A pattern from me

Each month I am sharing a pattern with my lovely NOTYQ friends and we are making things for the Community Quilts sale table at our quilt show later this year.
Here's what I'm sharing this month

A cute little owl pin cushion.  Click HERE for the templates.

I used a piece of a small woollen blanket which I bought at my local Savers for only $3.99 and should make about 20 pincushions - I do love a bargain. I backed it with a piece of flannel and used some wool felt scraps for the owl.  I filled my pin cushion with crushed walnuts.  Three buttons, 4 pins and a bit of stranded cotton complete the materials list.

Trace the owl pieces from the template sheet onto the paper side of freezer paper (the type our lovely American friends can get in the supermarket and we have to buy from quilt shops by the metre).
Iron the pieces of freezer paper, waxy side down, on the felt.

Cut out the pieces then peel off the freezer paper.  Save the paper pieces as they can be re-used many times.

Glue the felt pieces to the wool back ground and stitch in place with a couple of strands of stranded cotton. ( I use a very cheap bostick glue stick you can get in Kmart for less than a dollar - just check on the tube that it says suitable for fabric) You can use blanket stitch, running stitch or any decorative stitch you choose to secure the edges of the felt.

Decorate the owl however you wish.  I kept mine pretty simple as I plan to make lots for the quilt show stall, but you can be as decorative as you like.

Sew your backing fabric onto the back of the piece of wool (right sides together, of course), leaving a small gap so you can pour in the walnut shells.
Turn right side out, stuff then close the gap with ladder stitch.
Add some pins and a cute little gift, that cost virtually nothing, is ready for the present basket.

There are a multitude of wool pincushion patterns around.  Here are just a few I've made recently.  Some are Anni Downs patterns, some come from the Quilted Crow girls, some from Hudson's Holidays and some I made up myself.

I made this pin cushion to partner my free scissor keep pattern that you can find HERE on my Oct 7, 2011 post.

I also wanted to share Fiona's finished version of my Home Sweet Home Penny Rug BOM.  She did a brilliant job.  You can get the free pattern HERE or at the top of this blog.

I also shared the pattern for this spring themed penny rug HERE on the Sept 21st, 2011 post

And these hexie coasters, backed with felt, HERE on the Sept 22, 2011 post.

And another little owl project 

This time it is an adorable owl doorstop, generously shared HERE at Wee Folk Art.  Thank you so much.