Final deviation

I’ve finished my Bucilla felt wreath kit with a final deviation from instructions. I was supposed to cut out a donut shape of cardboard to go between layers of quilting batting. Instead, I bought a wire wreath support. The cardboard would have worked fine, but the wire makes me feel better. The wreath is 16” in diameter, but a 14” wire support fit better.

Photo description: wreath parts laid out before sewing: green felt back, quilt batting, wire wreath support, quilt batting, decorated felt wreath top
Photo description: my signature mark and the year stitched in yellow embroidery thread on the back of the wreath prior to sewing all the layers together
Photo description: finished Bucilla felt House Cat Wreath with deviations hanging on an interior door

I also used a bit of wire attached to the wire frame through the felt for the hanger.

I have done a felt kit now, I don’t think I will do another. I did get lots of interesting ideas while completing the project, though.

Of the bells, bells, bells

The last ornamentations for the Bucilla felt wreath kit are many tiny embroidered and sequined AND stuffed felt bells.

Photo description: Nine yellow felt bells with only the embroidery done, sitting on a calico cat

The pattern only has seven decorated sides, with the back sides unadorned yellow felt, but it bothered me that in the picture for the pattern one of the bells on a string was turned backwards, showing the plain side. So for those two bells, I decorated the back as well, increasing the tiny sewing required.

Photo description: felt bells stuffing, assisted by a bamboo stick

I found that using a bamboo stick to place the stuffing in the tiny elements of the felt wreath really helped.

Photo description: finished felt bells attached to the wreath in the indicated positions, dilute calico investigating the felt on the floor

Honestly, if I had had tiny metal bells in my stash, I would have put those on instead of spending all that time embroidering and adding sequins. I definitely had Edgar Allan Poe’s poem going through my head the whole time.

No deviation

After the felt cats, the next step of the Bucilla wreath kit is a large red bow. This post almost had a different title, because as I put the bow together I realized that there weren’t enough red sequins left. Hm. I had a choice, do another deviation from pattern and use a different color sequin, or source more red sequins. I’ll admit that I raided my kid’s felt kits for the sequins (that have sat unused for two years, so there were no tears or admonishments).

Photo description: In process Bucilla felt wreath kit with five felt cats and a large red bow on a background of green and holly leaves

Medium deviation

A white cat with gray stripes was next in the order of cats on the Bucilla felt kit for the house cat wreath. Hm. I grabbed a piece of darker gray felt from my stash and substituted parts of the white felt in the instructions to make a gray tabby with white face, chest, and feet.

Photo description: gray tabby felt cat with red bow collar

I used the stamped white felt as templates to cut the gray felt, and appliquéd one on the other. I also changed the eye color to gold, and used up all the silver sequins so the back leg and tail tip have white instead.

Photo description: Bucilla felt wreath in process with four cats complete

You may recognize the model. Thor the gray tabby was the inspiration for the cat color. It amuses me that the felt cat is wearing a bright red collar bow, the real cat removes any collar placed on him by biting through the buckle.

Photo description: Thor the gray tabby with four paws showing while he lays on a carpeted cat tree, with no collar