Adorable Felt Strawberry Tablecloth Weights

Jul 19, 2023

Designer: Marcia Izabel Marchiori

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As the days grow longer and the warm sunshine beckons us outside, it's the perfect time to enjoy al fresco dining, whether it's a backyard barbecue, a picnic in the park, or a lazy afternoon on the patio. However, with summer comes occasional gusts of wind that can wreak havoc on your beautifully set table, sending your tablecloth flying and disrupting your outdoor gathering. Fear not, for we have a delightful solution that combines functionality and whimsy: felt strawberry tablecloth weights!

In this tutorial, we'll guide you through the simple steps of creating your own felt strawberry tablecloth weights. Whether you're an experienced crafter or a novice seeking a fun summer project, this DIY endeavor will have you enjoying a breeze-free dining experience while showcasing your creativity. So, gather your materials and let's get started on this delightful journey of crafting and functional design.

Tools & Supplies Needed

OLFA FCM-12x17 12" X 17" Folding Cutting Mat
OLFA QR-1x12 1" X 12" Frosted Acrylic Ruler
OLFA AK-4 Cushion Grip Art Knife, paired with OLFA KB4-R/5 Curved Carving Art Blade, 5pk
OLFA 5-Inch SCS-4 Precision Appliqué Scissors
Felt (red and green)
Yellow Floss (used in this project: Aurifil)
Embroidery Needles (used: Riley Blake Designs)
Upholstery Thread (used: Gütermann Creativ)
Pins (used: Riley Blake Designs Pretty Pins)
Small pebbles (collected from garden) or fishing weights (for added weight)
Polyester Fiberfill (craft stuffing)
Grosgrain Ribbon (green)
Metal Clips
Hot Glue Gun
Erasable Pen

PRINT TEMPLATES HERE

Instructions

Print template to scale. Gather all tools and materials.

Trace template on red felt with an erasable pen. Using the art knife, paired with the curved carving art blade, cut out straight lines with the help of OLFA ruler. Cut out the curved side freehand.

Repeat same process with the remaining templates and green felt:

Next, sew edges together. I sewed mine with a sewing machine, but it can be easily sewed by hand using straight stitches.

Turn the strawberry the right side out.

Make French knots to make seeds with yellow floss. To make it, place the needle close to the fabric. Wrap the thread around it twice, as shown below. Insert needle back (right hand), keeping the tension of the floss with your left hand (non-needle hand) to prevent it from uncoiling.

After all seeds are ready, make running stitches on the top of strawberry using upholstery thread. Pull the thread taut.

Start stuffing the strawberry using fiberfill, insert a small pebble to add weight to it, then finalize with the fiberfill (the pebble should stay surrounded by the stuffing).

Pull the thread taut as much as you can and close the top with a knot.

Using the art knife, paired with the curved carving art blade, cut out a straight line with a size wide enough to insert the ribbon. Then, insert the ribbon, leaving about 1 1/2” out.

Apply hot glue to the tip of each side of the ribbon and adhere it as below:

Using the hot glue gun, adhere the top leaf onto the top of the strawberry.

Glue each pointy end of the leaf with hot glue, securing them with pins until dry.

To make the other leaves, stretch the straight part to make it a bit thinner (and stronger).

Assemble it on the ribbon with a simple knot:

Repeat this process for a total of four pieces (for each end of the tablecloth), and that’s it, your felt strawberries are ready to decorate the table! These weights are not only effective at battling the wind but also create an adorable visual feast for your guests!