Lake Street Penny Rug

Oh my goodness! Is this penny rug ever cute in person! Sometimes I tickle myself at the cuteness of a finished project, and this is definitely the case with this one. A very simple project taken step by step, I hope you will be inspired to make one of your own.

LAKE STREET PENNY RUG

SUPPLIES: 1/2yd white felt, 15" lt. blue felt, miscellaneous small pieces of felt in colors of your choosing. Same color floss to match felt, 1 skein white, lt. blue, small amounts remaining colors. Scissors, pinking scissors, needle, pencil, iron.

ABBREVIATIONS:  BS=Blanket Stitch, OS=Outline Stitch, TS=Tacking Stitch, TKS=Tacking Knot Stitch, FK=French Knot

FELT:  I have used woolfelt which I order online from Joggles. Regular craft felt works just as well and can be found by the yard at JoAnne's.

CUT: Pattern pieces as many as directed. I hand cut triangle beaks for bluebirds and circles for flowers. Center circle was traced with pencil using a standard 10" dinner plate OR trace pattern 4x. Cut two white center circles, cut one blue. Using pinking scissors cut 1/2" from edge to form blue border.

FELT PIECES:
Eye:  Position bluebird on one white circle, slipping beak under edge as reference for eye position. FK eye with darker shade of blue through both layers of felt. Repeat 15x.
Bluebird: Stitching from L to R beginning at point above eye, BS edge of bluebird catching beak. Repeat 15x.
Beak:  From beneath, TS beak without penetrating top layer of yellow felt. This technique is used when you do not want stitches to show. Repeat 15x.
Circle: BS beginning where white meets blue felt from L to R. When you come to blue felt, keep needle behind blue felt. Stitches will only show on back of white felt. Repeat 15x.

Roof: TS white trim to red roof, set aside. Trees: TS pink roses, set aside. Window: TS  bottom edge of  white window shade, set aside. Door: BS heart to door, hidden TS doorknob. BS door to house. TS window to house as well as window box.

Blue Sky: Position tall green trees and yellow house. Use pencil to draw puffy blue sky. Use 3 strands darker blue floss and OS. Your pencil line will not show.
Cottage: Position tall green trees and yellow house tucking sidewalk under door edge. Use 1 strand floss and long running stitches to hold pieces in place. BS Trees lifting edge of house as you go. BS House hiding stitches at bottom door edge.
Walk: BS walk STOPPING 1/2 inch from bottom. You will finish walk after sewing lt. blue border in place.
Roof: BS top edge of  roof, TS bottom edge under white scallop.
Miscellaneous: BS heart and bushes. TS flowers in place.

Blue Border. Using 2 strands floss, TS between every other valley of pinked inside edge. BS around outside edge. Center of rug is now complete, time for the MAGIC!!!

IRONING: This is my most favorite step in making a penny rug! Truly what you think is already cute will become wonderful after ironing. Using a steam iron at about a 4-5 setting,  iron THE BACK of rug with iron directly on felt using medium pressure. Iron until no visible wrinkles are present. FROM THE FRONT KEEPING IRON SKIMMING SURFACE OF FELT LIGHTLY until piece appears flat and free of any wrinkles. The pieces will "felt" themselves together creating the most beautiful effect! LOVE this part!!!

 

ASSEMBLING:
Using 3 strands floss, BS white center circle back to center circle front.
Using 2 strands floss, slip needle between center rug circle, catch BS thread from bluebird circle and center circle and take a TKS. Repeat this 3x. Do not cut thread.
Slip needle between layers of bluebird circle coming out at tip of lt. blue felt. Hold a second bluebird circle with lt. blue points matching and take 2 TKS.
Needles again slips between bluebird circle layers to top center where you will take 3 TKS to center circle.
Repeat with each bluebird circle added.

FINISHING:
From the back again steam with medium pressure until piece is flat. From the front, skim the surface with the iron until piece appears without wrinkles.