Caterpillar Toy Tutorial

Ok. Sorry for the lack of posting here, but I got in a fight with my sewing machine. I tried to make a 90 minute shirt for Hero and it went VERY BADLY. It was completely due to my poor pattern making... I'll try again later.

But oh well, I'm back with what I do well. Toys.

Look how cute!! It'a another bug!

With the fun prints and the big button tail, how could you not want one?

Here's what you'll need:

• 5 rectangles cut 6" x 8"  (body/top)
• 5 rectangles cut 6" x 3"  (belly/underside)
• 24 pieces of ribbon cut 2 1/2" long
• small pieces of felt in white and blue
• small black button and large color button

There's a small blue ribbon I planned to use for antenna, that I ended up not using. Sorry to confuse!

First arrange the pieces to your liking. I chose to mix and match.

Sew the top pieces all together in a strip with 1/2" seam, and repeat on the belly pieces. Press seams open.

Pin legs on the right side of the underside (6 per section/3 per side) on all sections but one end (this will be the head). Place the middle leg in the center of each piece. Pin the other two about 3/4" away from center leg. Baste on.

Sew the top to the underside into a long tube with a 1/2" seam.

Take one end and gather it together and sew it down. (I did the face end, but later wondered if I should have done the tail end instead...).

Turn the tube right side out. To stuff the body, you will stuff it one section at a time. Gather along the seam with a running stitch using 2 strands of embroidery floss (for strength).

Tie a knot on one side seam, gather over the top and end on the other side seam.

Continue one section at a time until the end.

Gather the tail end together. Here's where I thought I might have changed my mind. The machine sewn end looked nice enough to be finished... So if you don't want a large button on the tail end, just do the machine gather sew on the tail end instead of the head.

To finish up the caterpillar, sew a large button on the tail end and the face on the head end.

 And you're done!

Give it to the cutest kid you see and watch him love it!

Ladybug Buddy Tutorial (bug 2 of 3)

How cute it he? The way the pieces meet in a triangle makes this adorable bug look like it has a sad little frown. Makes me think of the adorably grumpy Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh. I love Winnie the Pooh. . . 

But I'm getting sidetracked.

Let's make a Ladybug!!

Supplies:

• Small amounts of black and red fabric.
• Small amount of Heat N Bond (or wonder under)
• 1/2" button (for nose)
• 5/8" black satin ribbon (for feet)
• Small amounts of white and blue felt (for eyes)
• Bug Pattern Pieces (this will give you the pattern for all 3 bugs)

Ready? Start by cutting out all pattern pieces. (Don't forget to cut out the piece for the antenna 6"x2")

Take the face pieces (triangles) and fold over 1/2" on the long side. Press down.

Pin the triangle face pieces onto the red body pieces with folded side down. (There is no flipping here) Sew close to edge on all three sides. Trim off over hang from fold.

Make the spots by tracing a spool of thread onto the paper side of Heat N Bond. I did 3 spots, but you can do more or less.

Trim around the circles, but don't cut them out yet. Iron onto a small piece of black fabric. Allow to cool before cutting the circles out.

Peel off the paper and place the plastic-y side down. Arrange spots where you want them. Don't place them too close to the edge (you will take a 1/2" seam). Iron on. 

This will make the spots secure, so I chose not to sew around them. You can for added strength or for a design element.

Make antenna by folding the long sides to meet in the center and press.

Fold in half again and sew down the the long side. Then tie a knot on each end.

Fold antenna in half so knots are together and place on the black face next to the red body.

Pin the two red body pieces together on one side with antenna in between. Sew with a 1/2" seam starting a stopping at the dots on the pattern piece.

Cut 6 pieces of 2 1/2" of ribbon for the feet.

Pin feet onto black body piece making sure they will line up behind the black face pieces. It will help to lay them next to each other while placing the feet. Baste the feet on.

With right sides facing, pin the black body piece to the red ones. Leave a 2" opening at the back end of the body for turning and stuffing. I like to place 2 pins close together to mark where to start and stop so I don't accidentally sew my opening closed.

Finish up your Ladybug by turning and stuffing. Then hand stitch the hole closed. Add the face by placing the button nose on the point where all 3 black pieces meet and making eyes from the pieces of felt and hand stitching them on.

Enjoy your adorable Ladybug buddy!

And don't forget to make his buggy friends: 

Bumble Bee Buddy and Spider Bug Buddy!

Bubble Bee Tutorial (bug 1 of 3)

Whew! It's finally here! Thanks for your patience as I figure out how everything works. And now that patience has paid off!

First thing you will need is to gather your supplies:

• small amounts of yellow, black and white fabric
• 5/8" black satin ribbon (for feet)
• 1/2" button (for nose)
• small amount of white and blue felt for eyes
• basic sewing supplies
• Bug Pattern Pieces (this will give you all the pieces for all 3 bugs)

After you get things together, cut out your pattern pieces:

Next, you will fold the stripe sides in so they meet in the center and iron flat:

Place stripes on body piece. Measure 2" from the tail end and pin the first stripe on. The next stripe will be at the 4" mark (or leave a 1" space between the two stripes).

Sew the stripes on. I chose to use white thread on the black, but black would look nice as well.

Repeat for all body/stripe pieces.

Then trim the overhanging stripe edges.

Next step is to make the wings. Iron on interfacing to each piece. Sew around the edges on a 1/4" seam, starting and stopping at the small dots to make for easier turning.

Trim tip, turn and press.

Pin wings to one body piece between stripes. Baste wings on. Set aside.

Cut 6 pieces of ribbon 2 1/2" long.

Pin legs on one body piece, 3 on each side. Baste legs on.

At this point, you should now have 4 pieces. Lay them out like the picture below, all the tail ends pointed the same direction.

Fold top pieces over and pin each half on the top side. Sew on a 1/2" seam starting a stopping at dots on the pattern piece.

Lay two halves down, tail ends facing the same way:

Fold over top half over, pin. Sew around leaving a 2" gap on one end (it really doesn't matter which end you choose) for turning and stuffing. I like to place 2 pins close together to mark where to start and stop:

Sew around. You will sew in the seams from before. Snip the seam so that it will open and look better when stuffed.

Turn the body right side out and stuff. Hand stitch the opening closed.

Make face by stitching on the button over the intersection of seams. Then cut the eyes from pieces of felt and hand stitch on.

And now you're done! Enjoy your Bumble Bee Buddy!

And don't forget to make his friends!

Ladybug Buddy and Spider Bug Buddy!