Advice on cutting and sewing felt?

[DollyKim]

I want to do more felt crafts but a big problem I have is cutting small pieces out so they have even edges and don't look like a little kid did them. Know what I mean? I'd like to do some appliqués, small stuff with 2-3 pieces on top of each other and some decorative stitches.

Any tips for cutting it out and sticking it together with certain hand sewing stitches or a certain kid of glue? I can sew basic felt stuff together it just never looks like how I want it too.

[SetsunaKou]

I know what you mean! Especially on craft foamies, it's a bit difficult! But I've found that if you use a pair of long, really sharp scissors, and then start cutting from the back of the blades rather than the front, you can keep the tension/pressure longer without closing the scissors and snipping/cutting. The main thing is to keep one long cut for as long as you can without snipping/finishing. That's why I start towards the back of the scissors to give me the longest amount of time I can get without actually ending/finishing the cut, and maintaining equal pressure all around. For round pieces, just never finish the cut until you're all the way around---keep carefully spinning the circle in just ONE cut/snip. Two snips at the most, but you'll have to trim where you cut the first time, so it's best to just keep going until you get it how you'd like in one go around.
It's hard to describe and if you'd like, I can try to make a video of what I mean.

For glues, I can recommend 'FabriTac' by Beacon Hill or their new '8 Way' glue which is practically the same thing but a few dollars less costly. (Fabri Tac is even at Wal-Mart, but the 8 Way so far, I've found only at Jo-Ann's and online.) We use both with success on almost all types of fabrics, especially felts and fleeces.

[she_flame]

I have not done felt applique, but I recommend blanket stitch for putting it together. Another useful hand stich is the basic running stitch (done with small and careful stitches). Like this.

For decoration, any embroidry stitch will be fine. There is a guide for them.

[richila]

I haven't tried long scissors when doing tiny pieces of felt, but I do make sure that I have the sharpest pair of scissors possible. For tiny things, I tend to use my tiny really sharp embroidery scissors.

[ghostdollie]

A higher quality felt, like the wool blend felt on bolts at JoAnn, cuts much cleaner than the craft felt sheets. It doesn't have as many colors, however. Wool/rayon blends cut beautifully, don't pill, and photograph perfectly matte. Felt work is so fun!

[DollyKim]

@SetsunaKou I know what you mean about the cuts. That could be some of problems. My circles have problems looking like circles.

[zirconmermaid]

A small rotary cutter works really well. They make ones with very small blades. http://www.amazon.com/Olfa-18mm-Small-Rotary-Cutter/dp/B000YZ7R2K/ref=sr_1_1?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1391448859&sr=1-1&keywords=rotary+cutters+for+fabric+olfa+small

[MeltedCaramel]

Best thing I can recommend: A sharp pair of barber's scissors. I have found that these cut with more precision and force than even the most expensive craft scissors. Get a nice big pair and follow Setsunakou's advice for tension and even pressure, but the scissors will definitely help you cut stubborn fabric. It can also make those pesky "re-snips" nearly invisible because they're just that sharp.