Bean Bag Animal Sewing Pattern

Bean Bag Animal Sewing Pattern

This group of standing bean bag characters features all creatures found in the wild. They are all made from the same pattern and stand 12cm ( 4 3 / 4 ) from head to toe, and are 18cm ( 7 ) long from nose to tail. A mixture of fleece and plain velour is used to create the creatures. Use the pattern provided to make any of the animals shown. Expand your menagerie by leaving the horn off the rhino to turn it into a hippo, or make the bear in brown velour or fleece to turn it into a grizzly bear. Henry Horse and Zsa- Zsa Zebra are ideal to add to the collection of pony- mad little girls!

1. Print the Wild Things pattern pieces, then cut out the paper shapes to use as templates. From the white fleece cut two side bodies, two under bodies, one head gusset, four feet and six ears. From the lining fabric cut two rectangles 12cm x 16cm ( 4 3/4" x 6 1/4" ) .
   
   
2. Use the six ear pieces to make three ears, one of which will act as a tail. With right sides facing, pin and stitch the ear shapes together in pairs, leaving the bottom straight edge open. Turn the shapes right side out.
   
   
3. 
   
   Take each body side and carefully cut the dart at the top of the head, as indicated on the pattern by the solid black line. With right sides facing and raw edges matching, pin and tack ( baste) each ear at the base of each dart. Then, with right sides facing, fold the head in half, bringing the two edges of the dart together so that the ears are sandwiched between the two layers. Pin and stitch the edges of the dart together to secure the ears in place.
   
   
4. With right sides facing, pin and tack the tail onto one body side shape. Place the tail between the white dots so that it faces inwards and all the raw edges meet.
   
   
5. To make the upper body, with right sides facing, pin and stitch the body sides together between the black dots at the head and bottom.
   
   
6. To make the body base, with right sides facing, pin the under body shapes together between the black dots. Stitch from each black dot to lines indicated on the pattern, leaving a gap for turning. Then, with right sides facing, pin and stitch the body base and head gusset shapes together along the neck edge, matching the white and black dots.
   
   
7. To make the body, open the upper body and base shapes, then place them together with right sides facing. Pin and stitch the shapes together between the black dots at the base of each back leg and at the creature s bottom. At the body front, pin and stitch the body base and head gusset to the upper body, carefully matching the white dots at the base of each front leg, the white dots at the neck seam and body side, the notches around the nose and head, and the black dot at the top of the head. Pin and stitch around the inner leg, then clip into the seams where necessary.
   
   
8. With right sides facing, pin and stitch the feet to the base of each leg, matching the notches on the foot with the side seams on each leg. Turn the creature right side out, through the gap in its tummy. Finally, add the two eyes at the place indicated by the large black dots on the head gusset template.
   
   
9. To make the lining bag, pin and stitch the lining rectangles together along the two long edges and one short edge. Turn the bag right side out, then add enough plastic beans to fill the bag one third full. Pin and stitch the top edges of the lining together with a row of gathering stitches, then pull up the threads and secure with a knot. Lightly fill the head and legs with polyester stuffing, insert the lining bag into the body and secure the back seam with ladder stitches.

1. Print the Wild Things pattern pieces, then cut out the paper shapes to use as templates. From the velour cut two side bodies, two under bodies, one head gusset, two tails, two horns, four feet and four ears. From the lining fabric cut two rectangles each 12cm (4 3 / 4") x 16cm (6 1 / 4" ) .
   
   
2. With right sides facing, pin and stitch the ear in shapes together in pairs, leaving the bottom straight edge open, then turn the shapes right side out. Repeat this process with the horn and tail shapes.
   
   
3. To complete Robert Rhino, follow steps 3- 9 of the Peter Polar Bear instructions. Add a small amount of stuffing to the horn. To finish, turn under a small hem at the bottom edge of the horn, place it in the correct position on the head and slipstitch in place.

1. 
   
   Print the Wild Things pattern pieces then cut out the paper shapes to use as templates. From the velour cut two side bodies, one head gusset, four feet and four ears. From the lining fabric cut two rectangles 12cm x 16cm (4 3 / 4" x 6 1 / 4" ) .
   
   
2. With right sides facing, pin and stitch the ear shapes together in pairs, leaving the bottom straight edge open, then turn the shapes right side out.
   
   
3. To add the ears to the body, follow step three of the Peter Polar Bear instructions.
   
   
4. To make the mane, lay the wool over a length of ribbon or tape, allowing for 2.5cm (1") loops at each side. Stitch the wool to the ribbon or tape by hand or machine. Making a 6cm ( 2 1 / 4 ) length of looped wool for the mane and a 1cm (1 / 2") length for the fringe.
   
   
5. 
   
   To add the mane to the body, lay one side body shape right side up. Fold the tape in half along the length, so that the wool loops are all facing in the same direction. Lay the tape along the top edge of the side body, starting at the black dot and working down so that the wool loops are facing inwards, then tack the tape in place. To add the fringe, repeat the process, but add the short length of looped wool to the top edge of the head gusset.
   
   
6. 
   
   To make the tail, cut eight 10cm (4") lengths of thick black wool and bunch them up. Lay the bunch of wool over the right- side of the side body with the mane attached, and tack in place between the white dots so that the tail faces inwards.
   
   
7. To complete making Henry Horse, follow steps 5- 9 of the Peter Polar Bear instructions. Finish the tail by tying the lengths of wool into a knot at the base. Trim the tail, mane and fringe to the desired length to finish.

1. Photocopy the Wild Things pattern pieces, then cut out the paper shapes to use as templates. From the velour, cut two side bodies, two under bodies, one head gusset, four feet and four ears. From the lining fabric cut two rectangles 12cm x 16 cm (4 3 / 4" x 6 1 / 4") .
   
   
2. To make the ears, follow step 2 of the Henry Horse instructions. To add the ears to the body, follow step 3 of the Peter Polar Bear.
   
   
3. To make the mane and tail, follow steps 4- 6 of the Henry Horse instructions.
   
   
4. To complete, follow steps 5- 9 of the Peter Polar Bear instructions. Finally, finish the tail by tying the lengths of wool into a knot at the base. Trim the tail, mane and fringe to the desired length.