Free Mushroom Tutorial

Run a loose stitch around the outside of the 5" circle. If it is a woven make sure you do not get too close to the edge. I am using an old shower curtain in the pictures. If you like things to be perfect you could use a yoyo maker for this step.

Once you have gone all the way around pull gently on the end of the thread to gather it into a bowl.

Fill the bowl with fabric scraps or polyfil or whatever you have around. I am stuffing it with leftover scraps of quilt batting and the edges of fabric from when I cut out the mushroom.

Put the larger cardboard circle on top of the filling. Push the filling underneath with your fingers.

Pull the thread to gather the fabric around the cardboard and tie it off.

You have the top. It is ok if the edges of the circle are little lumpy as long as there's no stuffing around the cardboard it will get fixed later.

Run a loose stitch around the edge of your bottom fabric just like we did with the top.

Place the smaller cardboard piece in the center. Do not stuff.

Pull tight and tie off.

Make top and bottom sandwich, wrong sides together.

Whip Stitch the top and bottom together. Pull the fabric from the outer edge of the top to the edge of the bottom. This will help make sure the bottom fabric stays tight and give your mushroom a better shape. Mushrooms with tight bottoms are more likely to stand up in my experience.

As you go around, especially as you get close to the end the fabric will get wrinkly. Push it in with your needle or finger before stitching it down to keep it smooth.

Tie off your thread.

Thread your needle and tie the end off before you roll your fabric. It is hard to hold it rolled and tie thread at the same time. Roll the strip of fabric tightly starting at one end. Fold the other end over a bit to hide the raw edge.

Start sewing from the inside of the fold you just made to hide your knot.

Whip stitch up the seam. Try to stay even and tight.

If the end is not flat, cut it.

Nice and flat. More likely to stand up.

Center your stem as best you can. I like to use the same thread that I stitched the side up with. If your leftover thread is too short tie a knot and start at the end of the roll that will be against the bottom of the mushroom come out the side where you will start stitching. This will hide the knot.

Sew underneath the stem going through the fabric on the bottom of the mushroom and coming out when the stem will connect on the other side. It is ok if you don't catch the other side of the stem when you are coming out. When you go back in for the next stitch sew down through the top edge of the stem.

Once the stem feels firmly attached, I typically do about 5-6 stitches, push the needle under the bottom of the mushroom fabric until it comes out the seam where the top and bottom of the mushroom meet. I tie the knot here because it is easier to hide than at an inside angle. If you want to make it an ornament sew a small loop on top.
Ta-da Mushroom!