This project has been designed by Little Miss Fancy Frocks – the dynamic mother-daughter duo who lovingly create handcrafted clothing for adults and children, bespoke bridal and occasion wear, as well as sharing their skills through sewing and craft classes. Visit their Facebook page here.
Minerva Crafts have kindly provided the materials for this project. Visit them for all your sewing and crafting needs.
Cuddly Cats Project
Introduction
Use our simple pattern and step by step instructions to make these cute and cuddly kittens. We have made them in soft brushed cotton, fluffy fleece and fur.
You will need...
To make one cat toy:
- 15cm fabric, 150cm wide or 25cm fabric, 112cm wide
- 2 toy safety eyes (felt is good alternative or beads if the toy is not for a child)
- Stuffing
- White and blue contrasting felt scraps for eyes, ears, nose and mouth
- Black embroidery thread for facial details
- Sewing thread
- Pattern 1 - please download the pattern and save to your own computer then print from there
- Pattern 2 - please download the pattern and save to your own computer then print from there
(Note:when printed each square on the pattern should measure 1cm square - please check your printer is set to print the pattern at 100%)
1cm seam allowance used throughout.
Cutting
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1. |
Under body |
Cut 2 in main fabric |
|
2. |
Top body |
Cut 2 in main fabric |
|
3. |
Front head |
Cut 1 in main fabric |
|
4. |
Back head |
Cut 1 in main fabric |
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5. |
Tail |
Cut 2 in main fabric |
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6. |
Ear |
Cut 2 in main fabric and 2 in felt |
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7. |
Facial features |
Trace around the eyes, nose and tongue cut out the pieces in contrasting felt of your choice |
Instructions
Lay the pattern pieces on the fabric - remember the head pieces only require one piece each. Transfer the pattern markings. These are important because they will show you the position of the ears, where to attach the head to the body and where to leave the opening for stuffing the kitten.
Head
Stitch the two darts and press them to the side.
Using the template as a guide cut out the eye pieces in blue and white felt, cut out the nose and tongue in blue felt and hand stitch in position.
Stitch the beads in place. Using embroidery thread hand stitch the facial features with a simple back stitch.
Ears
Fold over the edges of the ears 1cm and tack in place. Trim the felt ears down to sit on top of the fabric ear and machine stitch in place.
Stitch the ears in place.
Tail
With right sides together stitch the tail pieces together. Turn right side out and stuff.
Body
With right sides together stitch the top body along the centre seam, insert the tail into the seam near the rear of the body.
Stitch the centre seam of the underside making sure you leave a gap for the stuffing.
The top body on the right shows the finished seam with the tail stitched into the seam. The under body on the left shows the seam stitched with the gap for stuffing.
Using an erasable pen mark the paws and stitch. We machine stitched the lines but you can use handstitching if you would prefer.
Attaching the head to the body
With right sides together pin the back head to the top body and pin the front head to the under body. Stitch in place and trim carefully.
With right sides together pin the front head to the back head. Stitch from the one side of the head to the other. Do not stitch across the neck seam.
With right sides together stitch the top body to the under body. Start at the side of the neck, stitch around the body and the rear legs and finish at the other side of the neck.
Turn the kitten inside and stuff.
Hand stitch the opening.
Check out our other sewing projects for children here.
