1. Add Wool Texture
Pull off tiny, wispy pieces of wool and lay them over your first felt shape.
There’s no right or wrong way to do this! Layer different colors, overlap them, leave some areas showing through, or blend colors together however you like.
Use your felting needle to gently felt the wisps into place.
TIP: Start with very small amounts of wool and build from there.
2. Add Seed Beads
Thread a sewing needle and tie a knot at the end of your thread.
Bring your needle up from the back of the felt, slide on a seed bead, then bring the needle back down through the felt right beside the bead.
Continue adding beads wherever you’d like them.
You don’t need to cut and restart your thread for every bead! After attaching one bead, simply move along the back of your piece and bring your needle up wherever you’d like the next one.
When you’re finished, make a locking stitch on the back: take a tiny stitch through the felt, but before pulling the thread completely through, pass your needle through the little loop of thread you’ve created. Pull snug. Repeat once more, then trim your thread.
Add any other beads you’d like in the same way.
3. Embroider Your Accents
Thread your needle with your choice of embroidery thread.
Add little stitched details wherever you’d like. Try making tiny bursts or stars around your beads, scattered straight stitches, little crosses, or anything else that feels celestial.
When you’re finished, make another locking stitch on the back and trim your thread.
4. Optional: Finish the Edges
For an extra finished detail, add a blanket stitch around the outside edge of your moon or circle.
How to blanket stitch:
Bring your needle up through the felt near the edge.
Move a little to the side and bring your needle through again. Before pulling the thread all the way tight, pass your needle through the loop of thread.
Gently pull snug. This creates the little line that hugs the edge of your felt.
Keep repeating around the shape, spacing your stitches as evenly as you can.
This step is completely optional! Your shapes can be left with their simple felt edges, too.
5. Repeat!
Decorate each of your celestial shapes in the same way, but feel free to make every one different. Mix your colors, stitches and beads however you like.
6. Create Your Garland
Lay your finished shapes face down and arrange them in the order and spacing you want.
Lay your strand of yarn across the back of the shapes.
Needle felt the wool firmly into the felt, securing it in place.
Repeat for every shape, checking your spacing as you go.
Once everything feels secure, flip it over and your celestial garland is ready to hang!