Monday, August 22, 2011

WIWOW - August 17, 2011

Hi everyone:


Sorry I missed my Wednesday post, but I have a good reason. Really, I do! I was working on a gift for my daughter's birthday. I couldn't show you what I was working on or it would ruin the surprise. Since it was her birthday on Friday (Happy Birthday, Sarah!) and she has received her gift, I can now post it.


Since Sarah is a huge Harry Potter fan, I made her a Harry Potter doll. Here's a quick tutorial on how I did it.


I used the Harry Potter design from her embroidery pattern (you can find it here - FREE!) and increased it to 140% before embroidering it on muslin. 


I then selected some appropriately wizardly fabric for the back of the stuffie and cut out a rectangle approximately 11" x 5".


I created a template for the back of the stuffie by tracing about 1/2" outside the embroidery lines on the embroidery pattern. 


I then traced this back template on medical paper (see through, sort of like onionskin paper - for those of us who are old enough to know what that was). 


I centered this traced template over the wrong side of the embroidered design - it's transparent enough to do this - and then placed the rectangle of back fabric, right side up, underneath it all. The sandwich was: back template, embroidered design, wrong side up and then the backing fabric, right side up.


I stitched on the traced line of the back template, leaving an opening at one side for turning. I used pinking shears to trim about 1/4" away from the seam allowance, ripped off the paper template, turned the stuffie right side out and then stuffed it firmly. When it was plump enough, I hand stitched the opening closed. 


Here's the result!


Sarah was quite pleased with the doll and it was very quick to do. You can see how well Harry fits in with Sarah's other Harry Potter paraphernalia. 


I have also used a similar technique to create my FREE Flourishing Heart pattern
Flourishing Hearts in two colourways
I am also working on a pattern for a family of owl stuffies, which will be published in a few weeks.
Hoot - the dad

Screech, the mom and Whoobie, the baby

Do you like to create stuffies for those special little people in your life - or even for yourself? I'd love to hear about your creations.

4 comments:

Dolores said...

Although I have yet to make a stuffy for anyone in the family, having a brand new baby grandson has given me lots of opportunities to think of creations he may like. I already have a Christmas Santa in mind.

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

I love Harry Potter myself and I just got my medicare card effective Nov......grin.

I love all you stuffies and thanks for the download.

Ullan tilkut said...

Hi! Greetings from Finland! These are very fanny! I am very happy to find your blog!
Harry Potter fan!
Have a nice day!

Chatterbox Quilts said...

Thanks for the comments, ladies! Glad you enjoyed the Harry Potter and other stuffies.