June Button Lover's Club: Love Ewe Wool Appliqué Pattern

Hello Button Friends! It's Tammy here with you today sharing a project I created to coordinate with the June Button Lover's Club: Words with Buttons EWE box.

When I first saw the sweet baby lamb button that Cecile created for the club this month, I instantly fell in love! I could not stop looking at it and thinking how sweet it would be as an appliqué pattern. I am so happy to be able to share the pattern for this sweet lamb based on Cecile's original button art with all of you.

The pattern download (linked below in the supplies) includes a placement guide and 2 pages of pattern pieces. The supplies and instructions are below.

Love Ewe Supplies:

• Pattern: Love Ewe Wool Appliqué Pattern Download (To download, click on the link. The pattern will open in a new web page. Click on "file" in the menu bar and select "save as" or "print".) You can also download it from my website: Love Ewe Wool Appliqué Pattern.
• Wool: Weeks Dye Works- Moss 2201, Caribbean 2136, Angel Hair 1109, Banana Popsicle 1115, posey centers WDW Angel Hair 1109, Artichoke 1183, Meadow 2176, Snow Cream 1096, Kohl 3900, Emma’s Pink 2280
• Linen Base: Weeks Dye Works Linen Fabric- Angel Hair LF-1109 35 ct
• Threads: Sulky 12wt Cotton Petites- Moss Green 0630, Pastel Pink 1225, Off White 1071, Black 1005
• Ribbon: Lady Dot Creates Hand-dyed Ribbon- Vintage
• Buttons: Just Another Button Company- EWE Button Lover's Club: Words with Button Box
• Metal Charm: Tammy Tutterow/Crafters Edge "Handmade" Etched Metal Charms
• Hoop: 9" Wooden Hoop
• Stuffing: Wool Roving
• Adhesive: Therm O Web HeatnBond or HeatnBond EZ Print Sheets
• Tools: Embroidery Needles, Scissors, Pinking Shears, Air Dissolve Pen, Iron, Ironing Board, small dowel rod (to use as a stuffing tool), pencil, ruler

Love Ewe Instructions:

1. Print the pattern pattern pieces onto the paper side of HeatnBond EZ Print sheets. Alternately, you can trace the pattern pieces onto the paper side of regular HeatnBond.
2. Use an iron to bond the pieces onto wool following the color guide on the placement guide included in the download. Cut out each piece along the solid pattern line.
3. Choose a fabric for the background. The sample is stitched on 35ct Weeks Dye Works linen. You could also use a cotton fabric. Cut the fabric so that it is at least 1" larger than each side of your hoop. The sample hoop is a 9" hoop and the fabric is roughly 12" x 12".
4. Press your background fabric. Place your hoop on the center of the fabric.
5. Flower Background: Remove the paper backing from the back of the flower background (large green piece). Lay the pattern pieces inside the hoop on the fabric arranging them according to the placement guide. When you are happy with the placement, remove all pieces except for the flower background. Use an iron to press the flower background in place. Use coordinating embroidery thread and a needle to add a blanket stitch around the flower background.
6. Face: Remove the paper backing from the back of the black face. Lay the flower pieces on the flower background to help place the face. Remove the flowers and heat set the face in place. Use coordinating embroidery thread and a needle to add a blanket stitch around the face.
7. Leaves: Use a pair of pinking shears to trim a slight amount off the straight edge of the four half leaf pieces. Remove the paper backing from the back of the four half leaf pieces. Layer the half leaf pieces on top of the coordinating whole leaves. They each have matching numbers to help you pair them up. Remove the paper backing from the back of the assembled leaves. Place the four assembled leaves on the flower background following the placement guide. Use an iron to fuse them in place. Draw a straight line on each half leaf next to the pinked edge with an air dissolve marker. Use a contrasting embroidery thread and a needle to add a running stitch along the pen line.
8. Posies: Use pinking shears to trim around the edges of the four posey centers. Remove the paper backing from the back of the posey centers and posies. Place the posies on the flower background according to the placement guide. Layer the posey centers on the posies. They each have matching numbers to help you pair them up. Pin each in place, do not fuse them with the iron. Add a few stitches in the center of each posey to secure it in place.
9. Daisies: Remove the paper backing from the back of the daisy centers and posies. Place the daisies on the flower background according to the placement guide. Layer the daisy centers on the daisies. They each have matching numbers to help you pair them up. Pin each in place, do not fuse them with the iron. Add a few stitches in the center of each daisy to secure it in place.
10. Ears: Remove the paper backing from all four ear pieces. Match the two left and two right ear pieces together. Trim a small amount off the inside edge of the each black ear layer. Pin the two layers together. Use black embroidery thread and a needle to add a blanket stitch around the outside edge of each ear. Add a pink blanket stitch along the pink outside edge. Pin each ear in place next to the face. Add a few stitches at the top of each ear to secure it in place. Add a small amount of roving to the inside of both ears to give them added dimension. Use a small dowel rod to push the roving toward the back seam of the ear so that it doesn't show.
11. Cap: Remove the paper backing from the back of the cap. Place the cap on the lamb using the placement guide as a reference. Pin the cap in place, do not fuse it with the iron. Use coordinating embroidery thread and a needle to add a blanket stitch around the cap. Before reaching the starting point, stop stitching and leave about a 1" opening. Stuff the cap with wool roving or fiber fill to give it some dimension. A think dowel rod will help you place the roving evenly throughout the cap. Use enough roving so that your cap is about 1/4" thick. Continue your blanket stitch along the edge of the cap to close the opening.
12. Swirl Detail: Use an air dissolve pen to draw a swirl on the lamb's head. Use the example on the placement guide as an example. Use coordinating embroidery thread and a needle to add either a running or back stitch on the swirl. The stitches will help accent the puffiness of the cap from the stuffing and add a fun detail.
13. Eyes: Place the eyes on the face. Carefully fuse them in place taking care to not flatten the cap or the flowers. If the flowers do get fused, lift them back up while still warm. Use coordinating embroidery thread and a needle to add a blanket stitch around the eyes.

Adding the Wood Hoop:

1. Carefully press your assembled piece and background fabric.
2. Lay your hoop (both pieces together) on top of the fabric. Move the hoop around until the sheep is centered in the hoop. Use a pencil to trace the outside edge of the hoop onto the background fabric.
3. Use a ruler or seam guide to mark 1" all the way around the traced hoop line. Cut along the new 1" line.
4. Use a needle and thread to add a large running stitch about 1/8" to 1/4" from the edge of the fabric.
5. Place the inside ring of the hoop under your fabric. Line it up with the pencil line of the hoop edge. (Remember, this was a tracing from the outside edge of the larger ring, so it will be larger than your inner ring.)
6. Place the outer ring of the hoop over the fabric and around the inner ring. Tighten the screw on the outer ring until it is tight. Pull and straighten your fabric as needed as you tighten the screw.
7. Pull the threads on the running stitch so that it gathers the fabric around the back side of the hoop. Pull the threads tight and tie them together in a knot to secure them.

Embellishing the Love Ewe Wool Appliqué Pattern:

1. Use 1 yard of ribbon to create a fluffy bow. (I've used hand-dyed ribbon from Lady Dot Creates.) Stitch the bow to the left side of the flower garland just below the lamb's face.
2. Use buttons from Just Another Button Company (Button Lover's Club: Words with Buttons EWE box shown).
3. Use a small heart and the EWE letters to add the sentiment.
4. Add buttons to the flower centers. Double stack the small Sprinkles Buttons on the larger buttons for even more dimension!

I hope you love stitching this sweet pattern as much as I did!  If you stitch it, be sure to join the Button Lover's Club Facebook group and share it!

PS. If you are a visual learner like me, you may want to check out my blog today. I've shared this same project with step-by-step photos of all the instructions. You can find that post here: Love Ewe Wool Appliqué Pattern.