Hearts & Crafts Project #5 - Bowl Fillers: What do they do?

Welcome to Mattie's Hearts & Crafts Blog Series! To find out more about the series (projects and supply list - free instructions!).

 
When I first heard of a Bowl Filler, I asked, "What does it do?".  The answer was, "Well, you put it in a bowl."  "I get that, but why?" I asked.
I found out "why" when I cleaned out a bowl that was filled with buttons, threads, pins, magnets, trims, coins, post-it notes, etc.  I cleaned the bowl out so I could put these bowl fillers in it to take a picture.  After I did, I thought, wow...that looks much nicer than how it did look - pretty much like a junk drawer exposed!  So, what does a bowl filler do?  It shows off your pretty bowl and your handiwork at the same time.  It can also be a holiday decoration!  And, they can double as a pin cushion!

Bowl Fillers: Hearts & Crafts: Project #5
NON-STANDARD METHOD: 3-D

Read all instructions - they vary between projects.  There are many ways to use the printed interfacing.  Sometimes it is sewn first (STANDARD), and sometimes it is fused first. So, always read the instructions.  
Also, working with wool is different than cotton - so some instructions might not be the same as for cotton.



Materials Needed:
Use wool scraps (think about getting a shirt or skirt from the thrift shop) or yardage. 
Heart Base: (2) 6.5" squares.  Or, scraps sewn together to equal 2 pieces, each larger that the interfacing heart.
Small Heart: (1) 4" square.
Quiltsmart Interfacing: 1 large heart from one panel of Sweet Hearts - the small heart in the middle will also be used.
Pillow stuffing* (See tip below.)
Matching or contrasting thread.

INSTRUCTIONS:
1) Cut fabrics according to list above.

2) Place interfacing rough side (glue dot side) to WRONG side of SMALL heart fabric. Usually, there is not a wrong side to wool...but there might be one side shaded a bit differently than the other.  
The large heart interfacing will hang over the small heart fabric.
Fuse - lightly.



 

3)  Cut a small slit along the dashed line of the straight part of the heart.  I used a rotary cutter to make the slit. Then, continue cutting out the SMALL heart on the dashed line with small sharp scissors.  This will free the large heart.  Gently peel the interfacing off the excess wool to reuse in step 4.
Set aside the small heart.






4) Fuse the large heart, using an applique pressing sheet (the Quiltsmart one is lightweight and easy to see through!), to the wrong side of the fabric. 

5) Put a small slit in the large heart wool within the small heart space.  Leave a bit of margin. The small heart will be covering this slit.

6) You might want to match your thread to your wool for this step.  Wool can be an open weave and if pulled or stretched (you are going to stuff it), the color of thread might show.  

Sandwich the (2) 6.5" squares together.  Stitch around the heart with a 2.0mm stitch.

7) Cut on the dashed line through all thicknesses.

8) Stuff the large heart.

*TIP:  If you need stuffing - you might find it in an unused pillow form.  Some are a solid foam which won't work well, but some are stuffed with exactly what you might want.  I like the fluffy stuff as shown here.







Optional: Stitch on the solid line of the small heart if you wish to use it as a guide when you hand-stitch it over the large heart slit.  Use a color that will be similar to the color you use for hand-stitching.  Or, you could blend it with the wool, and use a contrast color to hand-sew over it.

 9) Whip-stitch the slit shut.











10) Position the small heart over the slit of the large heart.  Using a straight stitch or any other decorative hand embroidery stitch, insert the needle through the small heart.  Moving the needle in and out of the large heart fabric, stitch the small heart in position.

Use your bowl filler for a needle holder, a pin cushion, or for a bowl filler!

Consider using lots of color, too!

On the last one I made, I was looking for the stuffed large heart to hand-sew the small heart.  After a short hunt, I came upon this scene.  My fault I guess, I left it on a table that he could reach.  I just hadn't thought of it as a dog toy.  Now I think I will try to salvage it.





The crazy patch version - aka, Bennie's salvaged bowl filler.  It is comfy in the bowl with the others, including the dryer balls - which I also discovered this year, "What are dryer balls?"  I decided they make great "Bowl Fillers".

I hope you enjoyed this project.  This was the first time I made Bowl Fillers, and I am now addicted!

Take Care,
Mattie