Make a… birdhouse

Step 1

DECIDE which birdhouse you are going to stitch, and what detail you will be adding to your stitching from the extra flowers, leaves and birds given on the chart. Space your work out on the plastic canvas sheet, stitching a front and back, two sides and two roof pieces, plus mark out a blank 7.5x5cm (3x2in) piece for the base, which you’ll cover later with felt.

Step 2

CUT out your pieces, leaving one square of plastic around the stitching. On the front and back sloping edges, cut away a little more, but still leave some plastic outside your stitching.

Step 3

JOIN the sides of the birdhouse to the front and back by oversewing the edges using matching stranded cotton. Join the two roof pieces together in the same way. Place the blank base piece on the bottom of the partially assembled house, and check the fit – you may have to remove a small amount of plastic canvas to make sure it’s exactly the right size. Oversew the base to the house.

Step 4

CUT a piece of felt to fit the base of the house, and using fabric glue, attach it over the blank plastic canvas. Cut a rectangle of felt to fit the underside of the assembled roof. Using fabric glue, attach it to the reverse side, making sure the roof can still be bent at the apex.

Step 5

CUT four 5mmx4.5cm (¼x2¾in) strips of felt from the remaining roof felt. On the four sloping edges on the inside of the front and back, glue a felt strip – this will strengthen and support the sloping edges of the house, and allow the roof to be attached to the base.

Step 6

PLACE the roof on the base and check the position. Apply glue to the felt at the edges of the front and back pieces. Place the roof on top and hold until the glue sets. Alternatively, stitch the roof onto the base.