Australian Homespun - February 2016_

Preparation and cutting

1

Trace the templates from the

Pattern Sheet onto the matt side

of the freezer paper, transferring any

markings and labels, and cut them

out carefully on the lines.

2

Fold the green felt in half. Using

a warm, dry iron, fuse all the

templates for the elephant’s body

shapes except the tail, shiny side down

on the felt. Pin the two layers of felt

together close to the patterns to keep

them stable. Cut the shapes out by

cutting the felt immediately next to the

edge of the freezer paper. Carefully peel

the freezer paper templates for the leg

and arm off the felt shapes. They will

retain some of their stickiness. Fuse

them to the remaining doubled felt and

cut them out a second time. Transfer

the markings for the openings on each

shape to the edges of the felt shapes.

Unfold the felt, fuse the tail shape to

a single layer, and cut it out.

3

Fold the grey felt in half and use

the same method described in Step

2 to cut an ear from the two layers.

You will be able to re-use the template

from Step 2.

4

Fold the linen in half and use the

same method to cut the shapes for

the dungarees and the facing from the

two layers. Place the fabric templates on

the straight grain of the fabric. Peel the

freezer paper off the dungarees shape,

fuse it to the remaining linen, and cut

another shape from the two layers.

5

Cut four pockets and one hat

band from a single layer of novelty

print fabric.

Head

6

Match the head shapes, right

sides together, and machine stitch

from A to B and from C to D.

7

Fold the head so the edges of the

dart are aligned and the AB seam

lies on top of the CD seam. Machine

stitch the dart from edge to edge.

8

Turn the head right side out,

easing out all the curves and

the trunk gently. Stuff the head

very fi rmly with fi bre fi ll.

Body

9

Match the two body shapes, right

sides together, and sew from

E to F and from G to H.

10

Fold the body at the base

so the edges of the dart are

aligned and the EF seam lies on top

of the GH seam. Machine stitch the

dart from edge to edge.

11

Turn the body right side out

through the opening, easing

out all the curves and points gently.

Stuff it very fi rmly with fi bre fi ll and

sew the opening closed.

12

Make a little hollow in the

stuffi ng in the head and push

the top of the body inside the neck

opening quite fi rmly, with the centre

front seam on the body lined up with

the centre front seam on the head.

Pin to hold the head in place.

13

Hand stitch the head to the

body, turning the edge of the

felt under and adding more filling

as you go if needed so that the head

is sitting firmly on the body.

14

Fold the tail in half, long edges

matching, and machine stitch

close to the raw edges. Fold under a tiny

raw edge and hand stitch the wider end

of the tail to the centre back seam about

4cm (1^11 ⁄ 2 in) up from the dart at the crotch.

Legs and arms

15

Match two leg shapes, right

sides together, and machine

stitch them together, leaving an

opening at the back of the leg where

marked. Repeat for the second leg.

16

Turn the legs right side out and

stuff them well with fi bre fi ll. Hand

stitch the openings closed, turning in the

edges of the felt as you go.

17

Pin the wider ends of the legs to

each side of the lower body with

the seams facing the front and back.

Thread the doll needle with matching

doubled thread and sew the legs to

the body. Begin behind one leg, go

through the body, out through a leg,

back in through the same leg and

through the body to the other side,

as shown in Diagram 1. Repeat this

Diagram 1

SIMONE’S FABRIC

TIP I strongly recommend using

very high-quality wool felt for this

softie. Poor-quality synthetic/blend

felt won’t withstand the small seam

allowance, tight turning of the

pieces or firm stuff ing required.

SIMONE’S

DUNGAREES TIPS

When choosing fabric for the

dungarees, I suggest selecting

plain linen for the garment and

a patterned novelty fabric with a

small-scale print for the pockets.

This will make the pockets stand

out against the plain background.

Accentuate this eff ect by fussy

cutting one cute element to

feature on each pocket. I repeated

the same fabric on the hatband

to tie the outfit together.

Homespun 59

HSP1702_p056-062_Pockets the Elephant PROJECT.indd 59 12/14/2015 11:29:32 AM