If you’re going to sew your probably going to need a pin or two and a place to put all of them. These little felt sea urchins certainly fit the bill!
But one word of warning if you start making these you may forget all about sewing until you have covered most of the surfaces in your home with sea urchin pin cushions and hundreds nay thousands of fish, octopi, and seahorses.
Summer sewing never looked so cute!
You will need
1- 9 x 12 sheet felt for urchin in any color you dang well please
Long sewing pins- size matters here the longer the better
Craft Glue – I used a product called Amazing Goop
Shrink Film (and low grit sandpaper if needed)
Markers or colored pencils to color fish
Templates (at the end of post)
Pin Cushion
Cut the circles from felt sheet, these guys go together pretty quickly, here’s the rundown.
1. Sew around the outer edges with a basting (aka big ole sloppy running) stitch
2.Pull to create a bit of a cup and fill with stuffing.
3.Place smaller circle over the base and overcast stitch into place.
4. Turn over 5. Add flower buttons if desired.
Add ball pins to urchin in a star pattern.
Now for the big finish or fishish (sorry I couldn’t resist)
Sea Life Pins
Begin by prepping the shrink film, some shrink films are ready to go and need no prep otherwise you will need to prep it with a low grit sandpaper.
Trace sea templates onto shrink film and color with permanent markers.
Cut out shapes small scissors work best for this. Try to cut away as much of the clear edges as possible.
Cut out the shapes and heat to shrink as directed. Shrink film shrinks differently depending on brand so your results may vary.
Glue fish onto pins with craft glue, I used a product called Amazing Goop – because how can you not use a product called amazing goop!
I found the easiest way to do this is to put a pea sized dollop of goop onto a piece of paper and dip the end of the pin in and then lay onto the backside of the shape.
Let dry as directed and enjoy!
Happy Crafting! ~Andie
Need more felty ocean fun? And come on who doesn’t?
Fold tulle in half and cut. Set one half aside for the fin and cut the remaining piece in half again for the ear fins.
I totally made up that body part name – they are actually called pectoral fins but I think you’ll agree ear fins sounds at least 45% cuter.
Gather the tulle up along the long part and tie together with thread or thick string to hold.
Lay out details on one side of the seahorse head. Pin tied tulle piece under a dot.
Cut loop (soft) side of hook and loop into small ovals.
Pin one oval onto each side where the bridle will be attached.
Stitch details to each of the two sides.
Because of my deep love for you I ask that you please double check to make sure you are using mirroring sides.
Otherwise you may find yourself cursing like a sailor and no one wants that!
Pin 2 back fin pieces between the two detailed head pieces.
OK technically it’s a called the superior trunk ridge but we make our own rules around here so back fins it is!
Overcast stitch around the outside and around the “back fin” with a running stitch leaving the bottom open.
Stuff head piece and set aside.
At this point you should have a lovely and large felt seahorse head.
Mad at the pool guy or local aquarium? Consider placing this head in their beds for a warning that’s creepy – yet whimsical and also squeezably soft because we are after all a peaceful people and everyone needs a hug.
Sew details to both sides of tail piece and begin sewing around the loop stuffing as you go using the overcast stitch you used for the top piece.
Stop where marked on template and place “fin” piece between tail pieces and sew closed.
Bonus points if you just did air quotes when you read that.
Cut small slits into felt to make sewing and gathering with ribbon easier do not cut through any of your stitches.
Unless you are feeling too accomplished and wish to begin all over again.
Necessary but glaringly obvious instruction: Thread needle, pass ribbon through holes in felt piece.
Place stick inside and all the way up to provide structure for years of play. Pull ribbon to gather.
Tuck raw felt edge in. Use your hot glue to attach tucked in felt pieces to the dowel.
Work through the process a time or two before breaking out the scalding hot glue.
Knot to hold and wrap the ribbon around the base a few times before gluing down for a cleaner look.
Add ribbon down the length of the dowel gluing the entire way down.
Attach tail to the dowel the same way you did the seahorse head.
Use the remaining tulle to create a top fin by tying in a knot around the dowel.
This fin has no name since it does not actually exist but you cannot ride on seahorses so lets not get too bogged down in reality shall we?
Hot glue to hold.
To make the detachable felt kelp bridle:
Sew the sequined shell front to the loop shell back with an overcast stitch and white thread.
Sandwich one end of the kelp in between the front and back of the felt shell pieces before sewing closed.
Check to make sure the bridle isn’t twisted before attaching second shell end.
Stop by the shop:
Templates
Look at that! I’ve put all the templates into a handy PDF for you:
If you’re going to sew your probably going to need a pin or two and a place to put all of them. These little felt sea urchins certainly fit the bill!
