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Get ready to make the cutest little village of felt gingerbread houses! These start with pieces cut using the Ginger Cookie Cottage deep etch die, but get enhanced with custom embroidery patterns from Mollie of Wild Olive. Use them as ornaments, garlands and so much more.
My family decorates real mini gingerbread houses (one per person), but I'm often unsure how I want to decorate mine. These patterns and pieces are my solution for the felt version. Mix and match the elements without thinking too hard and it's sure to be adorable!
Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 3 hours
Additional Supplies:
Ginger Cookie Cottage Embroidery Patterns (click to download)
Die Cut Machine
Pencil
Directions:
1. Pre-soak your felt, then roll it in a towel to remove excess water. When felt is fully dry, iron on the back side. DO NOT iron while felt is still damp.
2. Cut two main house pieces for each Ginger Cookie Cottage you are making. Cut out the decorative elements you want to use. You may want to cut some extras because you can mix and match everything!
3. Lightly trace embroidery patterns onto Sticky Fabri-Solvy. For the designs that go on roofs, people and trees, it helps to also trace the dotted outline to assist with placement.
4. Decide where you want embroidery, then peel and stick the pieces onto the cut felt shapes. The separate faces are fun to use on the cottages themselves or doors.
5. Embroider patterns using three strands of embroidery floss. Back stitch is best for small details. Use French knots for dots and scallop stitch for smiles and similar shapes. Be careful not to pull the stitches too tight or the felt pieces may bunch up.
Pay attention to where the thread is going on the back of pieces like the people. If you jump from the arms to the legs, for example, the thread will show on the front. Instead, weave through the back of stitches by the buttons or start and end the thread in each area.
6. Soak embroidered felt pieces in cool water to remove Sticky Fabr-Solvy. Remove felt and place between layers of a fluffy towel. Press to remove excess water. Lay flat to dry.
7. Assemble Ginger Cookie Cottages with Tacky Glue. Use just enough to hold the pieces and place glue where it won't show.
8. If you like you can also add more pieces with stitches that go around edges or even some pieces without embroidery!
9. Glue the back layer to cottage by spreading glue between the layers. When dry, the Ginger Cookie Cottages will be stiff enough to be displayed leaning on a shelf or mantle. Now it's a little felt village!
10. To make Ginger Cookie Cottages ornaments, cut a 6" piece of embroidery floss and tie ends together. Glue in place between the front and back layer.
11. Make a garland of cottages by gluing a string of bakers twine or perle cotton between front and back layers.
And those are just a few ideas! You can also attach the Cottages to fabric and display them in an embroidery hoop, arrange them in a circle and add them to a pillow cover, or glue them to the front of a card for a very cute holiday greeting!
There are lots of different ways to add details to your Ginger Cookie Cottages beyond the embroidery patterns. Stitch around the candy canes for stripes, add holly berries with French knots, or stitch the bows on with a few stitches around the center.
By rearranging the pieces and adding embroidery in different ways, there's no end to the cottages you can make. And, of course, you can add your own unique touches with embroidery, beads, sequins and more!
