Australian Homespun — February 2018

Step 4

Step 7

Step 5

Step 8

Step 6

4

Match the front and back shapes

and pin them together. There

should be a tiny bit of coloured felt

showing at the top of the ears. Using

one strand of coloured thread, sew

running stitch along the top of the

ears and fasten the thread inside the

koala. Then begin blanket stitching

the edges together about halfway up

one side. When you get to the ears,

sew running stitch through both

layers, then continue blanket

stitching until you’re about 3cm

(1^11 ⁄ 4 in) from the start. Stuff the koala

with fi bre fi ll, pushing small amounts

down into the legs fi rst, and then

fi nish sewing the opening closed.

5

Match two arm shapes and

blanket stitch around the edges

to join them together. Before you

get back to the start, insert small

amounts of filling and blanket stitch

the opening closed. Repeat this step

to make a second arm the same.

Because felt is reversible, you needn’t

worry about having left and right

arms. Use one strand of black thread

to sew two small straight-stitch claws

at the narrow ends of the arms.

6

To give the koala posable arms,

thread the doll needle with a long

length of thread, double it and knot

the ends together. Insert the needle

at one side of the koala near the top

of a leg detail, push it straight

through the body and come out

through an arm about 5mm (^1 ⁄ 4 in)

from the top. Pull the needle right

through – the knot will be hidden

by the other arm.

7

Pin the second arm in place. Push

the needle back through the top

of the fi rst arm very close to the

previous exit point, creating a tiny

stitch, go right through the body and

out the top of the second arm in the

same position as the fi rst arm.

Continue sewing back and forth

through the two arms and body several

times, making sure the tiny stitches

are on top of each other. Fasten the

thread under one of the arms and

bury the end inside the koala.

8

You’ve created an adorable felt

koala! These are quick and fun

to do, and only take about an hour to

construct. They make great pocket

pets, or you can attach a string to

the top and hang them as ornaments.

Now, can you stop at one?

62 Homespun

HSP1902_p060-062_QUICK STITCH_Koala Felties.indd 62 12/12/2017 11:48:02 AM