Thursday, November 21, 2013

November Stashbusting: An All-Purpose Plushie Pattern

Friends, meet the snootiest looking cat plushies ever:

Can't you just feel the disdain dripping from their downturned mouths?
And their friend, the most derp-faced generic dinosaur of no particular species:

"Hallo there, I don't believe you've had the pleasure of making Sewasaurus Rex's acquaintance!"
He's a much friendlier guy.

There's also a Golden Retriever (or a Yellow Lab...I'm not entirely sure which) in the neighborhood.
You can tell they're all friends because their arms are around each other. 

As you know, November's stash busting is about making things to donate to charities. This last weekend, a bunch of ladies from my church came over and I taught them to sew little stuffed animals. Only a couple had ever used sewing machines before, and even then only for home dec type straight line sewing, so it was a bit of an adventure explaining concepts like "right sides together," or keeping the needle down while raising the presser foot in order to pivot while sewing, and how to do a ladder stitch.

Ladder stitching: necessary for doing up dino butts.


Since they were all new to plush-toy-sewing, I decided to draw up a simple pattern that involved easy to sew shapes without tricky joins like the mole pattern I tried last month. And because we all have different personalities (and not all people are cat-obsessed like I am), I decided to design it around a generic body pattern and then include easy modifications for paws and such in order to make it into different animals. With just one pattern, you can make a cat/dog/mouse/penguin/bunny/dinosaur/sheep!

Not pictured: the mouse and the bunny.
Ah, there they are. Not the best shot, but I just snapped this really quickly before they left with their makers that night. The mouse's butt has yet to be sewn up, and the bunny certainly looks disapproving about it. 

Even with all the options, the pieces are basic enough that it can be good practice for someone getting used to sewing curves on a machine (kind of like when you practice cutting wiggly lines with scissors in preschool). Alternately, if you don't have a machine, the pieces are small enough that hand-sewing won't take too long either.


Download the pattern here.

Since my plushies were made in a cat-haired home, even with all my lint-rolling and laundering, I unfortunately won't be able to donate these to children with compromised immune systems. However, they'll still go to (hopefully) good homes, to brighten the day of someone who needs some whimsical cheer, through Operation Christmas Child.

"I say! Are you acquainted with my dear friend, Juglans regia?" Snooty cat is snooty.
Sewasaurus gossips with his pal Walnut. 

So, how are you using your stash to give back to your community? Anyone up for making a snooty cat, disapproving rabbit, or derp-faced dinosaur of their own for adoption to a good home? 


19 comments:

  1. After seeing a mole for mole day, I expected to see a 'redcat'! (do you use that mnemonic in your teaching - reduction at the cathode?)

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    1. That's a brilliant idea...I do have red fleece...

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  2. They are all so cute, but my favourite is the snooty cat.

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  3. These are so adorable! :)

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  4. those are so cute! love the options to make all sorts of animals.

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  5. These would be so cute made into a mobile for the new baby! Thanks for the idea!

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  6. OMG Cindy - you've outdone yourself again... these are freaking AWESOME!! SO adorable... snooty cat rules, and i totally giggled at the dinosaur's facial expression LOL - I can't wait to have sewing time again; I would love to make these :)

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  7. Love these! Wondering what fabric you used.

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    1. I used anti-pill fleece and regular fleece, depending on what was available in which color, but you could really use anything. Fleece is more comfortable than felt, but felt is cheaper. Technically you could use quilting cotton or knit fabric or anything you happen to have leftover!

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  8. So cute! I feel like your snooty cats would give my snooty cat a run for his snooty money! I kind of want to try this now!

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  9. Oh my! These are fabulous! The animal faces are all hilarious. Thanks for the great idea that I can make up something for Operations Christmas Child. We actually do do that way out here in the boonies.

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  10. I'm knitting for the Red Scarf Project. Current and former husbands were foster kids so it's something that is close to my heart.

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  11. At first I was looking at the bunny upside down, and thought his bowtie was sunglasses and his ears were legs! He looks cute both ways.

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  12. Would OCC accept a stuffed mango, water droplet, or medicine capsule?

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  13. This is a really great idea to use up leftover scraps. I would most likely just make a bunch of plushies for my little brother

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  14. LOVE THEM! They are such characters!

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  15. heheh these are soo darn cute. Thank you for the pattern!! xx

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  16. I think you have a calling for making stuffies - every time you post another design I want to make it!

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