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How-to: Valentine Muppets Applique

January 16, 2012 Leave a Comment

This past Christmas was my husband’s and my first together. This is a tutorial for how to make the gift I made for him, inspired by the theme song to the new Muppet movie…

The song and the movie are so darn cute and lovable that my husband and I were cuddling and singing that song for weeks after seeing the movie. What could have made a better first-married-Christmas-together gift than something just as sweet? This project would also make an amazing Valentine’s gift for any significant other in your life! It took me about 15 or 20 hours to make, but that was mostly because I kept ripping out the lettering to get it just right. I wanted to make sure to share this with at least a couple weeks left before V-day in case anyone out there wants to make one of their own. <3


Supplies

12″ embroidery hoop

cross stitch canvas (any sturdy fabric will do, though)

yarn

thread that color-coordinates with the yarn you chose

scraps of felt in lime green and red

crappy plastic pearl necklace

scissors

pencil

Directions

Mount your cross stitch canvas in your embroidery hoop. Lightly write the phrase “Life’s a happy song” along the  top of your hoop in pencil directly on the canvas. Then lightly write “when there’s someone by your side to sing along.” along the bottom.


The technique I used to attach the yarn to the canvas for the lettering is called couching. This is one of the first couching projects I’ve ever done and I’m totally hooked. But since this is my first project, I’m going to defer to the awesome embroidery blog feeling stitchy for a gorgeous (seriously, I need to learn to take photos like this!) tutorial on couching:

Basically, couching is sewing yarn to fabric. I prefer it to certain types of embroidery because I can use my own handwriting and easily make my projects more personal. :)

—

Once all the lettering is done, you need to erase any visible pencil lines that might remain. Next, you’ll need to grab some felt. Cut two teeny tiny hearts out and hand applique them to the canvas between the “Life’s a happy song” and “when there’s someone by your side to sing along.” lyrics.

Cut out a piece of the lime green felt in the shape of Kermit’s collar. Six points does the trick, in my opinion.  Then, applique the collar to the canvas using the same applique style as with the tiny hearts.

Next, grab the pearl necklace and cut it to a length short enough to lay on your fabric in a complete loop. Sew it onto the fabric in enough places to keep its shape when hanging. Secure the ends next to each other so it looks like Miss Piggy’s signature pearl strand, all in one piece.


After that, trim excess canvas from behind the embroidery hoop, and you’re done! My husband and I have this cute thing proudly displayed in our living room, and it always makes me smile when I look at it. If you make one of these for yourself or your bf/gf, let me know! I’d loooove to see it.

Filed Under: Embroidery, How-to, Valentine's Day Tagged With: couching, How-to, jim henson, kermit, miss piggy, the muppets

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. She specializes in knitting, crochet, latch hook and macramé, and her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now!

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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Craft book author & pattern designer ❤️💛💙
knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
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Please email for pattern support. 🧶

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
How to to knit throwing (a.k.a. English) style . How to to knit throwing (a.k.a. English) style 
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In knitting, there are a few common knitting styles. Most often you’re going to encounter continental style and English (throwing) style on your knitting journey. I recently had an old video teaching continental style get a lot of views. Based on the comments, it was clear the people wanted to also see a throwing tutorial, so here you go! 🧶
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Please note that there is a LOT of variation in knitting styles, and one isn’t necessarily better than another. Most often, I’ve found it comes down to two things: how you were taught and whether or not you’re really into colorwork knitting (which can involve a mix of styles). 
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Longer-term knitters who’ve made it this far: do you prefer one over the other? And why? 
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#handsoccupied #englishknitting #learntoknit #knitting #howtoknit #knittersofinstagram #knitting_inspiration
How to do a one-step provisional knitting cast on How to do a one-step provisional knitting cast on / a.k.a. crochet provisional cast on, scrap yarn cast on
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I read recently that tiktok and Instagram are being used as search engines more and more. 🤔 I thought since I’m going to all the work of making tutorials on YouTube, I should experiment with making a quick version of them for other platforms. There are obvious teaching limitations to vertical video, short-form content like this, but I think I covered the gist of this cast on in a minute. The YouTube version also covers how to unzip this cast on because there was time for it 👍🏻 L1nk is in my profile. 
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I’m very much looking for feedback as I continue to make instructional knitting & craft videos. Sometimes good tutorials are hard to find, and (ideally polite) feedback helps me improve. 
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#handsoccupied #provisionalcaston #knitting #knititngtutorial #knittersofinstagram #crochethook #knittingtutorial
For the first time in a long time, there’s a new For the first time in a long time, there’s a new tutorial from Hands Occupied! 🎉 The video is live on YouTube & the blog. 
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The post covers what provisional cast ons are & how they differ, and the video covers how to work a one-step provisional cast on using scrap yarn and a crochet hook. (This is a great one to save for future reference.)
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I learned several names for this method while researching this video & post. Crochet provisional cast on, one-step cast on, scrap yarn cast on - if you know even more names for this technique, please share! 
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#handsoccupied #provisionalcaston #knitting #scrapyarn #crochethook
Working on a sample for some upcoming videos. It’s an overcast day with intermittent sunshine & I have a scruffy little sidecar. 🐶 Can’t complain! 
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What’s on your needles this week? 
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Yarn: @debbieblissknits Cashmerino Aran 
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#handsoccupied #knitting #knittinglife
Peg boards and craft room organization go together Peg boards and craft room organization go together like peanut butter and jelly. So, as you can see, do latch hook tools and screwdriver organizers! 🪛 
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I think this trick translates to any tool with a thick handle, so leather working tools, punch needles, print making tools, etc. should work! What other tools am I, a needlecrafter, blanking on right now? 
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#craftorganization #handsoccupied #latchhook #latchhooking
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