This adorable penguin soft toy pattern was written by Lynne Sharpe from The Make It Room. You can find a great range of toy animal sewing patterns in her online shop.
This cute penguin plushie can be made from just 2 fat quarters of fabric and a little felt. It would make a great gift for children. You could also make our soft toy elephant project too.
Supplies
2 fat quarters (we used 1 navy & 1 cream)
Orange felt (scraps will do for this project)
Toy stuffing
Thread
Embroidery thread/beads for eyes
Sewing machine
Pins and needles
Iron
Pattern pieces: Penguin Pattern 1, Penguin Pattern 2
Print the templates actual size/100%
Seam allowance: All seams are sewn at 0.5 cm/⅟4 inch
Penguin Soft Toy Assembly instructions
Cut all pieces out as instructed on each pattern piece, start by making the darts in the two white face sections. Line up the two open ends of the dart and fold towards the point lining the cut edges up, machine together with a 0.5 cm seam.
With right sides together, place one side face piece together with one top of head section, line up point A at the centre front line and point B at the lower edge on both pieces and pin to hold. Ease in the rest of the edges using lots of pins – this is the hardest part – I have stitched in dark thread as shown above left so that it is easy to see how this works. If it is too hard to fit, it is possible to run a gathering stitch on the white section from A to B and pull up slightly to ease into place.
Repeat with the other side face and top of head. Press seam towards the main head section.
Pin front centre head sections together from C to D as shown above left, sew and press.
Pin front side face sections together from E to F, the whole front face will now be joined together, there may be a small gap at where the two white sections meet at the dip, this is not a problem as it will be covered by the beak later on.
Pin the back head sections together at the centre seam G to H, machine and press. Line up the back and front head sections with right sides together making sure the centres match and sew so that only the neck is open.
Make the darts in the side front body in the same way as the face sections. Sew the front body sections together from I to J. Make the dart in the centre front body piece at the lower edge.
Line up the top corner of the side front body K with the top edge of the centre front K. Ease into place around the edge of the front body, lining up the centre dart with the lower centre seam, use lots of pins and lots of patience!
Sew with the machine.
Press with the iron. Pin the two back body sections along the centre and sew together, press.
Pin the front and back body sections together (L to M on each side) leaving the neck open and the bottom section open and sew with the machine.
Take the base and line up the centre front mark with the join in the side front body (J). Pin all around and sew with the machine.
Turn the head and body to the right side and fill with stuffing to the top. Before filling the head turn the raw edge over 0.5 cm and pin to hold. We have left a dip in the centre of the head stuffing to make attachment to the body easier.
Pin the head to the body, tucking the raw edges of the body inside the pinned edge, use small stitches and double thread to hand sew in position.
Take two wing sections and place right sides together, stitch around the edge leaving open as indicated on the pattern. Turn out to the right side and put a little stuffing inside, the more you put in the more the wings will stick out. Repeat with the other wing. Fold in the top edge and hold in place with a couple of stitches. Place each wing centrally over the side seam where the body and neck of the penguin meet, hand stitch in place.
Take the two beak sections and sew together leaving open as indicated on the pattern. Turn to the right side.
Put a little bit of stuffing inside the beak.
Pin the beak to the penguin’s face so that the upper edge covers the join, stitch around with double thread using small stitches.
Machine each pair of felt feet, sew close to the edge and leave with the stitching on the outside and a small gap at the heel. Place a small amount of stuffing inside each foot and attach to the bottom of the penguin, making sure he will stand up.
We hope you enjoyed this penguin soft toy pattern. To purchase other soft toy patterns please visit Lynne’s online shop. You can also find a free soft toy elephant pattern designed by Lynne on our site here.
