Card Table Felt Playhouse: Phase 1

Admittedly the idea of creating a felt playhouse that slips over a card table was not an original idea but it sure is a brilliant one! Here is my step-by-step on creating this little girls playhouse (brace yourself, it's a three part-er)...

front

side

side

back.

Let's begin with what you'll need:

felt

fabric scissors

sharpie

pins

paper
pencil

yard stick

large working surface

sewing machine
lots of thread (white)
card table (the one I used is 36w x 36d x 29h)
IF YOUR DIMENSIONS DO NOT MATCH THE ONES I USED YOU MUST MEASURE YOUR TABLE AND ADJUST ACCORDINGLY! 
Simply take the measurement and add an extra 1" to all of the sides and top, do NOT add to the bottom.

First things first: determine what colors you want to use. I chose pink to be the color of my main fabric, whatever you choose you'll need at least 3 yards of it (these felt bolts came in 72" widths, if the ones you buy do not you'll need to consider purchasing more yardage).

For the roof I chose the purple, of this you'll need around 2 yards (again, if the bolt is 72" wide). This will also provide you with some extra to use on other parts of the house if desired.

All other colors you need much less of.

The green for the grass you can get away with 1/2 yard.

The red, gray, orange,yellow, white, brown and dark green can all be purchased as 8 1/2x11" sheets (approximately .33 cents each, 2 of each color).

I purchased the bolt fabrics at 40% off from Jo Ann's and payed just under $30 (keep in mind I bought 2 yards too many of the pink fabric). 

Here's another look at the colors I used.

Now let's begin the cutting!

(Making the front)

You ALWAYS want to make your cuts first thing that way you know if you have leftovers for other smaller parts. 

(Making the door)

(Set aside)

(Making both window sides, set aside)

(Making the roof, set aside)

(Making the door)

You'll need to cut 2 pieces for the door so that when you sew them together it makes it sturdier. 

(Cutting the window hole 7"x7")

After you cut the holes for the door window you'll need to sew the two door pieces together. Use about a 1/4" seam to do so. Sew all the way around the door and the window opening.

(Adding the window)

The overall dimensions for the window are 8.5"x8.5" with a 1" thick border and crossbars. You will need to cut out two of these as well.

Sew the two pieces together only on the crossbars.

It should look like this.

Add a doorknob to the door by cutting out a circle and sewing it in place.

Lifting the unsewn edges up place the door window hole (purple) in between the two window pieces (pink). Pin them in place and sew an 1/8" seam around the inside and outside edges.

It should look like this when completed.

To make the grass cut a 12"x12" square out of the green felt.

Place both pieces together and free hand some zig zags for the grass. Cut along the drawn-on line with the two pieces still placed together.

Lay the new grass pieces down on top of the pink sides flanking the door and stitch an 1/8" seam around grass edges back stitching at each end.

To add the door place it over the door opening and pin in place along the top and right side. ONLY sew along the top and right side leaving the left side open like a flap.

To add the roof line cut out four strips 38" long and 3 1/4" wide. Mark the strips rotating between 3" and 1" (see above). Then draw a line straight up from your 1" marks up 1 1/2" then connect the two lines with a line across. This will give you the guild lines for cutting out the tabs.

Cut out the tabs and pin roof line along the top. Sew an 1/8" seam across the top. This is more of a basting stitch since you will sew an additional seam when attaching the roof.

To make the light I free handed this one. You can choose this style or you can create your own. The important thing to consider when free handing the light and the mailbox is proportion to the overall structure. You only have so much space between the door and the edge so make sure it fits between the space, keeping in mind that 3/4" will be sewn off the sides.

For the mailbox free hand two of each rectangle shown. You'll want to double up the thickness of the mail box to make it more sturdy. Place the two sides together and stitch an 1/8" seam around the edges. You can add the "MAIL" letters to the top flap by free handing some simple letters.

Put the lower piece of the mailbox in place and pin edges. Sew an 1/8" seam around the left, bottom, and right side, leaving the top open.

Place the upper flap on top, pin in place, and sew only the top side.

When it's all done it should look like this.

And there you have your first finished side! 

To be continued... 

{Click here to continue on to phase II}