Directions:
All pattern
pieces are templates. Transfer the pieces to freezer paper and
iron onto doubled fabric, right sides together. The ear piece
will be cut from ultra suede, just iron the freezer paper template
onto ultra suede and cut around. You may wish to add an inside
ear piece - to do this just cut the template a bit smaller all
around and cut two for the ears. Glue to the inside of the other
ear pieces. Set aside.
Stitch
around the body piece starting at the top of the neck and going
all around, ending at the other side of the neck. Leave neck open
as you will stuff through here. Turn to right side and stuff the
body firmly, especially the neck. You may insert a small dowel
into the neck for more stability if you wish. Gather the opening
closed and knot off.
Make 4
legs of the freezer paper. Stitch all around each leg. From the
back side make a small slit in the fabric where indicated to turn
your legs right side out. Stuff VERY firmly. Stitch openings closed.
Draw a line around the bottom of each leg where indicated on the
pattern. With you black paint or paint pen, paint the hooves.
You may want to use two coats.
Stitch
around the head leaving open where shown. Stuff the head, adding
little bits of stuffing into the cheek area to round them out
a bit. Gather the opening closed. Paint the nose with black paint
or you may want to use a small black rounded button. Be sure to
pull the button tight to indent a bit so it doesn't look like
it is hanging in mid-air. With an awl or sharp scissors, poke
holes in the head for the eyes where indicated by a dot on the
pattern. Apply a dab of glue to the post of the eye and insert
into the hole. Cut 4 eyelids from ultra suede. Apply glue to the
back side of the ultra suede of the first pair of eyelids, center
over the eye with the straight side on the eye, and gently smooth
over the eye with the ends extending onto the head. Apply a thin
line of glue to the straight side of the eyelid and press your
eyelashes into place. Glue the second pair of eyelids over the
other so they cover the ends of the eyelashes. Lightly blush the
cheeks.
Push the
head against the neck piece and ladder stitch into place. Take
the ears and fold in half at the bottom and glue, then glue ears
to the head where the head and neck meet about ¾"
from the center on each side. Poke holes into the top of the head
and glue and insert the wood plugs. You may want to paint the
wood plugs first before inserting into the head.
Attach
the legs using the ½" buttons. Place the legs so they
allow the giraffe to stand.
Using
the two shades of brown paint, load your stencil brush and then
dab onto paper towel until almost dry. Dab the paint in a random
pattern onto your giraffe body, keeping clear of the front of
the neck and belly. Make a smaller pattern on the legs.
Make small
bundles of hair from the embroidery thread by wrapping around
three fingers and tying off in the middle. Clip ends. Make 5 to
7 bundles and glue down the neck starting from the top of the
head about ½" apart. Make another bundle in the same
method for the tail and glue in place.
Lightly
coat with a fabric sealant or matte spray fixative.
Click
HERE to find more cloth doll patterns
by Kate.
.
