The “Hidden Penny Alert” is worthy of its own tag or category. Typically, when you make something out of felt, it ends up being a lightweight object, highly susceptible to tipping over. There are various remedies for this. Other than adding extra poly-fil and potentially over-stuffing the object, you could also use felt scraps, cardboard bits, or even beans. But lately I’ve been grabbing for a penny when the need arises for a flat, controlled bit of weight in one section of a felt project.

A great example of this is the drum I made for Beatles week. It was a basic cylinder, but it needed a little something extra to keep it from rolling around. Enter: The Hidden Penny Alert! I stitched a penny to the bottom of the inside of the drum, added my usual poly-fil, stitched up the back and like magic, the drum stands upright! And now, the song Penny Lane will forever have new meaning.