Sutton and I were browsing some of our favorite blogs this morning, and we ran across a post over at Paint Cut Paste that showed off a fun first sewing project – Waldorf style felt gnomes. He immediately wanted to start sewing, so we took advantage of the fact that Simon was still sleeping at 8:00 AM (all that Halloween fun totally wore him out!) to have our first hand sewing lesson.
I cut a very teeny bit of the tip off of an embroidery needle so that it wouldn’t be so pokey, cut the pattern from Sutton’s requested colors of felt and helped him thread his needle. He picked up on the sewing technique pretty quickly, and he sewed the entire hat and body with minimal assistance. Yay!
After the body was sewn, Sutton stuffed his gnome with wool roving
(the head is a knot tied in the wool), and I sewed the bottom on for him since his “hands [were] tired from all that sewing and stuffing.” We put the finished gnome on the nature table next to a needle felted apple that I made awhile ago.
(the head is a knot tied in the wool), and I sewed the bottom on for him since his “hands [were] tired from all that sewing and stuffing.” We put the finished gnome on the nature table next to a needle felted apple that I made awhile ago.
Sawyer came home from school and wanted to make a gnome of his own (naturally!). He was really meticulous and focused, and I was totally impressed at his concentration and patience. Aside from my help with threading the needle and tying the knots he sewed every stich all by himself!
I helped with the bottom again since Sawyer liked the look of the blanket stitch that I had used on Sutton’s gnome. I really love the color choices he made on this one (the bottom is purple even though you can’t see it!).
Two sweet little gnomes hanging out on the nature table with other felt goodies, pumpkins and a basket full of indian corn, feathers and acorns.
Our fall nature table also shows off my Microcrafted
card, our fall leaf lantern, and some fun leaf shaped glittery candles that the kids love.
card, our fall leaf lantern, and some fun leaf shaped glittery candles that the kids love.
Everything fragile or choking-hazard-ish is pushed way back and out of Simon’s reach since he’s teething again and loves to chew on everything right now (not to mention what would happen if I tried to put a table runner or playsilk landscape underneath everything!). I love that the older boys are able to play with everything on the table though, and they spend a lot of time arranging and rearranging everything. Last but not least, I really love how everything is topped of by a colorful felt leaf garland that was sent to us by the lovely Nikki at WhiMSy Love (thanks, Nikki! ♥).
Halloween might be over, but since the weather is just finally starting to cool down here it’s really starting to feel like fall…and so far it has been worth the wait! I foresee lots more chilly morning cups of tea
and crockpot cooking in the near future!
and crockpot cooking in the near future!
Anonymous says
awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this site is great i’m about to go to try and make peanut butter play dough
i’m Emma Grace
MittenMom says
Hi I am your newest follower from the blog hop!
anna says
I love these gnomes and also the pictures of your intent little sewer – he has done an absolutely beautiful job.
Carrie says
Adorable gnomes! I would love it if you would share this post at my Sharing Saturday link party at http://craftymomsshare.blogspot.com/2011/11/sharing-saturday-4.html. Thank you!
April's Homemaking says
How fun to make little gnomes with your children, your fall table looks great, and I love your mini card.
2littlehooligans says
wow great job!! so adorable! im so jealous you are just getting fall. it is winter here already, err!