Ombre Dyed Valentine Owl

Step 1:

Instructions

1. Prewash felt piece to remove any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption.

2. Cover work surface with a plastic table cover.

3. In a large pot, heat 8 cups of water on the stove until very hot, at least 140° F.

4. Dye Preparation: Carefully transfer 8 cups heated hot water into large dye container. Shake dye bottle before measuring. Wearing rubber gloves, measure 1/2 cup of Fuchsia and add to hot water. Stir well to mix dye and water.

5. Ombre Dyeing Technique: Immerse 1/3 of felt into dye bath for 10 minutes. After 5 minutes add ¼ cup of vinegar, continue stirring for another 5 minutes. (The vinegar helps the wool to achieve a more intense color.) Add 5 yards of craft thread to dye bath. Allow the craft thread to remain in the dye bath until the desired shade is achieved. Color will appear lighter when dry.
Then dip middle section of felt for five minutes and the top third dip in completely for a minute or less depending on shade desired.

6. Remove felt and squeeze out excess dye. Rinse felt under cool running water, holding the lighter color at the top so the dye flows through to the deeper fuchsia end. Wash in warm water with mild detergent, rinse and hang dry. Iron flat.

7. Transfer owl pattern pieces to cardstock. Trace and cut out two hearts, two owl pieces, two beaks, two wings and four feet pieces from felt. Arrange pattern pieces on felt to have wings and beak lighter shades of the ombre.

8. Pin wings to owl body front creating a heart shape. Blanket stitch around edge of each wing, leaving a space where the wing edge joins the body edge. (This will be finished after the body is assembled.)

9. Layer and pin two beak pieces together. Blanket stitch around the pieces. Glue to face front.

10. Using white craft thread, sew a straight stitch for the two eyes on either side of beak.

11. Pin two layers of owl’s body together. Using the dyed cotton craft thread, hand-sew with a blanket around edge of owl, lifting wings at edge, leaving a 2” opening. Stuff owl with fiberfill and sew the opening closed. Glue wing edges down.

12. Pair up feet pieces. Hand-sew around each foot using the craft thread and a blanket stitch. Insert four pennies or metal weights into each foot. This will help the owl to stand. Glue feet to bottom of owl.

13. Using white thread, hand-sew white button to center of heart front. Sew straight stitch X to either side of button.

14. Pin two layers of heart together. Using the dyed cotton craft thread, hand-sew with a blanket around edge, leaving a 2” opening. Stuff heart with fiberfill and sew the opening closed.

15. Paint dowel piece, let dry. Make a small hole in back of heart at bottom insert dowel 1” and glue. Make a small hole in center of wings to insert dowel 1” and glue.