"Live people eat dead mushrooms. Live mushrooms eat dead people."
This statement made me want to make some art but I needed mushrooms. I grabbed some felt and did some embroidery then popped them together. I made a little video that proved a bit popular on TikTok (I usually feel very old and uncool on TikTok) so I figured I would do a proper step by step tutorial so everyone can make mushrooms!!!
Pop some felt in a hoop. I wanted colourful mushroom tops so picked a few colours for each top then did long and short stitch into the shape of a circle leaving a "piece of pie" space blank. If you need a refresher on long and short stitch click here for Cutesy Crafts' instructional video.
Try and finish the edge with the stitches as lined up and solid as possible but don't worry too much about a perfect circle. Mushrooms are usually a bit wonky which makes them extra wonderful. Cream french knots made good mushroom spots.
For the underside of the mushroom I used long and short stitch neutral colours then added some dark brown straight stitches coming from the middle. The under circle is a wee bit smaller than the top circle. I just eyeballed this but you can trace out circles on your felt if you prefer.
Clip away the extra felt being very careful not to cut your threads.
Cut out the blank "pie piece".
Fold over the mushroom top, and blanket stitch the cap closed.
Cut a piece of felt in a cream or other neutral colour for the stem. Pop a pipe cleaner in the middle.
Blanket stitch the felt closed around the pipe cleaner.
Use a blanket stitch to attach the top of the mushroom cap to the bottom. Don't do tight, close stitches yet. Just stitch the cap into place.
Since the top is a bit bigger than the bottom you will need to ease the top together with your stitches. This will help the mushroom puff up. This may seem a little bumpy at first but it will come together with the second round of blanket stitches.
Make sure to stuff your mushroom top before your blanket stitch all the way around.
When your mushroom is adequately stuffed go back around the edge you have blanket stitches with another round of blanket stitches but this time make the stitches very close together.
Now you have your very own embroidered mushroom! I'll post the mushroom-centric piece I am making when it's all finished.
Happy Mushroom Creating!!
