Trims and things mini-DIY: Lavender bag birdie tutorial

I love a short and sweet DIY project, for days when I'm short on time and feeling creative. The lavender bag birdie is the first of my mini tutorials. These are the smaller projects I have learned as a beginner that I can share with you :)

You will need:
2 pieces of patterned fabric (or one patterned fabric, one felt for back) measuring 20cm x 20cm
1 felt sheet in a coordinating colour for wing
1 small button for eye
1 tsp dried lavender (you can buy a small bag or bottle from health shops)
Sewing machine
Coordinating and a colourful thread
Hand sewing needle
Pins
Sewing scissors
Tracing paper and pencil

1. Place the tracing paper over one of your fabric squares.
2. Draw a bird outline using photo 1 as a guide, leaving 1cm around the edge for seams within the square and draw a curved wing shape to fit.



3. Pin the template to each fabric square in turn, ensuring that the patterned side of the fabric faces inward on both sides. The bird fabric pieces should line up beak to beak, tail to tail right sides facing in. Cut out your fabric using the template.
4. Pin and sew your wing in place on what will be the bird's front outer with a colourful thread. Be careful, the wing must be sewn to what will be the front facing patterned fabric of the bird. Sew on a button for the eye. Remember to keep your 1cm seam area free as this is turned inside out.
5. Next pin the bird in place around the edge right sides together, still leaving your 1cm gap around.
6. Machine sew around the bird leaving a 2cm gap at the top, along the bird's back.
7. Turn inside out and carefully pour in your lavender. Your bird now looks like photo 2.
8. Pin the top of the bird and neatly hand sew over the top.



The little finished bird is perfect to freshen up wardrobes and drawers this new year!

Enjoy! Emma x