raccoon week: elbow patches

raccoon week continues... and it's time to get your raccoon template ready because Kelley of casa crafty is here with a fab tutorial for raccoon elbow patches!

...and I think I wear it well.

Rachael is going bonkers with the raccoon love! She is coming up with some great (and simple) last minute holiday gifts, decor and of course blog posts! Going off of her design, a weeks worth of us are making raccoon inspired fun. I am going to keep the theme going on my blog also, in conjunction with the other guest posters by offering a cross stitch pattern, a pincushion how to and alterations for a foxy feel. To get started you need to follow Rachael's Raccoon ornament instructions, and you need a shirt you want to have elbow patches. You could easily do this for a child, I just happen to like unexpected details like this.

I used a tiny spot of glue on the back of each felt piece to keep it together while Murphy was "helping" me. I secured all the layers with an outlining blanket stitch

To put your patches on your sweater (or top of choice) put on your sweater and straighten your sleeves, then fold your arm so you can see your elbow and mark the center with a pin or pen. 

great illustration:

from a beautiful mess

I secured my patches with a blanket stitch along the edges.  the felt won't fray, but you should be cautious when washing because the felt will get weird in the dryer. I would wash on delicate and then line dry. you could also make these patches and then secure them to your shirt with safety pins, but it won't be as smooth a finish. 

my photography assistant

Thanks for having me Rachael!

thanks, Kelley!! i'm off to patch up that sweater with hole-y elbows that i've been meaning to resurrect for, well... far too long ;)

*updated: don't miss Kelley's raccoon cross stitch pendant (with free stitch chart) here!*

if you make raccoon elbow patches from this tutorial, please share pics in the imagine gnats flickr group. pattern and tutorial are for personal use only.

happy stitching!