Hanging Birds template
Sewing machine
Pins
Various small scraps of fabric (at least 18” x 12” pieces for each bird, use a different fabric pattern for each bird)
Small scraps of wool felt (6” x 4” for each bird)
Coordinating thread
1 ½ yards of ribbon (1 ribbon cut 12” long, another cut 14” long, and another ribbon cut 16” long)
Poly-fill
Embroidery floss
Hand sewing needle
6 – 0.47” bells (2 per bird)
Pinking shears
Coordinating trim for decorating bird neck (optional)
Seam allowance: ¼”
Download Vintage Inspired Hanging Birds abeautifulmess.com Directions:
1. Print out the template and cut out your fabric pieces: 2 bird bodies, 2 bird wings, 1 beak per bird. Cut the straight edge of the bird wing with pinking shears to give it a feather-like effect. Center each bird wing on the right side of each of your bird body fabric pieces, pin in place, edge stitch the wings on, but leave the zigzag side open. Be sure to snip any excess thread.2. Place the right sides of the bird body fabric together (wrong sides facing out). Sandwich the bird beak between the two fabric pieces on the location marked on the template, with the point of the beak facing in and 1/8” of the beak extended off the raw fabric edge. Sandwich the ribbon between the right sides of the fabric, where marked on the template, with 1/4” of the ribbon extending off the raw fabric edge, and pin in place. Starting at one end of the tail, stitch around the bird body stopping at the opposite end of where you started (see template for stitching example). This leaves the tail open for turning. Turn the bird with its right facing side out.
3. Stuff your bird with poly-fill. Note: Stuff the bird slightly less on the side where the bird’s head is rather than the tail half, so that the bird’s head doesn’t tip forward too much when hanging.
4. Straight stitch the tail closed 1/2” from the fabric edge. Use the pinking shears to snip off ¼” of the tail to give it a “feather-like” effect.
5. Embroider eyes, sew on two bells to the bottom of the bird, and add any additional trim to the neck.
6. Repeat steps 1-5 for your remaining two birds.7. Hold all 3 ribbons together, adjust each one to your desired length for each bird, and once the length of hanging is settled, knot the 3 ribbons together. Hang on a door (or a wall) and when someone opens the door, listen to your sweet birds ring!
You could easily just make one bird as an ornament, or even enlarge the pattern and make bird pillows! We have ours hanging on our front door, so every time we hear it open and close, we hear those little bells ring. My girls absolutely love it! Merry Christmas everyone!!! xoxo, Rubyellen
Credits // Author and Photography: Rubyellen Bratcher
these are too cute!
xxoo,
nikki
www.dreaminneon.blogspot.com
OH, so cute!
Ooh, these look so adorable. Love the fabric you used to make them.
I hope you’re having a wonderful week!
Sofie x
Little green Sofie
Oh, I’ve been saving scraps to make these! Mine will have thread instead of ribbon but still. So pretty.
these are gorgeous such a sweet little decoration, i will certainly be trying these.
Zoe
http://gypsiesister.blogspot.com
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I used to have those Russian dolls growing up in Moscow. LOVE!!!
These are so cute, they are brilliant.
Lauren
livinginaboxx
Put a bird on it!! Haha, these are adorable! As always, great post, guys 🙂
So cute and looks easy to make! Thanks for sharing!
www.liquidsunshineak.com
How adorable! This is such a great project with family 🙂
xoxo Zoe
http://thatszoe.blogspot.com/
I love it! And I just got some super cute fabric….:)
I LOVE this project:) So sweet!
These are so sweet! What a darling little piece of decor!
http://sometimesgracefully.com
Those are sooo cute! I have a friend who LOVES birds and this would be the nicest gift. Why didn’t I find you earlier! I see you used pinking shears, do you have any sharpening advice? Mine are soooo dull! Thanks for the great inspiration.
Tam Francis
www.girlinthejitterbugdress.com
I like the idea of them hanging on the door handle.
Beautiful-I like the idea of them hanging on the door handle.
these birds are just too adorable love them, thanks for the tutorial
Wow! very cute
Saludos,
Clau!
More christmas DIY ideas here: http://issuu.com/clobyclau/docs/navidad-con-clo-by-clau-navidad2013
I love bird decor, so this just delights me. I wonder if I can convince my husband to let me hang a few on the wall.
These are so cute!
Lulu xx
http://luluslittlewonderland.blogspot.com