
A small about of orange felt or thick ribbon
A small amount of wadding
10 pieces of red ribbon - 5cms long
Rice, pea gravel, or similar (I used gravel from the garden centre, it was about £3 for 5kg, I washed and dried it, and it works great in doorstops etc)

Make the pattern:

Cut out a piece of paper 20cm long by 15cm wide.




Mark the half-way point along the top edge. On the left hand side mark 5cms down, and on the right mark 8cm. Draw a curved line around these points (the dotted line).



Cut out 2 pattern pieces per chicken - I did one red and one white.


To make it up:


Fold the small pieces of ribbon in half, and pin along the right side of one fabric piece (on the short curved side). Machine tack in place.


Right sides together, sew the two fabric pieces together, just sewing about 4cms on each side of the bottom, backstitching at the ends.




Line up the side seam with the bottom seam and flatten the corner. Pin and measure 2cms from the point. Then sew along this line. Remove pin and trim seam.



You now have something like this:



Turn the right side out. Stuff a small amount of wadding in the top to shape the head. Then fill with gravel.


Hand stitch the bottom seam closed. Sew button or bead eyes in place, and cut a beak shape from felt or ribbon and sew or stick in place.

11 comments:

blossomsmum said...

smashing idea.xx love them.xx

nikki/WhiMSy love said...

SO cute!!!

. said...

ROFL. I LOVE these!! Seriously cool idea. You're such a clever Mrs Marmadaisy. I wouldn't have the first clue about coming up with ideas like this.

xMx

April said...

Sooo cute!

April xx

Joanna said...

your ideas are amazing and these are just what my daughter needs although i dont seem to find the time to do anything at the minute

Anonymous said...

Love the bookend! Very nice idea!

Unknown said...

I just love these little chicks - sooooooooo cute! I think I might make some mini ones as paper weights, for desk bound wage slaves!
x Vicky x

Veronica Darling... said...

Oh they are great! I love the ribbons for feathers! They are just adorable!

Junie Moon said...

What a cute idea and a great tutorial. Thank you for sharing this fun project.

Indigo Blue said...

These little fellas really made me smile. Excellent idea!

Mrs Moog said...

They're great! Such a lovely idea. I agree with Marie...you are a very clever Mrs Marmadaisy!

xxx