How to Make a Simple Felted Easter chick

 

In a previous post, I introduced the idea of growing your own Easter tree. Today I am going to introduce this year's newest addition to the tree...the felt chick. These sweet, little, yellow birdies evolved from my attempts to make felted Easter eggs. Here is how to make felted Easter chicks.

You will need

yellow wool roving

felting needle

orange felt scraps

black embroidery thread

embroidery needle

 

Start by pulling a small handful of yellow wool roving and shape into an egg in your hand

Once you've loosely made the shape of a chick (oval shape), position one end of the felt ball between your forefinger and thumb

Now, use the felting needle to poke, or felt, the protruding end of the felt. * Beware as you poke the needle into the ball of felt, be sure to NOT poke your finger, as the barbs on the needle will hurt you if you are stabbed. Repeat poking and rotating the egg of wool roving over and over again. As you poke the needle into the wool the fibers will start to bind together.

Once the ball has reached the desired density, stop poking and set it aside. The body of the felted chick should be formed and the fibers should be tight. Set the chick aside.

Now, cut 3 small triangles from the orange felt - these will make the bird's beak.

Position 2 of the felt triangles on the "face" of the chick - press the needle repeatedly into the orange felt, felting the pieces in place one layer at a time.

For the the 3rd triangle, only felt the top seam onto the orange triangles below...this will create an open beak.

 

Now it's time to add the eyes. Divide the embroidery thread so that you have 3 strands of thread - feed into the embroidery needle. Tie a double knot in one end of the thread.

Feed the needle into the "face" of the chick to make the first eye - the knot will form the eye. Then pull the needle out of the face, in the position of the second eye.

Again, tie another double knot to form the second eye. Trim off the excess thread.

If you wish to hang your chickie from your Easter tree - feed a piece of yellow thread through the chick's head and knot it - creating a loop to hang the chick from

 

With your chick complete you can add it to your Easter tree. I also made little colorful Easter eggs and an Easter bunny. These felt chicks will also be part of the treat bags we will be giving to family and friends this Easter. Along with our squirrel sugar cookies, candies and Easter cushions.