Moscow Food Co-op Earth MotherCelebratory Snowmen
by Julia Parker, from the December 2006 Newsletter
I hope we get lots of snow this winter. In fact, I hope it snows up to my eyebrows (granted that’s not all that high). As we enter December and the winter holiday season, I want to celebrate two things: snow and the slow return of the sun after winter solstice.
I like the way decorating the house helps us celebrate and brighten up the long, cold, dark winter. So, I have wanted to make symbols of the winter and the sun to brighten up the house – snowmen and sparkly stuff.
This article focuses on snowman door hangings that you can make with your kids – or make a kit of the basic parts and give it to someone to assemble over holiday vacation. In consideration of a wide age range and with a special remembrance of those who are sew-phobic, I’m giving two ways to make this project. One is for beginning hand-sewers and the other is completely sewing free.
Materials for the Sewn Snowman |
Materials for the Paper-no-sew Snowman |
|
|
I would recommend the sewn fabric snowman for kids 7 and up. The younger the child the more help they may need with the sewing. We did this project over two days because it takes a little extra time and patience to do the sewing.
Cut 6 circles of fabric – 2 of 3 different sizes. (Simone used old lining from a dress and I used pieces of burlap, cotton batting and off-white cotton from the sewing scrap box.) We traced three different sizes of plates to make the circles. We also used pinking shears to make a fancy edge on the snowman.
Using embroidery floss and a big needle make large stitches about ½ inch inside the edge around 75% of a set of two circles. The stitches we made were about ½ inch long so they were very visible. Put a small amount of stuffing inside the circle then finish stitching. Use just enough to make the snowman a little puffy. Repeat with each circle.
After your circles are finished and stuffed, sew on buttons for eyes, mouth, nose, and/or decorations on his belly. Sew all the way through the snowman like he was being quilted.
Overlap the circles about and inch and tack together with a few stitches.
Add a loop of ribbon to the top of the snowman’s head for hanging. You can add a felt top hat, a vest, stick or pipe cleaner arms or whatever to make your snowman (or snowwoman) unique.
To make a no-sew paper snowman much of the process is basically the same. Cut out six circles – two of each of three different sizes. Using a hole punch make holes around the outside of each set of circles about ½ inch in from the edge and ½ inch apart.
Line up the holes on a set of two circles. Tape the end of a piece of yarn. Lace the yarn in and out of the holes leaving an opening to stuff the circle. Finish lacing up the holes – leave a little extra yarn after tying. Glue buttons on for face and make other decorations as you would for the fabric snowman – hat, vest, scarf etc – but glue them in place. Attach the three circles together by tying the yarn from one piece to the holes in the next piece.
The paper snowman could be made with a much younger child. Lacing with yarn is a good precursor to sewing and helps with small motor skills.Julia Parker counts her blessings right here in the lovely state of Idaho.
|
Copyright: Copyright on articles and recipes
are jointly held by the Moscow Food Co-op and the respective authors,
except were otherwise noted.
|
For additions or corrections to this page, please contact the Webmaster.
