When I was younger, whenever I wore a hole in the knee of my jeans my mother would take these God awful iron on "faux" denim patches and cover them up. She actively ignored my urging that holes in the knees of your jeans were the coolest things ever. So my relationship with patches had a rocky start, but over the years I've come to love their versatility and design. Like bumper stickers for your clothes, they say a lot about you, but can be removed at a whim. The beauty of the patch below is it is so inexpensive to make, it reuses those old, holey jeans you have laying around (because holes in the knees? I’m so over it) and is relatively easy to make. The hand stitching does take a little bit of time, but on the plus side, it’s easily transportable to your next Knit and Bitch.

What you'll need:

* A fabric swatch from an old pair of jeans, 3”x5” preferable. (save your old jeans = free)

* A cup or something else circular to trace

* A dark marker

* Scissors

* Fabric Glue [optional] (available at any major retail outlet. Usually priced between $4-$10)

* The Owl Image (print it out to trace or draw free hand)

* A sewing needle (20/$1)

* 6 string embroidery floss (You can get a package of 7 skeins in assorted colors at some dollar stores -- $1 a package. Average cost in retail stores, 36 skeins/$6.99 or greater

*Max Cost: $18 *Min Cost: $1

*Max reflects the cost of purchasing everything, including optional equipment, brand new from a major craft retailer. Min reflects the cost of purchasing the essentials at the lowest know rates. Depending on where equipment is bought and/or if some equipment is already in your possession, costs may vary. Cost does not include sales tax.

How to do it:

Step 1:

Place the cup face down on the swatch of denim. Trace around it with the marker. Cut out the circle.

Step 2:

If you are using fabric glue, put a thin line of glue all around the backside edge of your patch. Let it dry (read packing for product drying time).

Step 3: Click on image to print owl template for reference.

Trace owl figure in the middle of your circle on the front of the patch. Pick out four colors of thread to fill in your drawing.

Step 4:

Measure out an arm's length of embroidery floss and cut it off the skein.

Step 5:

Pull apart one strand of the six. Pull slowly and out from the bundle to keep thread from knotting.

Step 6:

Thread the needle and tie the ends of the thread together.

Step 7:

Start in any section you'd like. I started with the section 2. Start and end your stitching on the markered lines. Make medium sized stitches to fill up the space. Just remember, try not to make your stitches too small or you'll be at it forever. Experiment. See how big you can make your stitches before they get away from you. Remember if you make a mistake you can either stitch over it, or go back and pull it out.

Step 8:

Stitch each of the numbered sections until the whole owl is completely filled in. For her feet you won't have anything to fill in, just stitch over the lines you drew.

Step 9:

Once you're finished with her, stitch the border around the patch by inserting the needle about 1/8" away from the edge. One good way to choose a starting point is to insert the needle just beyond the line of fabric glue you may have put down. Stitch diagonal stitches in one direction. Once you finish, double back and stitch diagonal stitches in the opposite direction.

And you’re done! Safety pin it to a bag, glue it to a pillow, or sew it on to just about any article of clothing for that extra bit of razzmatazz. PR