wait…there’s more

Well, little Gingerbread Boy and Gingersnap Dog are feeling very loved and welcomed by all! Thanks for your kind words and ornament pattern orders. I’m digging the ease of filling orders when they require emailing PDF’s vs. packing and shipping. For certain I will be offering more patterns this way in the future!

I want to share some background on these little ginger-felts and give you another bonus project option for the pattern. (You know, in the spirit of “Wait! There’s More!”)

Ok, Bonus Project first. In addition to using the pattern to make ornaments, why not try them out as a sweet applique on a child’s sweater? You’ll need a sweater and some double sided fusible webbing.
* Trace the dog and boy pattern onto the paper side of the webbing and fuse it to your tan felt. (reverse the image for the dog if you want to keep him facing in the same direction)
* Next, cut the appliques out of the fused felt and peel off the backing. Place the appliques, webbing side down, onto the sweater and fuse, covering your work with a press cloth.
* Embroider details and blanket stitch edges. If you’d like, add a little hat to the boy, chain stitch a leash to the dog…make it yours.

I also think these friends would look adorable on a felty Christmas stocking. Must try that next year.

Ok, now the back story. I first created these friends back in my freelance days. I was submitting design work to a print studio in New York, and sometimes that included embroidery and applique design. The designs always sold better when I mocked them up in garment form. Look closely and you’ll see that this is just the front of a cardigan. This particular one didn’t sell, but I’ve hung onto it for all this time. I’m glad to be able to share it with you now!

If you’d like to try this or the ornaments, the pattern is available in my etsy shop. If you have any applique questions, please let me know.