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Joint sewing - Choosing felt and accessories

Joint sewing - Choosing felt and accessories

18.07.2019

For the cutest felt art! In our catalog you will find hard Korean felt with a thickness of 1.2 mm. made from 100% polyester! All needlewomen who love to create something new and beautiful will definitely appreciate it.

WHY DO YOU NEED TO CHOOSE KOREAN FELT?

This material is very dense, but not thick. Therefore, it is very convenient to work with him.
In addition, it has a number of advantages:
Does not tear due to its density
Doesn't shed
There are no pellets on it
Carefully washed by hand it looks like new
Can be sewn not only by hand, but also by machine

In Korea, hard felt is especially popular as a material for children's toys and crafts. And indeed, he is perfect for this. Dense felt makes reliable toys that hold their shape well. At the same time, do not tear it. And if the baby hits someone with his doll, it’s okay - the material is soft and won’t cause pain. Do you want the toy to be softer and more voluminous? Just add more stuffing. For active children preschool age These things are irreplaceable!

WHY HARD AND NOT WOOL FELT?

Of course, woolen and half-woolen felt is softer and very pleasant to the touch. But this softness is not always best quality. After all, the form and appearance the products will not last long. Although this material is often used for interior toys and other accessories.

WHY KOREAN AND NOT CHINESE HARD FELT?

The quality of Korean felt is definitely good, there are not many surprises waiting for you here. But with Chinese it’s a different matter. When you open the set, you can see cuts of different density and thickness. Moreover, the material may be prickly. Of course, you can also make a good toy out of it. And the price of the Chinese one is undoubtedly quite low. But, if you want reliability and quality, it is better to buy a Korean one.

WHY NOT FELT (POLYESTER) FROM OTHER MANUFACTURERS?

Japanese and American manufacturers have very soft felt. And it has all the disadvantages associated with this quality:

Easy to stretch
Flizzles and rolls up
Impractical. It is unlikely that it will be possible to make toys that are as reliable and durable as Korean ones. After all, it will not keep its shape well. Although you can make a decoration out of it, an accessory that will simply please the eye.

WHY NOT ACRYLIC FELT?

If you like more natural, “warm” materials, you are unlikely to like this felt. It is completely synthetic and unpleasant to the touch.

WHAT TOOLS ARE SUITABLE FOR WORKING WITH FELT?

Crystal's offers you not only best felt, but also a description of working with it. Do you want to work with this material, but don't know where to start? First you need to decide on the tools.

There are many different tools suitable for working with stiff felt. Usually, needlewomen have to deal with the fact that this dense material requires special treatment. Not all scissors can handle it. So let's explore each option:

1. ORDINARY STRAIGHT SCISSORS - the first indispensable tool. Cutting and high-quality stationery will do. Remember that they should not be the cheapest - otherwise they may not withstand the resistance of the hard material. The needlewoman determines the size of the scissors herself. It depends on how it is convenient for her to work, what parts she cuts out. Long cutting blades are suitable for large patterns. And stationery - if you need to cut out small details. The main thing to pay attention to:

The quality of the scissors. They must be reliable.

Comfort. The tool should fit comfortably in your hand.

Sharpening. Let the bevels of the blades be well sharpened.

These scissors can be purchased at any fabric or office supply store. Remember that first of all you choose a tool for yourself. Therefore, choose the option that is most convenient for you.

2. SMALL SCISSORS WITH THIN SHARP BLADES. They are perfect for working with felt, which you can buy at Crystal's. These scissors are sometimes called embroidery scissors. They look almost like manicure scissors, but the tips are straight rather than rounded. Complex contours, small details, patterns - all this can be created using such a tool.

3. FIGURE SCISSORS, OR “COOKIE”. There are many options for these scissors, and you can buy them anywhere. Their blades can have a zigzag, wave, or scalloped edge. All this has long been used by skilled craftswomen in the most different types handicrafts. However, be careful - not all of them are suitable for felt.

If you often work with thick materials and want better results, purchase a tool from a craft or fabric store. It will be specifically designed for working with fabric and felt. This means it can handle the load well and cut out everything you need very neatly and evenly. But don't rely on scissors purchased at an office supply store. First of all, they are designed for working with paper. This means that the blades may not be reliable. Perhaps if you come across good ones, they will work faithfully even with hard felt. However, you may also encounter some that will not cut even 1 mm thick material. Of course, special scissors will cost more, but they will be reliable.

4. ROLLER KNIFE. Perhaps one of best options. Scissors can cut felt unevenly, leaving an untidy edge. This problem can become especially serious if you are working with thick felt. A roller knife can cope not only with thin, but also with fairly thick material. The result will be much more accurate than when working with scissors.

HOW TO CUT FELT?

There is no one way to cut. After all, felt is a very docile material. It does not need to be held in place with dozens of pins precisely because it is dense. Each needlewoman chooses the method that she likes best. For example:

Using pins. Again, you don't need too many of them. Pins will hold tight pieces of material well in place.

Using tape. This method also works and is quite convenient. However, keep in mind that felt can be damaged by tape. After all, fibers will be removed from the surface of the material. And this will make him look somewhat unkempt and disheveled. On the other hand, after frequent use, the product may still become a little frayed. Scotch tape will help out if for some reason you can’t use pins. For example, if there are small children nearby who can grab a pin and prick themselves.

HOW TO DRAW A PATTERN ON HARD FET RE?

You can translate the pattern or directly draw it on the material. With felt this can be done in different ways:

SELF DISAPPEARING MARKER. This is a common handicraft tool. You can simply draw whatever you want on felt. Even very small details. But do not forget that the lines may disappear. Another option is a marker that can be washed off with water. Remember that there are special rules for use for them. Study them carefully so as not to wash away the lines ahead of time or accidentally fix them forever.

GEL PEN. She writes well and clearly not only on paper. However, the ink may not wash out.

TAILOR'S CHALK OR BAR OF SOAP. A classic method that has its advantages. Of course, chalk and soap should only be used for simple parts. Their advantage is that they do not need to draw an outline. It is enough just to move the chalk along the edge of the pattern, and the line will not go beyond. For example, you need to be careful with a marker and pen. The outline will be clear and can be cut out without any problems. In addition, chalk is very easy to remove from felt. But if the pattern is full of complex small details, chalk and soap will no longer help.

As you can see, it is better to adopt several methods for translating a pattern. After all, what is suitable in one case may completely fail in another. Therefore, it is better to have chalk, a marker, and a pen on hand.

HOW TO CONNECT FELT PARTS?

There are many ways to connect felt pieces. And thread stitching is just one of them. After all, the dense material that Crystal’s online store offers you is very convenient to work with. Here are the most common methods:

1. SEWING. A variety of threads are suitable for this. It all depends on which ones you like to work with:

Polyester is a very common type. Well suited for working with felt. You can take one thread or fold it to make it stronger if the material is thick.

Iris. They also go harmoniously with felt. They are even, smooth, do not fade and are very easy to use. They will perfectly complement the product with its neat appearance.

Woolen. Finishing with such threads will look very beautiful.

Remember a few tricks that will help you work with any thread. First, fold them several times when working with thick felt. Secondly, try not only to match the shade of the thread to the color of the material, but also play with contrasts. This will look great on jewelry.
For threads, special tapestry needles with a large eye are suitable.

2. GLUING. Needlewomen recommend several types of glue that can hold felt parts:

"Moment-Crystal". It is suitable for this task due to its transparency and ability to firmly fix any material.

PVA and glue stick. Some cut pieces can be connected with their help, but it is better to choose something more reliable.

Glue gun. Silicone glue can do the job perfectly. The main thing is to work quickly - it dries very quickly. It is better to apply glue not to the entire part at once, but gradually, connecting 4-5 cm at a time.

Double-sided tape. It can also give results. There is stationery and construction tape. Carpets, tiles, etc. are glued last. It is perfect if you want to cover a book or other thing with a hard surface with felt.

HOW TO CARE FOR FINISHED FELT PRODUCTS?

Felt requires special care and there are several ways to care for it.

1.DRY CLEAN. If you need to refresh the look of the product, just brush it with a soft, dry brush. And large things can be vacuumed using a convenient attachment.

2. WIPE WITH A WET SPONGE, fiber glove, napkin. Wet cleaning should be done carefully and only when the dirt is strong enough. You can use not just water, but a cleaner for carpets, wool, etc.

3.WASH BY HAND OR IN THE WASHING MACHINE. When entrusting the item to the machine, make sure that the delicate wash mode is selected. The water temperature should not exceed 40°C, no matter how you wash. To dry, lay the item on a smooth horizontal surface. It is better not to squeeze it out, or do it very carefully. Otherwise, the product may lose its shape. If this happens, you can steam the item with an iron through the iron without touching its surface.

Remember that before washing you must find out how the parts of the felt item are connected. After all, the glued parts can come off when wet.

Crystal's offers every needlewoman high-quality and reliable felt. If you do not yet know how to work with this material, high-quality felt will help you learn quickly and with pleasure. And if you are already a master of this craft, you will create many amazing things with it.

So, I want to determine right away - I will sew it myself. volumetric alphabet , that is, I will fill the letters with filler. But I really want to give everything so that there is a choice for those who still want a flat alphabet and animals. I'll see how I get on with this.

Felt

The most important thing we need is felt! IN in this case enough felt to get 1 mm, soft. I will sew from spanish, using . Another reason is that I want to experimentally find out its wear and tear when communicating with two active children =)

I urge you to find a felt option that is affordable and which you can add during sewing in case there is a shortage.

If you are dealing with felt for the first time, then I advise you to either immediately buy a high-quality one (Spanish soft or Korean soft), which is praised by already experienced girls. Or again, take the one you have in the fabric and craft store.

Why do I so boldly separate quality and availability? Because, alas, felt is so far presented in an accessible form mainly - the thinnest, low density, heterogeneous in structure, creaky and very stretchy. To sew the edges, you need to grab far, as the edge becomes shaggy.

This is my personal experience and feedback from many. But I understand and am aware that we are all accustomed to using what is presented nearby and there is no escape from it. That’s why I’m so loyal to this issue. In fact, once you start sewing, you will feel for yourself whether felt is pleasant to work with or not. And this will only be your personal experience. Which is very useful in needlework!

If you want to sew flat alphabet, then I can definitely say that Korean felt eco-polyester 1-2 mm hard is the best for this task. And across the wide color palette and, most importantly, in terms of properties - dense, hard, homogeneous, and does not roll into lumps on the surface. For a children's toy, the quality is just right. But for now, such felt can be bought in online stores and from girls who distribute it. In Russia, Korean felt is simply not found in fabric and craft stores.

But I can also say that in fact a flat alphabet can be sewn from soft felt! Just duplicate the layers. And you get such a puff alphabet. The idea is wonderful! This is how the letters are in the photo.

Threads

What threads are best to take? I will sew floss. I would say that these are universal threads - if you want to sew felt with them, but if you want to use them for their intended purpose - embroider.

Our usual household cotton threads will work too, but do you have them in different colors? Yes, and it’s worth deciding - will you sew with thread colors that match the felt or will you make a contrasting edge? Both options are good in their own way. But I advise you to choose so that the entire alphabet is in the same style. I haven’t yet decided which one I will have =) One thing I want to note is that matching threads will hide an unskilled seam, and this is a bonus for many =) For a contrasting edge, the seam should be even and beautiful. This is a way to discipline yourself in sewing - a great way to improve the quality of your hand sewing.

I don’t discount sewing not by hand, but by sewing machine. Please! Choose any method. By the way, in the photo above the letter Z is sewn on a typewriter. Simply cut along the contour, not before stitching, but after.

We discussed the most important thing - what we sew from and with what. The question remains - how much.

How much felt do you need?

The answer is ambiguous. Let's calculate like this - the letters and animals will be approximately 8 cm each. This means that at a minimum we need the front and back parts of 8x8 cm, or better with a margin of 10x10 cm. Thus, we take such squares as 33 letters and 29 animals and 4 duplicates. the letters J, ь, ы, Ъ with eyes, for example. It turns out squares 10x10 cm and a total of 132 pieces. Felt sheets are usually 30x20 cm. Then there are 22 sheets. But you need to take into account that the animals are multi-colored, so add leaves of common colors - white, yellow, red, etc. Take felt with a little extra so that there is no hassle that some color suddenly runs out.

Did I calculate everything correctly? Did you get something wrong? =)

Filler

You can insert different things into the letters filler. First of all, of course, soft padding polyester, padding polyester, holofiber, you can also add granulate. Or you can have both buckwheat and rice, just pre-heat them in the microwave, for example. For protection from bugs =)

And two warnings at once - such an alphabet cannot be washed or it is necessary to provide for the filling to be poured out before washing.

And secondly, the importance of the reliability of the seams. To avoid tearing and small grains getting into the child’s mouth.

Accessories for toys

Now I'll tell you about accessories, which will make our alphabet functional and interesting.

Letters can be sewn simply, without providing a way to secure them anywhere. Or you can think about this in advance. And choose either for mounting on a panel, or magnets for mounting on the refrigerator and magnetic board.

Then we will sew the Velcro onto back side, and glue the magnet. The magnet can be placed inside the letter. We found out that a magnet 1.5-2 cm and 2 mm thick will withstand the weight of such a letter and will hold it well.

Inside, I would advise at least in some letters, but insert or rattle, pishalka. Another way to play will appear - find the rattle letter =) Such letters can be given to children up to one year old and after one year. To just hold it, shake it, squeeze it. In fact, I’ll make one like this for myself. So that the son can study at his own level, and the daughter can study at her own level, sensory and audio perception.

Should the letters be decorated with embroidery, as in the photo? I would not recommend it if we are pursuing the goal of a teaching alphabet. I think these decorations will be distracting. For me, a single-color surface of the letter and nothing else is exactly what is needed. By the way, important point. I still remember him. You will need two letters A, two letters M, two letters P, so that you can add DAD and MOM =) The baby’s first words are so important! If not right away, be sure to sew duplicates. A game option will also appear - find a similar letter, make a word.

Felt is the highest grade of felt, made from fluff or delicate wool. In stores, this material is sold in the form of cut sheets of dense compressed wool, rolled into rolls.

You can sew jewelry from this material, you can use it to decorate bed linen, covers of photo albums and notebooks.

Felt is often used to make handicrafts, which are rarely done without the use of glue. About, how to glue felt correctly without spoiling it, we’ll talk!

What glue to glue felt with - review

To work with felt you will need cutting, drawing and fastening tools.

Standard scissors;
Embroidery scissors – for cutting out small details;
Roller knife - for even cutting of thick layers or several layers of fabric;
Punchers – for cutting round holes;
Pins, needles, tape, disappearing markers, pen or tailor's chalk - for transferring the contours of the pattern onto a sheet of felt;
Threads or glue for felt - depending on the joining method.

You need to pay special attention to the question of how to glue felt parts together.

To avoid damaging the fabric, use the following types of glue:

FG40Z. Special textile adhesive for felt and many other products made from paper, sequins, ribbons, feathers and other materials. When dry, it does not leave yellow marks and is easily removed from the product with running water or any rough surface. Thanks to the thin dispenser spout, it is convenient to glue small parts of a craft. Does not contain toxic substances. The cost of a 118 ml package: 385 rubles.
Moment-Crystal. This clear adhesive gives a strong bond when gluing felt. It is very liquid, so you need to be extremely careful when applying. Not recommended for use by people with allergic reactions and in unventilated places, as it emits a pungent odor from chemicals. Price for 125 ml: 110 rubles.
UHU Creative. It glues products made of felt, cotton wool, wool, cotton and other fabrics well. And not only among themselves, but also with other materials. Perfect for creating appliqués, fabric collages, jewelry and clothing modeling. Glue residues are easily removed with water. Price for a 38 ml package: 360 rubles.

VIDEO INSTRUCTION

Why can't you use PVA glue?

Many people make the mistake of using PVA glue for crafts and other felt projects. Only PVA-MB (universal) and PVA-M (super) are suitable for this.

Household PVA glue for wallpaper and PVA-K (stationery) are used for working with cardboard and paper. If you apply them to felt, then when they dry, traces of yellow color will remain.

It is better to avoid using this type of glue altogether, as its white or yellowish mass is very thick and lumpy.

Instructions – glue the felt without leaving any traces in the handmade craft

You can glue felt to felt and other materials using either the above-mentioned types of glue or silicone. But in the second case, you will need a heat gun.

Bonding with silicone

This method of working with felt is very convenient, it will save time and allow you to achieve a strong connection. A glue gun is an electric hot glue tool.

Plug the heat gun into a power outlet;

Wait until the rod begins to melt;

Pull the trigger and squeeze out required amount glue;

Upon completion of gluing, turn off the device from the outlet;

Wipe off any remaining glue on the nozzle with paper.

You need to get used to the heat gun - you need to work with it very quickly, because the glue hardens instantly, after which it will be quite problematic to remove it from the felt. The advantage of buying a tool is that it will be useful not only for fastening fabrics, but also during the repair process.

Gluing with regular glue

Apply any glue extremely carefully and sparingly so that the felt does not become saturated or wet.

The surface to be glued must be dry;
Apply the glue in a thin and even layer on both surfaces;
Hold for 5-10 minutes, then press firmly for 1-2 seconds. The strength, not the duration of compression, is important here;
If the glue has soaked outward, glue a duplicate over the damaged area, applying glue along the contour of the area to be glued.

Each glue can be removed from felt in several ways:

PVA. It can be easily removed with warm water or a rag soaked in alcohol or vinegar;
Stationery or silicate glue. Easily removed with cold water, diluted with soap and one teaspoon of soda;
Glue-Moment. Fresh residues can be removed with a rag soaked in gasoline. Dried glue can only be removed with solvents or by special means, such as “Super Moment Anticley”;
Silicone glue. Place the product in the freezer and wait until the hot melt glue freezes. When exposed to cold, it becomes brittle, after which it can be removed with a spoon or a dull knife. It may fall off on its own. Acetone is also good at removing hot glue residue. Having dissolved under the influence of this substance, the glue can be wiped off with a clean rag.

Important rule!

Whenever you are going to start making crafts from felt and gluing it, first check the effect of the glue on a piece of fabric you do not need.

What is felt? What types does it come in, and what tools are useful for working with felt? Let's study all these questions thoroughly!

A material popular among needlewomen, felt, is a fairly dense compressed wool mass, which is cut into sheets of certain sizes or rolled into rolls. Density is achieved by treating wool with hot steam. Felt is a close relative of felt, but felt is usually made from more delicate wool or animal down.

Felt in sheets

What can felt be used for? It all depends only on your imagination! Felt toys and crafts are very popular among mothers and their babies. You can sew from felt various decorations(brooches and pendants), decorate the covers of notebooks and photo albums, decorate pillows and bedspreads.

Undoubted advantages of felt:

has a wide range of colors;
produced in sheets of various thicknesses;
easy to sew and glue;
does not have a front or back side;
The edges of the felt do not fray, there is no need to bend them.

Felt classification

The first way to classify felt is by its thickness. In craft stores you can find felt of different thicknesses: from 1 to 5 mm.

Felt of different thicknesses

Thinner felt is ideal for cutting out small pieces. Applications and toys made of felt with a thickness of 1-1.5 mm will turn out more neat.

Thick felt is best used as a base (for example, for a bag or for an educational book). It holds its shape better.

Felt composition

Felt (like knitting and embroidery threads) can have different compositions: pure wool, half-woolen, artificial and synthetic. Each composition has its own characteristics and disadvantages.

Pure wool felt (90-100% natural wool)

Flaws:

shrinks after washing
prone to getting shaggy
pellets may form on the surface
quite soft and wrinkles easily

Advantages:

Ideal for making jewelry, accessories and decorative elements for interior.

Wool blend felt (50-60% wool and 40-50% other materials: viscose, acrylic)

Flaws:

soft, so doesn't hold its shape very well
not suitable for creating large-sized products

Advantages:

even, smooth texture
wide variety of colors
Great for small decorative items

Acrylic felt (100% acrylic)

Flaws:

characterized by a characteristic shine and a certain “slipperiness”
prone to fraying
does not tolerate high temperatures well
thin felt has a certain transparency

Advantages:

rich color palette
practically does not shed
does not shrink and holds its shape well
easy to clean
Suitable for making crafts, toys, accessories, appliques

Polyester felt (100% polyester)

Flaws:

Lighter sheets of felt may show through.

Advantages:

has good wear resistance, high strength and dimensional stability
does not shed
soft and dense material
best suited for products that will be subject to heavy use

Viscose felt (100% viscose)

Flaws:

may change shape due to careless cleaning or washing

Advantages:

very durable, soft, smooth and silky to the touch
keeps its shape well
Suitable for toys, decorations, appliques

Which felt is best to buy?

Before purchasing felt, consider:

What are you going to sew?
What size will the product be?
How well should it keep its shape?
Will this product be subject to heavy use (frequent washing)?
Will this product come into direct contact with skin or hair?

Depending on the answers, you will understand what qualities of felt will be of paramount importance to you.

Felt is usually sold in rectangular sheets of A4 or A3 format. Before purchasing, it is better to accurately calculate how many sheets you will need to make the product.

Tools needed when working with felt

Materials for cutting parts

There should be several scissors: cutting scissors or regular stationery scissors with straight blades; small scissors with straight tips - for cutting out small parts; curly scissors (wave, zig-zag); roller knife - for cutting thick felt.

For cutting small round holes (for example, flower cores), a grommet punch is suitable.

Felt part cut with curly scissors

Felt piece cut with regular straight scissors

Materials for transferring patterns to material

Typically, needlewomen use self-disappearing or tailor's chalk for this purpose. For patterns of small parts, you can use a gel pen.

When using a disappearing marker, be sure to check it for “disappearance” IN ADVANCE.

It is convenient to outline small details with a self-disappearing marker

The detail is outlined with a piece of soap

The outline of the part is drawn with tailor's chalk

Materials for connecting individual parts

Threads

You can sew the parts together with regular sewing threads (polyester). Depending on the thickness of the felt, the thread is used either in one or in several folds.

Floss threads will also be useful. Using floss, you can either embroider patterns on the product itself or connect two parts “over the edge.”

Needles

For manual stitching of parts, it is necessary to choose needles with a thin and sharp tip. When stitching on sewing machine, use a needle for thick fabrics (for example, denim).

Glue

If you decide to glue the elements together, the most common glue options are PVA, Moment-Crystal and textile glue.

The main condition for using any glue is careful application. The glue should not soak through the felt part - then stains will appear on the surface of the product.

When using Moment glue, it is applied only along the edges of the product!

Pay attention to the glue from the hot-melt gun. This option is distinguished by its convenience, but to work with it you need to get used to it.

Using a heat gun

If you need to glue the walls of a box or an album cover, it is better to use double-sided tape.

Filler

If your product must be voluminous, then be sure to think about the filler.

You should not use batting, cotton wool, or various scraps of fabric. It will not be possible to stuff the product evenly: it will turn out uneven and quite heavy. In addition, products filled with cotton wool are difficult to rinse after washing. This material is quite hygroscopic and will draw water from the air. This means that over time, mold may appear in such a product.

And scraps of fabric and threads used as filler can fade and stain the fabric of the product.

Simple stitches for working with felt

The components of felt crafts can be sewn together using almost any seam. Moreover, a seam can become both a way to connect parts and a decoration.

Seams on a felt product can be done either by hand or on a sewing machine.

YOU WILL NEED:

Check out the types of decorative hand stitches that will look beautiful on felt crafts

Heart decorated with decorative stitches. Author - Tatyana Maksimenko

To sew two identical parts together, a regular buttonhole stitch or a needle-forward stitch is most often used. But even a buttonhole stitch can be turned into an original decoration.

Buttonhole seam options

Caring for felt products

Of course, the method of cleaning felt crafts directly depends on the degree of contamination and the purpose of the product itself. In case of minor dirt, it is enough to walk over the surface with a soft brush. And large surfaces can be vacuumed using a special vacuum cleaner attachment.

If there are formations on the edges of the product heavy pollution, then you can remove them with a damp sponge (you can add detergent foam for cleaning carpets).

Washing is allowed only in warm water (no more than 40 °C) on a delicate cycle.

It's better not to squeeze. And to dry the product, you need to gently blot it terry towel and leave on a horizontal surface.

If, despite all the precautions, the product is deformed, then you can try to straighten it with an iron: in the “steaming” mode, without touching the surface of the material.

Remember! Products with adhesive joints cannot be wet cleaned or steamed!