Step 2: Cutting out pattern and fabric
CUTTING OUT THE PATTERN
1. Gather up all your materials. It's best to do this first so you don't have to run around later! You need a clear space too since you'll be working with some very small bits.
2. Print out the pattern and identify your pattern pieces. You don't have to use the highest quality setting, you'll be cutting it up anyway. The pictures of Finn and Jake at the top are for reference, so you know where each piece goes. Below that is the exact same image, broken up into each piece you need to cut out. If the piece says x2 on it, you'll need to cut it twice. If it says nothing, you only need one.
3. Cut out the pattern pieces you need, as precisely as you can. You should cut on the outside of the gray line, both when cutting out the pattern, and the fabric. Pin larger pieces to your fabric if you like. It doesn't work well on small pieces, though. These you can just hold in place by pinching between your thumb and index finger of the hand you're not using to cut.
CUTTING OUT THE FABRIC
5. Put the pattern face up on your felt's right side** and cut it out. Don't worry if the shape looks a little jacked up when you take the pattern piece off, like mine does. It happens! We're going to fix all the pieces in a minute.
**TIP: If you've worked with sewing patterns before, you've probably heard this term; most fabrics aren't identical on the front and back. Felt does sort of have a right and wrong side; the wrong side is shinier, and the fibers are more visible. So it's better to put that part inside your ornament.
6. Now you're going to cut the back of Jake's head. Simply flip your pattern piece over and cut again. (It's much easier to be precise if you only cut one thickness at a time.)
4. Cut out the rest of your pieces: Jake's jowls, mouth, teeth, tongue, and two pieces for each eye. It's easier to cut them all out before you start. If your circles aren't quite perfect, don't worry. You pretty much have to just eyeball this, but an explanation that may help in cutting curves and circles** is below.
**TIP: Hold up your piece and use small scissors to cut across any areas that stick out like this /\ . Your cut goes across /\ like this A . Keep going around the circle until it looks right. Think of it this way: an octagon is very close to being a circle. If your octagon has a bunch of points, all close together, it would look almost exactly like a circle. Since it's very hard to cut a perfect, smooth circle, you're just adding more angles, which brings you closer to a circle. :) The same is true for curves.
***NOTE: I am assuming you don't have a hole punch in the right size. If you have punches for scrapbooking, they'll work on fabrics too. I used a punch to make Finn's eyes. It doesn't always cut cleanly, but you can just trim the fuzzies.
1. Gather up all your materials. It's best to do this first so you don't have to run around later! You need a clear space too since you'll be working with some very small bits.
2. Print out the pattern and identify your pattern pieces. You don't have to use the highest quality setting, you'll be cutting it up anyway. The pictures of Finn and Jake at the top are for reference, so you know where each piece goes. Below that is the exact same image, broken up into each piece you need to cut out. If the piece says x2 on it, you'll need to cut it twice. If it says nothing, you only need one.
3. Cut out the pattern pieces you need, as precisely as you can. You should cut on the outside of the gray line, both when cutting out the pattern, and the fabric. Pin larger pieces to your fabric if you like. It doesn't work well on small pieces, though. These you can just hold in place by pinching between your thumb and index finger of the hand you're not using to cut.
CUTTING OUT THE FABRIC
5. Put the pattern face up on your felt's right side** and cut it out. Don't worry if the shape looks a little jacked up when you take the pattern piece off, like mine does. It happens! We're going to fix all the pieces in a minute.
**TIP: If you've worked with sewing patterns before, you've probably heard this term; most fabrics aren't identical on the front and back. Felt does sort of have a right and wrong side; the wrong side is shinier, and the fibers are more visible. So it's better to put that part inside your ornament.
6. Now you're going to cut the back of Jake's head. Simply flip your pattern piece over and cut again. (It's much easier to be precise if you only cut one thickness at a time.)
4. Cut out the rest of your pieces: Jake's jowls, mouth, teeth, tongue, and two pieces for each eye. It's easier to cut them all out before you start. If your circles aren't quite perfect, don't worry. You pretty much have to just eyeball this, but an explanation that may help in cutting curves and circles** is below.
**TIP: Hold up your piece and use small scissors to cut across any areas that stick out like this /\ . Your cut goes across /\ like this A . Keep going around the circle until it looks right. Think of it this way: an octagon is very close to being a circle. If your octagon has a bunch of points, all close together, it would look almost exactly like a circle. Since it's very hard to cut a perfect, smooth circle, you're just adding more angles, which brings you closer to a circle. :) The same is true for curves.
***NOTE: I am assuming you don't have a hole punch in the right size. If you have punches for scrapbooking, they'll work on fabrics too. I used a punch to make Finn's eyes. It doesn't always cut cleanly, but you can just trim the fuzzies.
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