“SNOW” Penny Rug - a Step-by-Step Tutorial (Part 1)

If you scroll down a bit and look on the left sidebar, you’ll see a picture of this “Snow” Penny Rug …

I’ve had that picture up for so long, most times I forget it’s even there …
until someone emails me to ask to purchase the pattern.

It’s never been available as a pattern, until now!
Yes, I’ll be releasing this pattern for sale on Saturday (hopefully).
While it’s being printed, let’s do a pictured tutorial that will show you exactly how it’s made. 
It’s really not difficult at all. 
Please remember though, purchase the pattern if you wish to make this yourself.  This is a copyrighted design created by me, Cath’s Pennies Designs.
.. this tutorial is shown so that:
1. those who have never attempted a wool penny rug will see how easy they are to make.
2. those who have purchased the pattern will have additional pictured help in case the pattern instructions are not clear.
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Ok, let’s get started!
I HIGHLY recommend using freezer paper to create the background shape and the penny circles.
We are using 100% wool and wool tends to stretch a bit when cutting.
The freezer paper will ensure that the wool stays in place while cutting, giving you an as close to perfect shape as possible without using a die cutter. 
I always recommend using 100% wool, but if you wish to save on cost, woolfelt may be used for this too.
(I know virtually nothing about woolfelt but it might not be a good idea to use freezer paper in this case because the ironing would/might flatten the bumpy texture that makes the felted woolfelt so nice.)
It might be difficult to see in the picture but using a pencil, I’ve traced the background shape onto the freezer paper.

I cut the excess paper away from the shape and now I’ll take this and my wool to the ironing board …
Oh, but I almost forgot! …
 TIP:  There will be a wool backing for this penny rug and I always use the same freezer paper for the backing.  Sometimes the shape is not cut perfectly so …  To make it easier to line up the backing to the front background wool, I pencil some lines on one of the scallops on the freezer paper.  Then I make a stitch with some contrasting thread in the wool where those lines are so that when it comes time to stitch on the backing, I line the markings together so that the background and backing will fit and align perfectly. 
Gosh, I hope that’s not confusing, but if it is, you’ll see once you go through this tutorial.
Ok, with a dry iron, I ironed the freezer paper onto the background wool.  I cut along the penciled lines to create this shape.
I carefully pulled off the freezer paper and set it aside  … I’ll use it again later for the backing.
You can see on the far right that I made a little stitch in the wool so that when it comes time to attach the backing, I’ll know exactly how to line the two together so that they match perfectly.
The background shape is ready to go so I did exactly the same thing with the freezer paper to create the circles.  There are 16 stacks of 3 penny circles so the cutting takes some time.  If you have a circle die cutter, now is the time to use it!
I prefer to cut them by hand … I like the look of the not so perfect circles.
I highly recommend putting all of the circles in some type of container so that they’re not lost.  It’s amazing how they disappear only to show up after you’ve cut the replacement ones!  Containing them helps (but still doesn’t guarantee) so that they won’t get lost.
Ok, time for stitching now!

I need to stitch the penny circles together first so I’ll stack the medium sized penny on to the largest penny and blanket stitch around the edges, pinning to hold it in place.
With such a small circle to stitch, you might be tempted to not bother to pin.  I’ve found that pinning ensures that it doesn’t slip out of place, so that you don’t get a lopsided penny.

Now I’ve pinned the smallest penny onto the stack and blanket stitched the edges. 
One penny stack done, 15 more to go!
The pennies are now ready to be stitched to the background wool.  I stitched the 8 outside pennies on first just to get the spacing right. Once those 8 are blanket stitched on, I filled in with the 8 inside circles.
All the pennies are stitched and done!  
Now we’ll stitch on the SNOW letters.
Again, I used freezer paper so that the letters are cut perfectly …or as perfectly as they can be cut without a die cutter.
I stitched the “S” and “W” on first to make it easier to space the other letters evenly between.   I just did a whip stitch for the letters.  I like how it looks with a whip stitch.. it makes the letters look puffier … but if you prefer, a blanket stitch can be used instead.

Ok, not too much more to go!
I’ll show the finishing tomorrow.  I need to stitch on the snowflakes and attach the backing.

Go Here for PART 2 of the Tutorial!  PART 2

Pattern should be ready to purchase on Saturday!
Happy Day everyone!