making things

[usuallyhats]

This post mostly FAO tigerpixie, who was wanted to know how I made my Captain America brooch, so she could make one herself. It was really easy! Here are some instructions, for her and for anyone else who fancies making one.

This is what it looks like:



What you will need (NB the wine is optional):



Fabric in white and red: I used cotton, because that was what was in the shop
A blue button, about an inch across
White felt
Needle and thread - the colour doesn't really matter, as you won't be able to see it
Tailor's chalk (optional!)
Scissors
Brooch pin
Ribbon and beads, if you want to add that bit and make it more rosette-y
To make the templates: pencil, paper, compass (or a variety of circular objects to draw round. Or a very steady hand), ruler and protractor (if you want your star to be really neat)
(There's some extra gubbins lying around in these photos because I was trying to make some Black Widow hairgrips at the same time; they didn't come off.)

Technique:

The brooch is basically made of three Suffolk Puffs, which I learned how to make at cheltenhamjess's hen party the other week. To make one, cut out a circle of fabric. Thread your needle, double up the thread and put a knot in the end. Work in running stitch all round the edge, about half a centimetre in:



Pull tight, so the fabric gathers up. Flatten the puff out and put in a few stitches to keep it together.

How to make the brooch:

Step one: make your templates. You'll need three circles of paper with twice the diameter you want the puffs to have. I worked out what size I wanted by measuring the button and working up from that, with each layer a centimetre or two bigger than the one before. You'll also need a star template: draw a circle the size you want your star to be, and fit it into that, either by drawing it freehand or by using your protractor to mark five equidistant points on the circumference and joining them up. The button I used had a ridge round the edge, so I made my circle the same size as the bit inside the ridge.


Templates!

Step two: assemble the puffs! Make the largest one last and leave the needle and thread attached.



Step three: Give the puffs a bit of an iron so they lie flat.

Step four: pile the puffs and button up the way you want them and use the thread still attached to the largest one to sew them together. Mine were a bit wonky, this was done deliberately to get that authentic handmade look. Honest guv.



Step five: cut a star out of the white felt and glue it to the centre of the button.

Step six (optional): Sew any ribbons or strings of beads you feel it needs to the back of the brooch. I recommend marking a horizontal line on the back to show which way up the brooch will be; I didn't do this and my ribbons were all skew-wiff. Or you could leave this step until after the next one.

Step seven: attach the brooch pin to the back. Either sew it or glue it in place, if you have some decent glue. Don't just use PVA or it will fall off. She said bitterly.

Ta-dah! Finished brooch. :D



And here are some pictures of another geeky thing I made, since I've posted it everywhere else:


Tree of Gondor handbag!

Comments

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Sadly some of your pics don't seem to be showing up.

Put the Tree of Gondor bag does - and still looks as splendiferous as when you first Tweeted the pic...

[usuallyhats]

Thank you! ♥

(And thanks for the heads up re the pictures, I have restored the rogue .pngs that somehow disappeared from the code and they seem to be there now!)

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

That's better!

[thisbluespirit]

The bag is lovely - I'm all admiration. :-)

[usuallyhats]

Thank you! :)