Monday, June 27, 2011

Angry Birds Blanket!

Over the weekend my boys went to an Angry Birds themed birthday party. Of course they needed a theme-appropriate gift for the birthday boy!
With their direction as to which characters to include (as well as a few hints from the birthday boy's mom as to the birthday boy's favorites!), I whipped together this fun little fleece blanket, using my SUPER versatile Fleece Applique Technique. (A list of ideas for this technique is at the end of this post!)


Of course there's the ever-famous BIG red bird...


...the king pig...


...and the bomb bird!
(please excuse his one wonky eyebrow -- it definitely should have been longer. It's going to bug me for the rest of forever!)


Here's the back -- LOVE!


I started with 1 1/2 yards of blue fleece for the blanket. The selvages are at the top and bottom of the blanket. I then used pieces from my fleece collection for the birds. The technique is the same as for my Tiny Kitten in a Box tutorial -- using a tissue paper pattern and free-motion foot.

Here's a quick explanation:

Draw an "actual size" image of your bird on a sheet of light-colored tissue paper. I free-hand sketched mine. REMEMBER that your finished bird will be a mirror image of your sketch.


(Yes, this is a different bird now!)
You will need to think in "layers," starting with the main background color. Place your tissue paper pattern on the BACK of the blanket, positioning it where you want it, and pin it in place around the edges of the pattern. Layer your first color of fleece on the FRONT of the blanket, making sure the entire area of the pattern will be covered, and pin the fleece in place around the outside edges.

SEW from the pattern side, directly on your drawn lines! I use a free-motion foot for this, but you could use a regular sewing machine foot. Once you've completed your shape, cut away the excess fleece from around your stitching line using finely pointed scissors. You can trim very close to your stitching line -- fleece will not fray!

NOTE: Leave your tissue paper pattern alone! You still need it!


Continue adding layers of fleece, pinning your fleece in place and sewing from the tissue paper side. After sewing each layer, trim away the excess.


Keep adding layers of fleece until you've completed your image.


That's it! Once you are all finished with your birdies and pigs, you simply tear your tissue paper patterns from the back of the blanket. Done!!

More examples of this SUPER FUN and EASY technique:

Tiny Kitten in a Box
Angry Birds Plushies
Snowflake Embellished Scarf
Easy Pirate Doo-Rag
Fleece Creatures
Fall Leaves Fleece Throw
Black Cat Blanket
Peep Quack and Chirp Blanket

24 comments:

Kathleen said...

You are freaking amazing and I mean that is the best possible way. This blanket is super cute. I still love the angry bird I made for my 24 year old son. He might get a blanket this Christmas! :)

Teri said...

That is the awesomest gift ever!! So dang cute!!

And this would be . . . . said...

I recently discovered Angry Birds (I just got a new smartphone and got one of the free games) and I LOVE THEM! Therefore, I love this blanket . . . and of course the other Angry Bird things you have done.

Laura said...

I love your blanket! What a personal gift. One question ... why do you bother sewing on the back rather then right over the applique on the front? And why use tissue paper? This is prob very obvious ... but I can't visualize it in my head! Thanks for the tutorial!

Country Mouse said...

This is so cute! I love angry birds!!! My kids love them too! :)Thanks for sharing!!!
audrey

Care said...

Hi Laura,

Good question! I should have explained that!

I sew from the back out of pure laziness -- er -- EFFICIENCY! That means you only have to draw one pattern. If you work up your layers on the front, you have to keep removing your tissue paper patterns for each color, then adding another. From the back = shortcut! :o)

Care.

p.s.phyllis sews said...

Wow! Your steps make the process look repeatable! Thanks so much!

Unknown said...

obrigada por partilhar!!!!

beijos e uma otima semana

Cláudia de Jesus Pinheiro said...

Que lindo!!!
Vai ser um sucesso com a garotada!

beijos

Cláudia
Varaldeartesanatos.blogspot.com

Lauren The Artist said...

Oh my gosh that is so stinkin' cute!

teacherspet04 said...

Brilliant!!

Tiffany said...

I love it! What a lucky birthday boy!

ShirleyC said...

That is such a clever idea! Love those characters!

Kristy said...

Wonderful! If my son sees it I know he will request one! ps. I think the eyebrow is fine, but I totally am the same way! lol! I bet it gets loved all the same though! Thanks for sharing and inspiring!

Amy said...

Very nice and creative. I am sure the birthday boy loves it.

Cammie said...

C is in love. He carries his new blanket around all day. After swimming today,T wrapped up in it (since C was still at the pool) and petted the different birds. Thank you Care!!!! You are amazing!

April said...

Oh my goodness! Adorable!!

Anonymous said...

I have started using coffee filters for this type of applique. They work really well. If you Iron them very flat you can even tape them to paper and get your printer to print on them.

Mama Teaching 3 said...

What a very blessed birthday boy!

Amy said...

Do you by chance have an Etsy store? Message me at 4thfrog70 (dot) gmail (dot) com.

Richard Healey said...

My wife was just telling me that I need to make my sone a Angry Bird quilt. I thought na no one would make one of them. Google and presto you have one. I love it. Wife will love it and my son will think Im a hero.

icluesew said...

You have a wonderful blog! Thanks for sharing. I love the angry birds too. Denby

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