Create & Decorate Projects & Ideas
Wool Appliqué Jar Lids
Perfect for storing tiny collectibles such as buttons and thimbles, but these jars also are delightful desk organizers.
Instructions
Note: If you choose hand dyed wool, it is already felted and ready to use. If you choose wool off the bolt, you will need to felt it. To felt wool, wash with a small amount of detergent in a washing machine. Use a hot wash, and a cold rinse cycle. Dry in a hot dryer. If you have wool that has a very loose weave, you may need to repeat the steps. Felting occurs by both agitation and temperature change, such as placing wool in hot water and then cold water.
General Instructions- To make templates, place the freezer paper shiny side down onto the patterns and trace the shapes with the pencil on the dull side of the freezer paper. Use a bright window or light box if necessary. Trace each piece separately, and be sure to label each piece. Cut out the freezer paper templates using the paper scissors, cutting on the traced line.
- Place the freezer paper templates with the shiny side down onto the appropriate wool and press with an iron on the wool setting. You may use either side of the wool and cut in any direction. Let cool.
- Carefully cut out the wool shapes using the embroidery scissors. Leave the freezer paper on the wool shapes until you are ready to place the wool pieces.
- Place the metal canning jar lid onto the middle of the 5” x 5” background wool and lightly trace around the metal jar lid with the Ultra Fine Point Permanent Marker. Note: Do not cut out the wool at this point. Set the metal lid aside. Tip: Check centering and placement of the flowers and leaves by placing the canning jar ring upside down over the circle on the cream wool and adjust accordingly.
- Follow steps 1–4 of general instrcutions.
- Peel off the freezer paper as you place the wool pieces. Center the daisy on the background wool.
- Using the Tacky Glue and the toothpick, carefully apply a tiny dab under each petal to secure. Do not adhere any of the outer edges of the petals. When dry, tuck a leaf about 1⁄4” underneath the petals on each side. Be sure leaves will not end up underneath the jar ring after lid is assembled. Carefully place a small dab of Tacky Glue under each leaf to secure. Let dry.
- Using the embroidery needle and one strand of matching green floss, stitch each leaf using a straight stitch. Straight stitch the daisy using one strand of matching yellow floss. Place the gold wool center in the middle of the flower, and lightly adhere in place. Straight stitch the center using one strand of matching gold floss.
- Stitch the veins in leaves using a stem stitch and one strand of the gold floss. Use one strand of yellow floss to stitch French knots on the center. Wrap the needle twice for each French knot.
- Follow steps 1–4 of general instrcutions.
- Peel off the freezer paper as you place the wool pieces. Begin by placing the pink petals in numerical order onto the background wool, being careful to center the flower in the middle of the traced circle. Start with Petal No. 1, and overlap each petal just a bit. Tuck Petal No. 5 just a bit underneath Petal No. 1. Each petal should slightly overlap the next petal. There will be a very small “hole” in the middle, less than 1⁄4”. The pale yellow center should be able to cover this hole.
- Using the Tacky Glue and the toothpick, carefully put a tiny dab under each petal to secure. Do not adhere any of the outer edges of the petals. When dry, tuck the leaves about 1⁄4” underneath the petals, placing them between each petal. Be sure the leaves will not end up underneath the jar ring after the lid is assembled. Carefully place a small dab of Tacky Glue under each leaf to secure, and let dry.
- Using the embroidery needle and one strand of matching green floss, stitch each leaf using a straight stitch. Straight stitch each petal in numerical order using one strand of matching pink floss. Place the pale yellow center in the middle of the flower and lightly adhere in place. Straight stitch the center, using one strand of matching pale yellow floss.
- Stitch the veins in the leaves using a straight stitch and one stand of dark green floss. Use one strand of pale yellow floss to stitch several stamens on the petals (we stitched about 19 stamens at random lengths). Make a French knot at the end of each stamen, wrapping the floss around the needle twice.
- Follow steps 1–4 of general instrcutions.
- Peel off the freezer paper as you place the wool pieces. Place the petals onto the background wool in numerical order. Tuck Petal No.1 under No. 2. Nos. 3 and 4 are side by side, and overlapping Nos. 1 and 2. No. 5 overlaps Nos. 3 and 4. Refer to diagram for placement. Be sure pansy is centered.
- Using the Tacky Glue and the toothpick, carefully put a tiny dab under each petal to secure. Do not adhere any of the outer edges of the petals. When dry, tuck a leaf about 1⁄4” underneath the petals, one on each side, and one at the top. Be sure the leaves will not end up underneath the jar ring after the lid is assembled. Carefully place a small dab of Tacky Glue under each leaf to secure, and let dry.
- Using the embroidery needle and one strand of matching green floss, stitch each leaf using a straight stitch. Straight stitch each pansy petal in numerical order using one strand of matching dark lavender floss and one strand of matching lavender floss. Place the lime green center in the middle of the flower, and use a tiny dab of Tacky Glue to secure. Straight stitch center using one strand of matching lime green floss.
- Stitch the veins in leaves using a stem stitch and one strand of dark green floss. Straight stitch the dark veins in the pansy flower with one strand of navy floss.
- When finished stitching, you may lightly press with a steam iron, using the steam and wool setting to “smooth” the stitching. Press on the “wrong” side for just a few seconds. Carefully cut out wool lid and insert directly on the traced line.
- Trace the metal lid onto thin, stiff cardboard with a pencil, and cut out cardboard just barely outside of the traced line. (Metal lid will no longer be needed for this project.) Lay metal ring upside down on a table, and place appliquéd wool circle inside jar ring, upside down. Place cardboard circle inside jar ring and gently press into place. As long as your cardboard is a little “snug,” it will sort of “snap” into the ring and will remain in place. Screw onto jar and you are finished! Note: When you screw on the ring, wool insert may puff up slightly. We like that look, as it adds a little dimension to the lid.