Halloween: Bat Pin

Dress up a coat or sweater with this adorable (I mean “super scary”…) pin.

This post was featured on The Crafty Crow!  Check them out for more kid-friendly Halloween ideas!  http://www.thecraftycrow.net/2014/10/felt-bat-pin-halloween-craft.html

Materials

• Felt (Black & brown)
• Pin base (you can find these at craft and dollar stores)
• Needle, black and orangey-brown embroidery thread or sewing machine/thread (optional for detail)
• Fabric scissors
• Small twig
• Glue gun
• Paper (we used cardstock) and pencil
• Stick pins or masking tape
• Light sewing marker or white pencil crayon
• Scissors
• Small buttons

*Here is a copy of our template (and a smaller version– ours is meant for an adult) bat_pin_template

Directions

• Go on a nature walk, collecting small twigs (making sure you have one thick enough to cover your pin base).

• Draw out a bat on paper.  Make sure the bat’s legs are super long so they can wrap around the twig (to hang upside down!)  Cut out your bat.  Should you like, we included a copy of our template and a smaller version.

• Using stick pins, attach your paper bat to your felt and trace around it with your with a sewing marker or white pencil crayon.  If you don’t feel comfortable with stick pins, make a few tape “donuts” to attach your paper bat to your felt while you trace.

• Cut out your bat using fabric scissors.  Cut a tummy out of a contrasting colour.

• Cut out simple eyes or use tiny buttons and sew them on.  Sew around the edges of your bat to create a bit of detail.

• Have an adult glue gun the legs of the bat, the twig and the pin base so that the legs wrap around the twig on the front and the base on the back and the twig is glued to the base.

•  Or glue the base over the twig with the legs wrapped around as shown.

• Wait until the glue has dried and put your pin on!

Purpose

• Getting out into nature.
• Developing a beginning understanding of bats.

Safety Notes

• Exercise caution when using scissors and pins.
• Buttons can be potential choking hazards.  Be sure to keep them out of reach of children 0-3 years.
• Have an adult use the glue gun.