Ladybug Festival Mat Kit

Description

Our Ladybug Festival Mat Kit is 12″ x 24″ and is great for your dining room table or a side table.  It is four layers thick, being very substantial.  The cream color against the black provides sharp contrast highlighting the cherry tree and blossoms.  There are four larger ladybugs who keep watch in the corners.  It makes that perfect addition to any room.

Everything you need to start is right in the package including precision cut wool felt, floss, a sewing needle and instructions.   You can even download our instructions before you buy the kit to check it out.

Rating: Apprentice – 16 Hours

This product is Made in the USA in our Shop in Colfax, California.

Instructions:

1. Blanket stitch the tree trunk and branches to the green base using black floss.  Do not stitch the outer edges of the green mat base.  Add grain on the bark as desired using a back stitch.
2. Blanket stitch the outer edges of the green base to a cream base using black floss.  Then blanket stitch the cream base to a black base using black floss.
3. Blanket stitch the large ladybug bodies in the four corners followed by stitching their red wings in place.  Don’t forget to spread their wings. Add four French knots on each wing.  Using a chain stitch add their feelers.  Make eyes using French knots with cream floss.  Repeat with the small ladybugs.
4. Stitch the flower petals in place with three straight stitches making each blossom.
5. Backstitch the ladybug trails in place as desired.
6. Blanket stitch the assembly to the second black base with cream floss.

Our wool felt is Made in the USA from wool grown in the USA.  It is a blend of 35% wool and 65% rayon.

Why A Blend? 

• Our goal was to have a blend that is close to the wool/cotton blend which has been in use for hundreds of years through out the world.
• The wool/cotton blend was favored over 100% wool or 100% cotton as the combination provided much better service
  • The wool provided strength and warmth while the cotton added breathability and softness to touch.
  • It was an ideal combination for all kinds of weather and purposes.
• Rayon and cotton are almost identical with cotton being a little bit softer and rayon being more silky or shinny on the surface.

How are Rayon and Cotton Different?

• Rayon is made from cellulose, a carbohydrate plant substance, derived from wood and wood pulp which is then made into fibers.
• Cotton is made of cellulose fibers from the cotton plant.