DIY felt project: Fun elephant purse

BushcraftZ 2014

Materials:

• Felt  2 x 25 cm x 25 cm in two contrasting colours
• White felt remnant
• Sturdy iron on fabric backing
• 1 m matching ribbon
• 1 magnetic button
• 2 black beads for the eyes
• Embroidery cotton in various colours, general sewing equipment
• Download pattern for Elephant purse

Method:

1. Carefully heat -fuse iron on fabric backing to the felt with a dry iron before cutting out the pieces.

2. Use the downloaded pattern and cut the following pieces from the prepared felt:

• 1 x purse back panel from felt (colour 1)
• 1 x purse front panel (colour 1)
• 1 x Elephant head (colour 1)
• 2 x ears (cut one in mirror image) (colour 2)
• 1 x elephant trunk (colour 2)
• 1 x eyes (white)
• 2 x elephant eyelids (cut one in mirror image) (colour 2)

3. Refer to the pattern and place the elephant head onto the back panel of the purse. (Adding a little clear drying craft glue may be useful to secure the head.)

4. Insert the two parts of magnetic button into the back panel with head attached and front panel as indicated on the pattern.

5. Position the ears, trunk, eyes and eyelids onto the elephant head and sew in place with embroidery stitches. Use the stitching to secure the head to the back panel. Add the beads to complete the eyes.

6. Place the front panel in position onto the back panel and sew along the edges with blanket stitching.

7. Close the purse. Mark two points on the top of the purse to insert the ribbon. Use a embroidery needle with a wide eye and thread the ribbon. Thread the ribbon through the purse at the marked points and tie the ends together inside the purse.