*** this tutorial was made for the good folks over at Janome, who have given me the long term loan of their Janome FM725 felting machine. so, even though it's awesome, if you don't have one, you can do this project by hand!
Difficulty level: easy to intermediate
Time: approximately 3 hours
Materials:
- wool sweater to cut up for body, that has been ‘fulled’ or ‘felted’ (washed in hot water and dried to make it thicker
- wool roving (I used pink for the ears and nose, black for the whiskers, and green and black for the eyes)
- Janome FM725 felting machine
- felting needle
- felting foam surface
- sewing machine (optional)
- scissors, thread, needle, pins
- ribbon for collar
- stuffing (polyfil, cotton, or wool)
Instructions:
1. Cut out a front and a back from the pattern. (see download link above)
2. Using a hand felting needle, loosely attach the eyes, nose and ears of the kitty’s face.
3. Using the 5 needle attachment on the felting machine, work the fibres into the wool backing, starting from the centre and working out in a circular fashion.
4. Using the felting needle, add pupils and mouth with black roving. Securely attach using the 1 needle attachment of the felting machine.
5. With RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER, pin generously. sew around edges using ⅛” seam allowance, leaving a 2” space at side. Repeat, using a zig zag stitch. If you don’t have a sewing machine, you could hand-stitch using a tight whip-stitch.
6. Turn right side out, and press. Fill your kitty up with stuffing and stitch closed.
7. Add a ribbon collar and you’re done! Feel free to personalize your kitty. Spots? Stripes? A white tummy or paws? Have fun with it!
