How to Make a DIY Felt Brooch

Step 1

Interest in handmade items has grown recently. Various jewelry and accessories add flair to any outfit. Plus, a piece like this will be truly one of a kind. In addition, crafting is good for the nervous system—it is calming and helps develop fine motor skills and creative thinking.
If you really want to try making something with your own hands, you can start with simple projects—for example, a felt brooch. Brooches are back in style and delight with their variety.
First, you need to decide on a design. Choose what you want to create.
Let's say it will be a cute little mouse.

To make the brooch, you will need:
felt – choose a color you like and immediately think about what you will wear the brooch with, so that your clothes coordinate. Your little animal might even feature multiple colors. You will need medium-stiff felt so that it holds its shape and is easy to sew through;
thick sewing thread – you can use a thread that contrasts with the felt. The stitches will be more visible, adding extra vibrancy, but they must be neat.
polyester batting or cotton batting – use this if you want to add dimension to your piece and make it look like a small soft toy; you can stuff the project with polyester batting or cotton. The key is not to use too much;
beads, seed beads, rhinestones etc. – any embellishments;
brooch findings – the clasp can be sew-on or have a glue-on base. The main thing is to choose the right size. Before buying it, make a template to know the approximate size of the hardware;
a small piece of faux leather;
superglue.
How to make it
As already mentioned, first make a template for our project. Then, using this template, trace the silhouette onto the felt and cut out two copies. And don't forget the seam allowance.
First, sew on a bead or glue on a rhinestone to serve as the nose of our little pet). Then the eyes and, of course, the whiskers. You can embroider them with thread or make them out of bugle beads, for example. You can also embellish the brooch entirely with beads and seed beads, adding sequins if you like. If you plan a more modest brooch, adding a few color accents is still a great idea. All in all, there is plenty of room for your imagination to run wild.
If you do not plan to add stuffing, simply glue the two template pieces together. If you do plan to add stuffing, you can glue it to the bottom template piece and sew the parts together. Alternatively, sew the pieces together, leaving a small opening.
Stuff the project with filler and sew it completely shut.
The final touch is to cut a piece of faux leather using the template and glue it onto the back of our handmade piece. You can make holes in the faux leather beforehand and insert the clasp into them. This way, the inner hardware will be hidden by the leather, and even the reverse side of your project will look very neat and attractive. You can sew around the edges of the brooch with neat thread stitches. Or you can edge it with seed beads—this will give the piece a finished look and make its overall appearance even neater.
Crafting is a very engaging activity that brings a lot of joy. After all, seeing the creation of your own hands is always rewarding, and if it turns out beautiful, it could easily become a second career.