![IMG_0713_800x533 IMG_0713_800x533](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YTCf75TtHwY/Tsl_dhYn9lI/AAAAAAAAB4U/5bZm1slvIfs/IMG_0713_800x533_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
This one came about when I was sewing the perle thread edging on my wristwatch pincushion - it reminded me of the crimping round a mince pie! (It was teatime too, and I was feeling a tad peckish) so I just made one to see if it worked! I really like it … a bit of festive silliness!
This one is even easier and faster to make than the last … no transfer printing, just plain felt, a bit of ribbon, a brown marker and a tea bag!
![IMG_0675_800x533 IMG_0675_800x533](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ELd_eL610XY/Tsl_nq8HdXI/AAAAAAAAB4k/3fNhbLF3b6A/IMG_0675_800x533_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
You will need:
2 x 3” circles of white felt
2 holly leaves and 3 berries cut from felt
neutral sewing thread (I used my Aurifil)
some caramel coloured Perle thread
A brown permanent marker pen (I used a Sharpie)
some rice for the filling
2 scraps of velcro
Equally - if, unlike me, you are good with scissors - it shouldn’t be too taxing!
Next, you need to just go round the edges of your holly shapes very gently with a brown marker (I cut mine freehand, but you can find clipart here) and then make some little crimping marks round the top circle.
![IMG_0682_364x600 IMG_0682_364x600](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3OSxmXKJpdo/Tsl_q4MEUEI/AAAAAAAAB40/nSniwa5TRk8/IMG_0682_364x600_thumb%25255B13%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Then sew your holly shapes onto your top piece with the caramel Perle thread …
![IMG_0682_364x600 IMG_0682_364x600](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rqJtOC9ms04/Tsl_vTW7v1I/AAAAAAAAB5E/Po-_U74I9kg/IMG_0682_364x600_thumb%25255B17%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![IMG_0690_646x600 IMG_0690_646x600](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BeKOn6fRcEs/Tsl_57KbIHI/AAAAAAAAB5U/t4RJV_P0tYw/IMG_0690_646x600_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
You can sew your velcro on now,
or wait until it’s stuffed (don’t trim the length until it’s finished as you could end up with a tight fit!)
![IMG_0685_400x600 IMG_0685_400x600](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IBCpfvGzeMs/Tsl__Ny1KNI/AAAAAAAAB5k/H8hvWZkNPtg/IMG_0685_400x600_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Then pin and sew the two pieces together, along the line of your ‘crimping’ marks.
Again, I used backstitch.
Leave a gap for the stuffing!
Fill with rice (quite puffy this time, as it’s a pie!) and sew up the gap.
![IMG_0686_800x533 IMG_0686_800x533](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-W8ZJ-0GWpCw/TsmALEGPizI/AAAAAAAAB50/3YRvP4xx7qY/IMG_0686_800x533_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
It should look like this:
![IMG_0687_800x533 IMG_0687_800x533](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iPhhJEZcfyg/TsmAUmfzl_I/AAAAAAAAB6E/Ry7U_qg5Mno/IMG_0687_800x533_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Now you need to go round again, this time with the Perle thread in a kind of reverse blanket stitch.
You can leave it like that -
![IMG_0703_800x533 IMG_0703_800x533](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8PzevrMdvMk/TsmAZ-gU8PI/AAAAAAAAB6U/v4FezbDONIM/IMG_0703_800x533_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
But if you like your mince pies with a bit of a higher bake, then just get a cold tea bag and daub it gently over the surface of your pie … build up the colour slowly … less is more.
![IMG_0709_800x533 IMG_0709_800x533](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hMI3SOxpp2U/TsmAg6qzfdI/AAAAAAAAB6k/yC6E9mjjUB8/IMG_0709_800x533_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
I actually used a bit of felt dipped in my cup of coffee because I was lazy!