~*Freebie & Tutorial For You*~

Hello Dear Friends! Being SNOWBOUND has been good for my creative works... my mind is whirlin' with ideas & my hands are smokin' with finishes. From yesterday's post... I thought it would be nice to share my 'how~to' with you... a tutorial & a freebie doodle...

I wanted to come up with a fun name for these... you know, there are pinkeeps, pillow tucks, and ornies... but what could these be called in the PRIM world? Wearable Prims? Top tucks? Punched pokes? You get the idea... remember I've been snowbound... and may be turning a little coo-koo! :)

Here are the finished pieces from yesterday...



(Just a reminder, the one with the red saltbox house came from a freebie doodle offered by my buddy Ginger.)

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Here is how I made them...

Start with a pattern... here is a freebie doodle for you. (You may need to resize it to make it smaller. My finished pins are about 2 1/4 by 3 3/4 inches.) To get the size, I traced a shape that was the size I wanted. I keep my punchneedle threaders between two cheapy, refrigerator magnets. This is what I used as a start for the border.

~*Sheep n' Key*~ Freebie Doodle


My gripper frame is large enough to fit 4 of these shapes... so, because I didn't want to waste too much weaver's cloth... I did 4. Just make sure you leave about 1/2 inch or so between the borders. You can see my refrigerator magnet here too. (notice these doodles are different than the ones in the finished photos... I'm making more. *smiles* )



Punch your doodles... and stain if you wish. I stain mine with a walnut & spice mix... and dry them on a cookie sheet in a low oven.


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Now to begin assembling...

To keep the punches set... because you know these pins are going to be worn time & time again... affix some Wonder Under adhesive to the back. This is an iron~on sort of ~glue. It will serve a second purpose in just a moment.



Trim your punches... leaving about 1/4 inch or so of weavers all around...



Next, visit the recycling bin to grab a thin, cardboard box...



Trace your outline shape on the box... one for each pin you are making...



Here is the second purpose for the Wonder Under... Attach your punches to the cardboard cut~outs. Fold the edges over... but don't worry about making it look pretty... it will when it is finished. I promise!

***Here I need to explain something I learned... and seem to always forget. If you drew your doodles on your weaver's cloth while it was stretched on the gripper frame, your cardboard pieces will be slightly larger than your finished punches. You may need to do what I had to do... a little cardboard trimming. See my slivers of trimmed cardboard?***



For the backing, cut some scraps of wool to fit...



Now to make it all look pretty! I hate to see the white (or stained white) edge of the weaver's cloth around my pieces. I use yarn to finish the edges. Thick hand-spun yarns are best... but you could double up thinner yarns.



Using a sharp needle & thread (I use a thin linen thread, doubled.) make simple stitches to hold the yarn to the edge... sew through the edge of your punch, around the yarn and through the wool. I did feel my needle slip through the cardboard some... but just make your stitches as close the edge as possible. It is not necessary to sew through the cardboard.



Your last step... sew on a pin back & your initials... All done!



So... how about making some? They are wonderful gifts!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty :)