Sew Cute: Father’s Day Card

My dad is the best. I’m sure that’s an opinion shared by many—hopefully lots!—of you. But I’ll put in a strong vote for my own father, who, besides raising my sister and I to not tolerate any B.S., also gave me my sense of humor. Father’s Day is on June 15, and I’m incredibly thankful that I get to honor him in a small way for everything he does.

I thought it would be fun to riff on the stereotypical Father’s Day gift of a tie by making a three-dimensional card. I created a tiny “shirt” and “tie” by layering different pieces of felt, and then added a button for the sheer whimsy of it. I find the end result both funny and sweet—kind of like my dad, actually!

Materials:

• 1 piece of white cardstock, 11-inches long by 8 1/2-inches wide
• 1–2 pieces of white felt, 12-inches long by 9-inches wide
• 1 piece of navy blue or other colorful felt, 12-inches long by 9-inches wide
• 1 small white button
• White thread
• Navy blue thread or thread in a corresponding color to the colorful felt
• Basic sewing needle
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Measuring tape
• Paper to make templates
• Ballpoint pen
• Craft glue

Craft away:

• Trace a rectangle onto a piece of white felt, 8 1/2-inches long by 5 1/2-inches wide. This is your main card piece. Cut out the rectangle.

• Trace a triangle onto the template paper, 2 3/4-inches long on two sides and 2 1/4-inches long on the other. This will be your lapel template. Cut out the template.
• Trace a rectangle onto the template paper, 8 1/2-inches long by 1-inch wide. This will be your placket template. Cut out the template.
• Trace a rectangle onto the template paper, 1 1/2-inches long by 1 1/4-inches wide. This will be the template for the top of the tie. Cut out the template.
• Trace a tapered tie shape onto the template paper, 1 1/4-inches wide at the top, 2-inches wide at the bottom, and 5-inches long. Give the end of the shape a triangular point. This will be the template for the tie. Cut out the template.

• Trace the placket template once onto the white felt, and the lapel template twice. Cut out the pieces.
• Trace the tie template and the template for the top of the tie once each onto the navy blue or colorful felt, and cut out the pieces.

• Using the needle and the white thread, stitch the button to the bottom of the placket piece, about one inch from the end.

• Pin the placket piece to the center of the main card piece, and stitch it in place using the needle and the white thread.

• Layer the tie piece under the tie-top piece, and pin them both in place at the top of the main card piece, over the placket. Stitch the tie pieces in place using the needle and the corresponding color of thread. Sew all the way around the tie-top piece; leave the tie itself unstitched.

• Pin the two lapel pieces to the top edge of the main card piece, over the tie pieces. Sew them in place using the white thread, keeping your stitches along the top edge of the lapel pieces. Leave the other two sides of the lapel pieces unstitched.

• Fold the sheet of cardstock in half, hamburger-style (short end to short end).
• Put a drop of glue at each corner of the folded cardstock, and attach the stitched pieces of felt. Let dry.
• You’re finished! Write a little note inside your whimsical card and give it to your father, or another special person in your life.