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DIY Pattern Blocks – Felt Scraps + Upcycled Magnets

 

Looking for ways to use up your pretty wool felt scraps? Tired of throwing away all those cheap promotional magnets? Learn how to make magnetic felt pattern "blocks" - the perfect handmade toy for preschoolers!

Quality wool felt is lovely to touch – soft, dense, and warm. It’s one of my favorite things to sew with and I can’t seem to get rid of the scraps! I have a huge list of ways to use up knit fabric scraps, but most of them don’t work for felt. A group of other creative bloggers and I have started a monthly challenge to make a craft with a specific supply. This first month, I was so excited for an excuse to brainstorm felt scrap crafts! I have a round-up of more than 25 other ways to use up felt scraps, in this post, if you need more inspiration.

 

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We have a set of these, which were my inspiration. Kids can stack them, match the patterns, or get creative and make shapes of their own.

Looking for ways to use up your pretty wool felt scraps? Tired of throwing away all those cheap promotional magnets? Learn how to make magnetic felt pattern "blocks" - the perfect handmade toy for preschoolers!

geo pattern magnets

Magnetic ones serve the same purpose – but they are less likely to end up all over your floor and in your couch cushions! My attempt at a bug and a fish, above.

what to do with felt scraps

We have one of those oil drip pans up on our playroom’s wall, which made a perfect spot for my daughter to play with them. They’d work just fine on a fridge, as well.

handmade felt toy for kids

She is a little young to make patterns, but she loved sticking them up there and moving them around. I don’t specifically brainstorm activities for fine motor skills, but this has to be one with the way she was pinching the pieces off!

how to use up old magnets

I’m doubly pleased that I not only used up felt scraps, I also used up a bunch of those promotional magnets that seem to multiply on your fridge. They’re super thin, nice and flexible, and perfect for projects like this.

ideas for felt scraps

Don’t they look pretty! I am so happy with how this turned out, I can’t wait to make more of them and let my preschooler try them out.

Supplies

Steps

pattern blocks

1. Trace the pattern pieces on to the freezer paper, with the shiny side down. If you hate tracing, try out these printable freezer paper sheets!

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2. Cut roughly around each shape and then u se a light iron to adhere the pattern piece to the felt, shiny side down. Then use a hot glue gun and glue the felt to the magnet sheet. I had the best luck smearing the glue around on the magnet, then smoothing the felt out over top.

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3. Use your sharp scissors and cut around the edges precisely! Ta-da, you’re done. Rinse and repeat for as many pattern blocks as you can stand; the more you have, the more fun they are to play with!

One of my favorite things about using scraps is remembering the projects they came from. All my wool felt is from Benzie Design. – the teal is from this happy seal softie, the yellow is from my fox Roly Poly Critter, and the dark blue is from a project I need to blog about, ASAP, a snowflake pincushion.

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Joan

Monday 16th of January 2023

The link to download this pattern no longer works. Google Drive claims I need to ask for access. I know you use a resource library now, but this pattern appears not to be on that server - or at least there is no link to it there.

Stephanie - Swoodson Says

Thursday 9th of February 2023

Hi Joan! How annoying! Apparently this post doesn't get much love, no one has ever asked before. Emailing it to you directly now and fixing the post for the future.

Pam @Threading My Way

Wednesday 7th of September 2016

Very clever, Stephanie - both the magnetic tray on the wall and the wool magnetic shapes. My kids had numerous wooden shapes sets and I was for ever finding pieces in the oddest of places.

Stephanie - Swoodson Says

Thursday 15th of September 2016

YES, I just shook out a block from the book shelf. I'm going to have to make all the toys magnetic and stick them on the wall, haha!

Jamie

Tuesday 6th of September 2016

My scraps weren't super teeny, but I used them to cut out the felt letters in my "sisters" banner that I was working on this weekend. And yes, now that I've gone to using wool felt from Benzie Designs, I can't go back to the craft junk felt at the craft store.

Stephanie - Swoodson Says

Thursday 15th of September 2016

Benzie felt is the best!! I saw your banner, it was adorable :)

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