Sunday, January 15, 2012

The Fabric "Pom" Pen


I found a tutorial for these fabric pens (listed below) and fell in love! Originally I made about 60 of these for all the nurses I work with for Christmas. I used some Christmas fabric and they were so cute! Then I had to make some for my boys birthday party (pictured on my Thing 1 and Thing 2 Have a Party). Now I am just obsessed with them. They are so girly and fun and when I ran across these two squares of fabric on sale at Joannes I knew they would also become a new pen for my craft area.



First things first, you need to cut a 1 inch strip of fabric (this will wrap around your pen). I used fabric scissors that are made to prevent fraying but they still look fine when they fray (or you can use fray check). Then cute a 4 inch strip of fabric from the material that will become your pom. You can use all the same fabric (which I did for my Christmas pens) or multiple fabrics (party pens), its just personal preference. With the 4 inch strip of fabric I do not use the non-fraying scissors, just regular old fabric shears (the fraying looks great, in my humble opinion, on the pom).




After you have cut your strips of fabric, you will want to take your 4 inch strip and fold it in half width wise and press with an iron. Then you just want to take your scissors and cut slits into your non creased side of fabric (your fabric should be able to open up and still be connected at the base).




Now its time for a little sewing. I am in no way what-so-ever a skilled seamstress but this I could do! All you do is put a running stitch along the creased side of your fabric. I did this by hand because me and my Singer are not best friends yet, but by all means If you can use your sewing machine, do. Pull your fabric together to make your pom and the connect the two ends to secure your pom.


Heat up those hot glue guns! Start by doing one dot of hot glue at the beginning (closest to the writing tip) and place your fabric. Then you will just continue to wrap your fabric while placing lines or dots of hot glue to secure it. When you get to the end I just do a small dot of hot glue and then pinch the fabric together to completely cover the end (please do not burn yourself).




To finish off your pen do one big dab of hot glue on the end of your pen and press your pom (sewn section to the glue) down in place and hold for a few seconds while your hot glue sets up. Fluff your pom and write away!!





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14 comments:

  1. Very Cute! I think this might be just the thing for my daughter and her friends to make at her birthday party. :)

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  2. I want to make these in kits, how long was your 1 inch and 4 inch strips? Super cute! Thanks for sharing!

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  3. I made these with my third grade class. We just wrapped the fringe part around the pen to avoid the needle and thread thing.

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