A bird straggler found itself into this week’s postings- I hope you do not mind. We had a very happy bird mobile at the bird nest baby shower made out of ruffled fabric. It was not only decoration but also a gift to pass on for the new mom. Baby girl to come will surely adore it. Plus it came together easily and in just one evening.

I was so enthralled with it I made a second one that is for sale in the store. With hot pink fabric and a quirky little teal bird perched atop. I just adore its ruffley loveliness, maybe I will make hundreds of them;)

To create the mobile I used about 3/4 yards of fabric (psst. the pink fabric above was thrifted!) The birds were individually made using the same template as the ribbon birds that were also created for this shower. The mobiles are hung with fishing wire and looped around a embroidery hoop. In all the project cost me fabric + about 2 dollars.

Warning… sewing is involved- but it is super easy, the easiest, seriously there couldn’t be any easier sewing to do. I promise.

Make it yourself:

Take your fabric and cut 2 inch strips down the fabric and then cut the length of each strip to about 10 inches long. Combine two strips together, good sides out. I did not turn my fabric under, I am certain the raw edges add to the natural beauty of the birds.

Set your machine to sew the longest stitch possible and stitch one line down each side of the strip. Make sure you leave a whole lot of string sticking off of both ends.

Grab onto that string and pull to ruffle your fabric. You will only be pulling the top thread on each side- leave the bottom thread alone. I pulled half-way on one side and then pulled from the other side.

You now have an a piece of fabric that is officially ruffled. Congratulate yourself!

Even if the stitch is not perfect the bird will still look great. Since the fabric is ruffled it hides most of the imperfections, this makes ruffles my new favorite!

Take both ends and feather them by cutting in little triangles at the end. While feathering, make sure you cut off any lose string off the ends and along the sides of your birds.

To make the wings use a single piece of fabric about 3 inches long. Sew one line directly down the middle and pull the thread ends to ruffle that as well. Feather the wing ends and you will be left with the fabric pieces to create your birds.

Now take these pieces and follow the directions for the ribbon birds found here. Make sure to give your birds a good amount of time to dry. The fabric takes a bit longer than the ribbon, about two full days to completely form.

After your birds are dry thread a length of fishing wire through the tops to hang. Tie together on an embroidery hoop covered in coordinating fabric.

Great decorations with a bird set table peeking out, or above a crib, or just about anywhere else. Happy ruffling.

blessings.