Butter is having a moment. Sticks of butter are so popular, they’re popping up as stuffies, squishies, and Christmas ornaments. Add this classic kitsch and kitchen staple to a kid’s play kitchen with this tutorial! Designed to be lifesized, this stick of butter will fit into any non-breakable butter dish to add an extra layer of fun to imaginative play. This tutorial pairs perfectly with the Felt Pancakes tutorial. Who doesn’t love a melty pad of butter on top of a stack of pancakes?
Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 2 Hours
Additional Supplies:
Stick of Butter Template (click to download)
120lb Cardstock
Scotch Tape
Ruler
Scissors, for paper
Printer Paper
Directions:
1. Soak Butter felt in water for 10-15 minutes to pre-shrink before sewing. Felt will shrink significantly, and if it is only soaked to remove Sticky Fabri Solvy (in a later step), the felt will not fit around the internal box.
2. Print Stick of Butter Template on both regular printer paper and Sticky Fabri Solvy. Cut template on regular printer paper along outermost lines.
3. Trim template on Sticky Fabri Solvy with a 1/2” border around outermost lines. Peel Sticky Fabri Solvy off the release paper and stick it onto Butter felt. Set aside.
4. Print Letters (within Stick of Butter Template) on freezer paper. Trim around letters, leaving a 1/2” border around lines. Using an iron on medium heat, press freezer paper letters onto Oxford Blue felt. Cut letters out along template lines and set aside.
Interior Box
An interior box allows the stick of butter to retain its shape and look more realistic. Note that a felt food toy with a full interior box is more fragile than one that only has stuffing inside.
5. Trace printer paper Stick of Butter Template onto 120lb cardstock using a pen or marker.
6. Cut along traced lines using scissors meant for paper.
7. Use a hera marker, or butter knife, and a ruler to score along interior lines of the template. Be sure to run hera marker or butter knife over the lines multiple times.
8. Gently fold cardstock along scored lines. If they do not fold easily, run hera marker or butter knife over the lines again.
9. Use clear adhesive tape to tape box closed along one long rectangular edge. Close square on one side. Leave second square open.
10. Use a stuffing tool to add Polyfil into open end of box. Adding stuffing gives it the weight of a stuffed felt toy and adds padding to help prevent the box from breaking.
11. Tape open end closed to finish interior box.
Stick of Butter
12. With two strands of DMC 823, use a split stitch, back stitch, or stitch of your choice to embroider the line and measurement numbers along the bottom, 4 oz., and AA. Learn how to do many simple and decorative embroidery stitches in our Stitch Dictionary.
13. Cut along outermost lines of Stick of Butter Template.
14. Soak embroidered felt in water for 10-15 minutes to dissolve Sticky Fabri Solvy. If needed, run water over the embroidery to remove residual Sticky Fabri Solvy. Do not wring felt to release water. Lay felt between two towels or paper towels and press down to release water. Let dry on a flat surface.
15. Use ruler and disappearing ink pen to draw a line between "4 oz." and "AA" embroidery, 2" down from top of the felt.
16. Line up letters evenly along guideline and whip stitch around perimeters. It can be helpful to add a touch of glue to letters to baste them in place while stitching.
17. Clip long raw edges of butter together so edges align. Using Sulky 1061, blanket stitch along edges.
18. Clip one short side of butter and blanket stitch closed using same thread.
19. Slide interior box into felt through short open side.
20. Clip open short side of butter and blanket stitch closed using same thread.
The stick of butter is finished!
Thanks to Laura for designing and writing this tutorial! You can follow her on Instagram @sonicstitches or visit her website. Stay tuned for more tutorials!
