As you wrap the felt strips, keep one side of the trivet flat, but don't worry if the reverse is uneven (that side can face the table). These instructions can also be used to make coasters.
1. Cut felt strips, about 16 inches long and 1/2 inch or 1 inch wide, from 3 colors of felt (cut 14 strips in tan, 12 in medium brown, and 5 in dark brown for a trivet that's 5 1/2 inches across).
2. Starting with a tan strip, apply a dab of fabric glue 3/4 inch from 1 end. Begin rolling felt strip tightly over the glued area, pressing to secure. Continue rolling, applying glue as you work, until the coil measures no more than 1/2 inch across. (If the coiled center grows too large, the trivet will begin to resemble a bull's-eye rather than a stump.) Snip off end of felt strip.
3. Apply fabric glue to 1 end of a medium-brown strip. Position end at the snipped end of the tan coil, pressing to secure. Wrap medium-brown strip 1 or 2 times around tan coil, applying glue as you work. Snip off end of felt strip.
4. Continue to wrap felt strips around coil, alternating colors, 2 to 4 times for each tan strip and 1 or 2 times for each medium-brown strip, until stump reaches 5 to 7 inches in diameter (3 inches for coasters); end with a medium-brown strip.
5. Wrap 2 or 3 dark-brown strips around trivet or coaster, gluing as you work. To create a textured-bark effect, cut dark-brown felt strips into 1/2- to 2 1/2-inch-long strips; layer on outer edge of trivet or coaster, gluing as you work.
This is a cute idea! Although, since I have access to actual fallen trees, think I'll just take a slice. :)
me encantò!
Does it have to be wool felt? Would acrylic felt or eco felt (made from recycled plastic bottles) work?
So completely adorable! I must make this.
Ahhh, Can you say this idea is the cutest thing! I Heart Felt!!! And even better is the fact that it all woodsie. I am going to try this out this weekend. Awesome.
Shellberry, I'll bet you could use a scented oil on your trivet after it was finished... Although, I'd make sure it was a clear oil so it doesn't leave a stain... And let it dry well so it doesn't collect dirt... Any heat from a dish would help release the scent... Martha Stewart would probably argue that you should make sure the scent did not overpower the scent of any food on your table though...
Shellberry, if you are going to put in any scented items, make sure that there is a solid flannel backing, otherwise the oils in the herbs can strip the finish from your table (a very expensive lesson I learned the hard way).
You could use different colours and start by make an iris if an eye. If you study a close up picture of an eye could design a trivet that looks like an eye ball. An eye opener for a coffee pot each morning.
LauraMcKinstry: I heart Aleene's Original Tacky glue (brown bottle). My grandma used it and I do too. I swear it could keep my kids glued to their chairs if I tried (which I haven't).
Sweedee: What if you cut a circle of fabric the size of the finished trivet and attached the edges (all but a 2" opening) to the bottom of the trivet. Next stuff with dried herbs and then glue closed? I don't know if it would work since the scent would be on the bottom, but it's worth a try.
Look at your craft store or Wal-Mart (where I found it) for "Felt Glue" - yep - that's what it's called. I used it for all the felt crafts with my kids
Does anyone have suggestions about the best glue to use with wool felt?
Does anyone have suggestions about the best glue to use with wool felt?
I'm wanting to make this a scented trivet anyone know how?
to origamidoll: we did that exact thing after we lost a favorite tree from Hurricane Wilma...we let the pieces dry , marked them with sharpies,and then coated them with a clear matte sealer. At least something good came from that storm!
If you want to try cutting trivets/coasters from tree wood it is best to cut them from a freshly-felled tree. They will not be rotten, buggy, and discolored. You can then dry out the cut forms and coat them with clear finish. This is a fun way to keep a bit of a favorite tree that has come down. Make extras for the kids to inherit if it was their climbing or tree-house tree! Write in indelible ink on the back the date, type of tree, location, and why this tree was special.
I made these for christmas gifts this year. I used 100% holland wool felt in hazelnut
My home is full of nature, Branchs on the dining room wall and bowls of huge pinecones through out. I love this idea but like wduke2 I will slice a tree into a real tree trivet.
Very nice idea! It seems like it would take a long time to make with the thin felt, another idea would be to use "felted" wool blankets, thicker - less time but fluffier I imagine! See what else you can do with felted wool blankets at my blog; www.rosemille.com
Cute idea. I think I will actually try to find an old downed tree and slice a real trivet off of it.
I made this project with felted sweaters cut into one inch strips. It turned out fabulous. It inspired me to use other colors of felted sweaters and I made a red and white one that looks like Christmas candy. I also made a red, white and blue one. Thank you for the good idea.