Quilted Bird Mobile (with mini-tute)

[Gumption]

First off, the finished project:

With close-ups:



These birds are cotton fabric with 2 layers of fleece in between to give them more "body."  I drew a bird shape, then zig-zag stitched all around, then cut out the finished "quilted" bird:




The hard part was getting them lined up on the strings, and then sewing them onto the strings so they would hang straight:

I used embroidery floss and beads to attach the birds.  

I stuck the needle up from the bottom of the bird, between the fleece layers so you couldn't see the string.  It went in the bottom and out the top.  To find these spots, I stuck a needle through the top, near the middle and then let the string dangle.  This is where the top and bottom insertion points would be. (Does that make sense?)

Then, I just tied the strings to a wooden embroidery hoop, and covered the hoop with left-over scraps from the birds.
Whew!  It took a while, but I think it was worth it in the end!
Let me know if you have questions.

[LupitaS]

Beautiful!!!

[fairygoodthings]

I love the fabrics you used! It would be fun to add bells instead of beads to the bottoms and have it be an indoor windchime.

[chastity12]

  This is adorable!

[KitokoMingi]

How cute!

I love the idea of the beads added to the bottom.

[Linnybelle]

This is the cutest little mobile.  The fabrics are beautiful and I was glad you included how to find the center points for the birds to hang straight. I can never get mobiles to work for me.

[AlishaMichelle]

Super cute. I wish I was better at sewing 

[rainfallingonatinroof]

absolutely lovely!

[margiej]

Really cute idea. I like the idea of stitching first then cutting it out.  I always have problems otherwise of something slipping.  You could make it with butterflies, or cats or dogs, cars, etc.  I might just do one or two for Christmas.

[LibertyImagesJen]

This is so pretty and sweet. Lovely fabric selections. I think this would actually be a nice beginner's project, too.