Folk Embroidered Felt Birds

Synopsis

Popular author Corinne Lapierre creates a charming range of 20 exquisite folk embroidered felt birds, including a swan, a hen, a goose, a partridge, an owl, a dove, a peacock and a flamingo. Beautifully made in lovely, soft colours, the birds are filled with toy stuffing and embellished with folk-style surface embroidery in different-coloured threads. The stitches include chain, feather, fly running, blanket, French knots and satin stitch. There are also bead and sequin embellishments on some birds.

The book includes pretty hand-drawn step-by-step illustrations and there are same-size templates at the back of the book for all the designs. The birds all have optional ribbon hangers for display.

Summary

Chapter 1: Introduction to Felt Birds

* Introduces the art of folk embroidered felt birds, their origins, and global variations.
* Real example: A vibrant and intricately embroidered hummingbird made from Peruvian wool felt, adorned with beads and sequins.

Chapter 2: Gathering Materials and Preparing the Felt

* Outlines necessary materials and instructions for preparing the felt for embroidery.
* Real example: Selecting and cutting natural wool felt into the desired bird shape, preserving its natural fibers.

Chapter 3: Basic Embroidery Stitches for Felt Birds

* Teaches fundamental embroidery stitches used in bird designs, including satin stitch and running stitch.
* Real example: A detailed tutorial on satin stitching a bird's beak, creating a smooth and realistic effect.

Chapter 4: Embroidering Bird Shapes

* Guides beginners through the process of embroidering basic bird shapes, focusing on body shape, wings, and tails.
* Real example: A step-by-step demonstration of embroidering a stylized bluebird, using satin stitch for the body and running stitch for the details.

Chapter 5: Adding Embroidered Details

* Expands on Chapter 4, introducing techniques for enhancing bird designs with details like eyes, feathers, and textures.
* Real example: Creating realistic bird eyes using French knots, and adding texture to feathers using split stitch.

Chapter 6: Folk Art Bird Embellishments

* Explores traditional and modern embellishments for felt birds, such as beads, sequins, and buttons.
* Real example: Adorning a felt owl with colorful beads and sequins, inspired by Native American art.

Chapter 7: Finishing Touches and Displaying Your Birds

* Discusses finalizing the birds, mounting them on supports, and displaying them in creative ways.
* Real example: Attaching a felt songbird to a delicate wire loop, creating an elegant and whimsical hanging ornament.

Chapter 8: Patterns and Inspiration

* Provides a variety of bird patterns, from simple silhouettes to intricate ornithological designs.
* Real example: A collection of patterns featuring birds from around the world, including a majestic eagle and a playful parrot.

Chapter 9: Folk Art Around the Globe

* Examines the diverse styles of felt bird embroidery from different cultures, including Swedish, Ukrainian, and Japanese traditions.
* Real example: A gallery of embroidered birds from various cultures, showcasing their unique patterns, colors, and embellishments.