Around the Web
enter your email


powered by FeedBlitz

Around the Web
Design Sponge
July 28th, 2008
diy idea: bird mobile

1256.jpg
a just found out another friend of mine is having a baby so i’ve got nursery decorations on the brain lately (which isn’t helping my baby-crazy-late-20s phase). i saw this fun mobile at spool a while back and have had it bookmarked for ages, hoping i’d find an excuse to make one. and now i have one! you can download the pattern for each fabric bird right here and then pick up some (clean, fallen) twigs from your backyard and use clear fishing wire to hang each bird. it’s a great way to use up leftover fabric (or those super-fun fabric packs from purl) and give a homemade, customized gift. click here for the full post at spool.

2487201897_15755f55f0_o.jpg

43 comments
danielle said:
July 28th, 2008 - 9:52 am

LOVE this. thanks!

Also, am in need of some contemporary fabric to make simple curtains that doesn’t cost a fortune - can you recommend any internet vendors? thanks!!

deb said:
July 28th, 2008 - 10:12 am

I love this bird mobile! I’m going to attempt one for my neice. Thanks so much.

jeen-marie said:
July 28th, 2008 - 10:33 am

Yay! I was looking for a cool but different mobile for the nursery!
Thanks for the great tip.
jm

simone said:
July 28th, 2008 - 12:39 pm

I pulled my hair out trying to make my own similar pattern a few months ago! I see how a few key differences make this one more successful than mine. Can’t wait to get back to making them! Once again Grace has been practically psychic with a post.

rachel said:
July 28th, 2008 - 3:24 pm

I love this! I’ll be linking to this in The Daily DIY today, and making one myself!

Brittany said:
July 28th, 2008 - 4:50 pm

I’ve never really commented on anything like this before, but I love this site, and this idea…even to be used simply as a decorative piece.

elefant said:
July 28th, 2008 - 5:31 pm

precious!

Claire said:
July 28th, 2008 - 8:16 pm

This is wonderful! I really love mobiles, and I’ve been looking for something to hang over my bed at school next year. This might be it!

Tanya said:
July 28th, 2008 - 8:50 pm

If you have more money than craftiness, you I found this mobile at ohmyeye’s Etsy shop for $150! I spent 2 hours this weekend trying to make a decent looking bird pattern ’cause I’m a poor grad student. I’m so excited ’cause this one looks so much better than the one I made!

Suzanne said:
July 29th, 2008 - 12:02 am

These are gorgeous.

Connie said:
July 29th, 2008 - 11:43 am

This is absolutely adorable, and is now at the top of my crafty to-do list! Thanks so much for sharing this.

Cara said:
July 29th, 2008 - 5:10 pm

Just FYI–this is a great project, but not for babies as intended. If the baby were to get hold of it, they could dismantle the mobile, injure themselves with the sticks and possibly die of strangulation.

Anna said:
July 29th, 2008 - 5:25 pm

Good lord- Debbie Downer much? I would think it’s implied that you shouldn’t be hanging this within reach of a baby, but rather a very safe distance above. Why does someone always have to get bent out of shape and super (death!) dramatic when something with the world “child” is posted?

Anna

Stacy said:
July 30th, 2008 - 2:35 pm

Can anyone point me toward the “fabric packs” from Purl? I’ve tried looking on the website, but I’m just not seeing it. PS: I love this project! Am totally making it!

July 30th, 2008 - 6:01 pm

This is an awesome DIY idea, especially considering how much I love birds! This would be awesome in my little girl’s room. But one second thought, she’s at an age when she’d probably — make that definitely — try to pull them down. So I’ll have to find another place for my fine fabric friends if I decide to tackle this project.

Mary said:
July 31st, 2008 - 1:05 pm

Try etsy- for reasonably priced fabrics. Dutch Girl Fabrics has some cute ones.

kitties! said:
August 1st, 2008 - 4:54 pm

These birds would make a great x-mas wreath or tree ornaments.

August 3rd, 2008 - 12:09 pm

Everyone I know is having baby toooo — I LOVE this idea. I want to give them something personal, yet still cool. Thanks for finding!

marcia harris said:
August 4th, 2008 - 2:36 pm

Thank you just made them so quick and easy… I used rice to fill… I couldn’t wait to go to the shop for stuffing supplies tomorrow. worked out great it did make them and nice weighted.

bill&betts said:
August 4th, 2008 - 5:17 pm

gah! love this! it would be cool to mix it with some different kinds of birds too, like an enamel one, a plastic one, etc.

August 6th, 2008 - 3:22 pm

I’m afraid the link is not working - might be just me but can someone double-check it? Thanks so much!

August 6th, 2008 - 5:15 pm

this is so fantastic, but i too can’t get the link to work…any idea how these finished birds are affixed to the branch/twig? thanks :)

Tepi said:
August 11th, 2008 - 5:15 pm

Great idea. The birds tails make me think of bow ties–I bet you could reuse old bow ties to make them!

Erin said:
August 14th, 2008 - 4:35 pm

Does anyone know how these are attached to the sticks? They are so cute but attaching them could be my downfall….

Marian said:
August 22nd, 2008 - 12:56 am

These are just delightful and the PERFECT sized project that I need right now. I”m waffling in hesitation on a commissioned wall hanging and making a few of these would be just the thing to get me going!
I just found this site…wowie what a gem!

Bridie said:
August 31st, 2008 - 8:25 pm

I made about ten of these over the weekend and it was such fun. My crafty friend suggested quilting the tails, with some straight lines to create a fan effect and this looked really great. I also sewed sequins for eyes, or swarovski crystal beads. There is plenty of potential to embellish these little birds. Thanks for the pattern! Bridie
ps I’ll be posting some pics on my blog tomorrow. http://www.northofbellstreet.blogspot.com/

Shannon said:
September 1st, 2008 - 4:04 am

I absolutly love your blogs and these cute birds! I will deffinitly make some myself!

Am said:
September 14th, 2008 - 2:25 pm

thanks for this instructional! i love these little birdies; they’d be a great addition to a nursery or even my room! your instructionals are so helpful and lovely!

Lauren said:
October 13th, 2008 - 2:03 pm

Adorable and classy at the same time. I am a novice at sewing…but I’m going to try to make one of these for my son’s nursery. The room is blue and brown with sage green accents…so I’ll try to find fabric to match that. Any help on where to find fabrics online? Also, how do you attach the fishing wire to the birds??? Thanks!

Emma said:
October 16th, 2008 - 6:37 am

I just stumbled on this site and love it. I’ve printed a copy of the pattern and will be making little birds like crazy… What a fantastic way to use up scraps of pretty fabric! I don’t think I’ll make the mobile though - I can think of a few other uses for them.

Emma said:
October 16th, 2008 - 6:37 am

also, I love your site. it’s beautiful and the colours are great.

Lauren said:
October 19th, 2008 - 11:53 am

Wait…I was able to link to the pattern a few weeks back…but now it doesn’t seem to work??? I never printed the pattern out…so hoping this will be fixed or someone can check it out?
thanks…

grace said:
October 19th, 2008 - 1:34 pm

lauren

this is a link from someone else’s blog so i’m afraid you’ll need to contact them for information on the pattern. so sorry!

grace

Ellie said:
December 8th, 2008 - 8:46 pm

In the instructions for the bird, it says to sew the tail closed… but when I look at your birds, I don’t see where the sew line is! Am I just not seeing it because your stitches are so tiny and perfect? Where is the tail seam?!
Thanks!

Pascale said:
December 9th, 2008 - 9:01 pm

HELP!!!
How do you attached the birds to the branch?

I can’t wait to do this for a girlfriend of mine having a little girl soon.

kristen said:
December 16th, 2008 - 11:34 pm

I just found this project and would like to start it after the holidays - I’m already looking forward to spring! Do you happen to know the name of the fabric that is red, blue and orange - overlapping dots? Thanks!

Vanessa said:
January 1st, 2009 - 2:40 am

I just finished this project for my daughter’s nursery. I used brightly colored felt and it turned out really cute. I sewed the birds onto the branches using fishing wire and a needle. It was a little bit of a challenge to get them all balanced.

Heather said:
February 3rd, 2009 - 2:43 pm

I love these mobiles . . . I know this may be against the rules but do you sell completed mobiles or do you know who may?

Jacobs said:
March 5th, 2009 - 5:00 pm

Hi -

I am looking to buy a completed mobile as well. Any sellers? I am a future-mom-to-be and would appreciate any help!!!

thanks

March 29th, 2009 - 9:57 am

Someone found this pattern and had me make it for them. It is SO cute I think I am going to make one for my craft room too!

April 8th, 2009 - 6:49 pm

Hey Jacobs said:
Has anyone offered to make you a mobile yet? I’m working on one for a friend at the moment, and then will be putting it up as a custom option in my etsy shop (so people can customize what colors they want). Keep an eye out there if you still need one!

landais muriel said:
May 25th, 2009 - 9:46 am

bonjour, j’adore votre mobile avec ces petits oiseaux mais je n’arrive pas à télécharger le PDF pouvez vous m’aider svp. Merci beaucoup Muriel

June 22nd, 2009 - 10:29 am

Love at first sight! Sweet enough for baby, and hip enough for friends. I’ve made two: for the 1st (as adoption present for a 13-yr-old), I painted the branches turquoise for an extra dose of cute, and hot-glued birds to branch… Would recommend sewing, as the weight of the birds pulled the glue away from the branch some. The 2nd I suspended from ribbons b/c it was easier than balancing, tho not as whimsical. Here’s a pic of the 2nd: http://www.heynowwhoanow.com/handmade/mobile-madness/

Write a Comment:
Design*Sponge reserves the right to restrict comments that do not contribute constructively to the conversation at hand, contain profanity, personal attacks or seek to promote a personal or unrelated business.

Name (required)

Email (will not be published) (required)

Website