by Vicky Here's a fun little craft to make for your kids' birthdays! I found a pattern with instructions online, but I modified it slightly to make it a bit easier.

Materials needed:

-Crown Pattern -1/4 meter of felt (at least two colours) -1/4 meter of contrasting cotton fabric -buttons or sequins (or other embellishments/notions to decorate) -rick rack or ribbon -thread in a contrasting colour -stiff double sided iron-on interfacing -sharp sewing scissors, pins -non-rolling 3/4 inch elastic (at least 6 inches) -jar lid or something round to trace

Cut out the pattern, pin it and trace it on the felt. Use sharp scissors to cut it out.

Next you will want to add your embellishments to the top of the felt. I chose to use buttons and sequins, but you can add whatever you like.

I traced around a small star shaped cookie cutter for my stars, and sewed them by hand.

I traced around a small jar lid to make my circle, and drew the numbers by hand. I then zigzagged around the number 1 in the center of the circle, and used a very tight zigzag stitch around the circle in the center of the crown. You can also add another circle with the child's initial to the back or side of the crown using the same technique. This is where you can get as creative as you like; put your child's initial, polkadots, stars, or whatever you like.

How much elastic?

The crown without elastic measures 14 inches, so you will need to add some elastic at the back. To determine how much elastic you will need, measure your child's head, and then subtract 14 from that number. Add 1 inch for seams, and cut the elastic to that length.

Sew the elastic 1/4 inch from the bottom of the crown.

Add the rickrack or ribbon at the bottom.

Assembling the crown layers

Now you will layer your backing fabric, the interfacing, and the felt layer face down. Pin them together. Using a warm iron on the fabric side, iron the three pieces together. Make sure to leave a small opening where you can insert the other end of the elastic. (I staggered them in the photo so you could see all three layers, but you will want them to be directly on top of each other).

Cut out the crown.

Next you will insert the elastic into the other end of the crown, and sew it up. You may want to go back over with the iron to re-seal the opening that was left for the elastic.