Australian Homespun — June 2017

Q Cardboard or template

plastic (patterns)

Q Sewing machine

Q General sewing supplies

Stitches used:

Backstitch, ladder stitch,

running stitch

Finished size:

27cm (10^11 ⁄ 2 in)

Note: Read all the instructions

before starting the project.

Set your sewing machine to

a shorter than usual stitch

length to give smoother

seams. Remember that you

are making a left and right

side of the cat, so you will

need to reverse (turn over)

some of the templates – this is

noted on the patterns. A seam

allowance of 3mm (^1 ⁄ 8 in) is

used throughout and is

included in the patterns,

except for the ears. Backstitch

at the beginning and end of

each seam to secure the

stitches. You can also use

dental floss for the extra

strong sewing thread.

Although felt doesn’t have

a true right and wrong side,

their appearance sometimes

diff ers; study each of the felts

you are using and decide

which side you’ll treat as the

‘right’ side. Instructions are

given for using the printed

patterns in the magazine,

but you can also download

the digital patterns from

http://www.homespun.com.au and

print them out.

Preparation and cutting

1

Trace all the shapes from the

Pattern Sheet onto paper or

template plastic, transferring all the

markings and labels. If you’ve used

paper, Jennifer recommends gluing

the patterns to cardboard for extra

accuracy and durability. Cut them

out carefully on the lines.

2

To use the templates, lay them

right side up on the right side

of the appropriate wool felts (except

where otherwise noted) and trace

around them with an air-erasable

fabric-marking pen. Transfer any

markings. To trace a pattern in

reverse, fl ip the template over, so

that it is right side down on the felt,

before tracing around it. Cut the

shapes out on the traced lines.

3

From the light grey felt, cut:

• Two rectangles, 4 x 8in (limbs
  and tail)


• One rectangle, 2^1 ⁄ 2 x 5in (outer ears)


• One face and one in reverse


• One body front


• One body back


• One back of head.

4

From the white felt, cut:

• One chest.

5

From the dusty rose pink felt, cut:

• One rectangle, 2^1 ⁄ 2 x 5in (inner ears).

6

From the pale pink felt, cut:

• One nose.

7

From the tan felt, cut:

• Two rectangles,^3 ⁄ 8 x 7in
  (satchel straps)


• One satchel front


• One satchel back.

8

From each of the aqua, lime green,

orange and hot pink felts, cut:

• Two fi sh.

9

From the scrap of pale yellow

felt, cut:

• A circle about^3 ⁄ 8 in in diameter – cut
  it without a pattern so it’s not perfect.

Cat

Ears

10

Trace around the ear template

twice on the wrong side of the

21 ⁄ 2 x 5in rectangle of light grey felt.

Rotate the template before tracing

the second shape to use the felt most

effi ciently and leave a generous^1 ⁄ 4 in

between the shapes.

11

Pin the light grey rectangle

to the dusty rose pink one,

right sides together. Insert a pin

inside the traced outline of each ear

so you won’t have to move them as

you sew. Sew on the curved lines,

leaving the straight edge open.

12

Cut the shapes out about^1 ⁄ 8 in

by eye outside the stitched

lines and on the straight line along

the bottom edge. Turn them right

side out. Fold the raw edges along

the bottom edge in by a scant^1 ⁄ 4 in,

angling the corners towards the

centre of the ear to create a slight

curve. Pin the folds to hold them in

place and compare the ears to ensure

that they’re a similar size and shape.

Adjust if necessary.

13

Close the opening on one

ear using ladder stitch. Put

suffi cient tension on the thread to

gather the edge a little and work

several tiny backstitches to hold the

gather in place. Then pass the needle

up through the ear between the two

layers of felt, exiting through the seam

near the top edge. Hold the thread

under tension while you cut it close to

the felt – this will cause it to be drawn

back into the felt. Repeat to close and

shape the second ear, aiming to make

it very similar to the fi rst one.

Arms, legs and tail

14

On the wrong side of one of the

4 x 8in rectangles of light grey

felt, trace two legs, two arms and one

tail, leaving at least^1 ⁄ 4 in between

shapes. Match this rectangle to the

Back view

JENNY’S QUALITY

TIP Always use felt with a high

wool content to make softies.

Felt with acrylic in it will stretch

more readily – especially as you

turn shapes right side out and

stuff them – and won’t stand up

to playtime nearly as well as

wool felt. Think about it this way:

if you use wool felt, you’ll invest

the same amount of time and

eff ort making your softie, but the

outcome will be far superior.