my little mushroom

Crafters love mushrooms don't they? I know I do, and I've been dying to try my hand at making one. So last night I came up with this little toadstool which measures about 1 1/2" tall.

Wanna make one too? It's easy-peasy and quick-as-a-breezy. Promise.

First of all here's pdf file (added: for some reason the pattern lines are really light in the pdf file but when you print it you should be able to see the lines okay) with the pattern pieces and abbreviated instructions. Okay, let's get started!

Materials:

• red and white felt scraps
• scrap of sturdy cardboard
• red and white embroidery floss
• brown crochet thread or cord
• polyfill stuffing
• white acrylic paint
• hot glue gun
• paint brush or stick with a wide back tip
• ultra fine glitter (optional)

Instructions:

1) Transfer and cut out the pattern pieces from white and red felt and cardboard. You will need a large red felt circle, a small cardboard circle and a strip of white felt.

2) Making the stem: Tie a knot at the end of a length of white floss (I used red floss here for illustrative purposes only) and use a needle to string it through the bottom corner of one end of the white felt.

3) Starting from the end of the felt with the floss, begin rolling the felt into a coil. Make sure to keep the end of the floss outside of the coil.

4) After you're done rolling the felt into a coil, insert the needle into the middle of the coil and out through the bottom outer corner of the felt strip.

5) Re-insert the needle into the felt coil to stitch the end closed. Sorry I can't remember what this stitch is called. After the last stitch, insert the needle back into the coil and out through the center of the coil and tie a knot at the center to secure it in place. Set the stem on the side.

6) Making the cap: Tie a knot at the end of a length of red floss (I used white floss here for illustrative purposes only) and sew a running stitch along the edge of the red felt circle. Pull the thread to form a little sack.

7) Firmly stuff the sack with polyfill. Note: the more polyfill you use the higher the cap of your mushroom will get. I used all the polyfill shown in the materials photo at the top which was a nice sized hand full of polyfill.

8) Insert the cardboard circle into the sack, over the polyfill. It's okay if some of the polyfill peeks out the sides, but try your best to keep the polyfill in place with the cardboard circle.

9) Pull on the red floss again to tighten the red felt over the cardboard leaving a small opening of the cardboard visible. Note: the opening should be slighty smaller than the diameter of the white felt stem coil for a nice tight fit.

10) Use your needle to secure the gathers and tie a knot. Hide the thread end by reinserting the needle into the felt and out through the middle opening. Clip excess thread.

11) Apply a dab of hot glue to the exposed cardboard on the cap.

12) Insert the stem onto the glue on the cap at a 90 degree angle and press firmly but gently in place.

13) Use a knitting needle (I used a bamboo skewer) to push any exposed stem edges back into the cap opening.

14) The dots: Pour some white acrylic paint onto a paint palette and dab the back end of a wide paint brush handle into the paint. Apply the paint to the top of the stem to form dots. Depending on the type of felt you use and the look you want, you may need to apply two coats of paint for each dot.

15) If you like you can add a short length of brown crochet thread or cord to the top center of the cap for a hanger, but it should also be able to stand up on it's own. And that's it! All pau. Easy right?

OPTIONAL) I sprinkled ultra-fine glitter over the white dots while the paint was still wet for a shimmery effect, which was really hard to photograph, but looks so great in person.

And I also couldn't resist adding a face.

Happy mushroom Monday everyone!

Comments

[mimi k]

so cute!

[justJENN]

Make me a giant one so I can wear it on my head like a shower cap. I'M JOKING, don't. I like the face. It adds a lot.

[abbyjane]

Such a clear tutorial, and such an adorable project. Thank you!

[kat]

everything you make is so cute :)

[Norma]

This is so very cute! Thanks for sharing.

[olivia]

super cute!

[sara]

Adorable! Thanks for sharing. Just out of curiousity what do you do for the face? Are the blushy cheeks from paint? It looks like the eyes are seed beads and the mouth is sewn on?

Can't wait to make some!

[Michelle]

Okay, so I believe you! That actually does look easy. And oh, so adorable! Thanks so much for sharing.

[Sally]

Cute! Thanks for the tutorial!

[Ana Lilia]

that is too cute! the mushroom, alone is cute, but with the face, it is adorable! your creations are amazing! thank you so much for sharing!

[meg]

Very cute! Great tutorial. :)

[Daniele Sinhorelli]

Thanks! I just love your mushroom :D

[Dee]

too cute Myra! i think these would be cute christmas ornaments...

[Barb]

So cute! Thanks for sharing:)

[Nadine]

Wow, I love this idea. Yes, you are right, it´s easy to make but to come up with this idea is what makes you unique.
I also love the frog, I´m fond of frogs anyway.

Cute idea!!!

Best regards, Nadine

[Péitseoga]

thanks for a great tutorial!

[Emma]

That is so cute! And thanks so much for sharing the how-to!

[Julie K in Taiwan]

So cute, thanks for the tutorial, lots of great tips in it.

[Laura]

What a sweet mushroom,and great tutorial. I found you through craft zine and am really enjoying your blog. I have messed around with tiny felt mushrooms lately too! there must be something in the air...

[rowena]

I could actually see the glitter in the top pic and the first thought in my mind was "Hey! She made magic mushrooms!!" :lol: The mushroom is cute but Mr. Froggy makes it even cuter!!

[Asianmommy]

Hey, that's really cute!

[Mel Goodsell]

That's just gorgeous - thankyou very much for the tutorial.
Melx

[My Baboo]

sorry - can't type anything sensible - just seen your work for the first time and I have nearly collapsed its so cute!

[patonslake]

Thank you. I love your work. Have you thought of packaging kits for your amigurumis? or patterns?

[N.]

oh my word, that is adorable!! I'm going to try my hand at those for my dd's birthday party.