Witches Stitches - Penny Rugs – How to Make One
I have always loved penny rugs. They come in every color and size and look wonderful in any decor. You can make them to match seasons or holidays. I have always wanted to make one. I decided I should start with something a bit smaller, like a candle mat. So that is what I am going to start with.
You can use any felt you choose for your Penny Rug, but I chose to use the less expensive felt you can buy in a craft store for my first try. When I get good at it I will buy good quality wool felt. The good quality wool felt can be a bit pricy so the craft store felt it was for the first try.
Instructions
Get together the colors you want to use for your project. Take your time in choosing by laying the colors on top of one another to make sure they will look good when your project is done. Colors you may think will look good together may not when placed on top of one another. Also you will have to choose a color for your background piece.
Once you have done that draw your template on paper. Draw the shape you want for the background then the pennies. You can use any number of round items to cut the circles for your rug. It all depends on what size your project is, you can even use pennies!!
Organize the pieces for the penny rug by color on the background. When you have it all in place, everything fits and you are happy with the way it looks you are ready to start sewing.
Sew the pennies together one on top of the other, then sew them to the background piece.
You will stitch around the edge of the background and then attach the pennies using a blanket stitch.
Knot your thread, and bring it through the edge fabric from back to front. Take the thread down through the fabric approximately 1/4 inch away on the diagonal from the original entry point. Come up through the fabric at the edge of the felt. Keep the thread under the needle to create the blanket stitching.
I know this sounds like a lot but it is easy and I am sure there is something on u-tube to show you how.
Once you do this with each penny on each stack and it is all stitched on the background you are done.
As I said you may want to start small, but when you make one you will want to make another.
Enjoy and as always if you have any questions, give me a shout.
Faith
