I love blocks. And I love Felt Boards. They're both terrific toys for open-ended, creative play. Put them together and you get . . . The Felt Blocks.
They're shaped and proportioned like classic unit blocks, but they're flat, like classic felt board pieces. Rearrange them into anything you can imagine.
They're tactile. The French knots are delightfully bumpy and the split stitch makes nice raised stripes that are interesting to touch.
They can easily be stashed in a purse or bag.
They're quiet.
They're beautiful.
They're very easy to make.
Here's a close-up of some of the blocks. You can make these!
- Full-sized pattern
- Complete color and stitch guide
- Instructions for making the blocks
- Scraps of felt in assorted colors (I highly recommend the wool-blend felt available in Heather Bailey's shop. The colors are amazing and it's a joy to embroider.)
- Favorite embroidery pattern transfer tools (Sulky iron-on pens work very well on felt)
- Embroidery needle and thread
Time you'll need:
- a few days - maybe a week
$5.00
When you're done - please share your creations at the Shiny Happy Embroidery School group on Flickr!
Happy stitching! And have a great weekend!
Best,
Wendi
DaaannnnnG! Those are the coolest felt shapes evah. You have lucky kiddoes!
ReplyDeleteThanks Becky! I do love to stitch an allover pattern. . .
ReplyDeleteI love em!... silly question here, how do you play with them? On a flat board, or on the wall.. I am so picturing something hanging my 4 YO can reach with maybe something the felt can stick to?
ReplyDeleteTerri - You can play with them either way. Flat is great and portable - just pull the pieces out in a restaurant, church, etc. But at home it's very cool to have a felt board or wall. Felt sticks to felt and it sticks best if the background felt is stretched smooth and kind of tight.
ReplyDeleteFor a felt board, get a flat board a comfortable size to fit in your child's lap, stretch some felt over it and staple it on the back. For a felt wall, stretch some felt on the wall and secure it (or make the board so it can hang). Even a simple curtain of felt hung against the wall will work, it just works better if the felt is stretched a bit.
We made a felt easel for my daughter when she was little and that was great. Now she arranges the shapes flat into compositions to draw.
Have fun!