See how to sew a whale toy pattern

I made this photo tutorial so you can see how to sew my Whale Sewing Pattern ~> scroll down for step-by-step photos!

My William WHALE Stuffed Animal Toy Pattern is nice and easy for beginners and children to sew as a first sewing project.

whale stuffed toy sewing pattern

*** PLEASE NOTE – this is ONLY a PHOTO TUTORIAL ***
The FULL PATTERN IS NOT included here. It is NOT A FREE PATTERN.

I have made this photo tutorial so people who have purchased the pattern can SEE how to sew this stuffed toy whale! (I wanted to explain this so you are not disappointed if you have found this page via a search engine and not from the link in my Whale sewing pattern!)

The pattern is available to purchase here – William WHALE Stuffed Animal Toy Pattern

First choose some whale fabric.

A toy whale can be all sorts of colours!

Whale-Collage

FLIPPERS

STEP 1

Sew the FLIPPER PIECES together in pairs, 1 main and 1 contrast piece, leaving the straight edge open.

STEP 2

Trim the seam allowance to 3mm(1/8inch) and turn the FLIPPERS right sides out.

TIP: I use a wooden chopstick to help me turn the seams nicely! Run the chopstick along the stitching of the seam inside the FLIPPERS.

STEP 3a

DON’T STUFF the flippers NOW!

First pin the FLIPPERS around the curved edge so that the seam lies flat.

STEP 3b

Stitch around the curved edge, using a 5mm (¼inch) seam allowance, to create a flat seam around the FLIPPER.

STEP 4a

Stuff the FLIPPERS with toy-stuffing. Don’t over stuff them, they should be flat.

STEP 4b

Pin along the straight edge to hold the stuffing in place.

BODY

STEP 5

Sew the BODY PIECES together, along the middle seam, from A – B.

TIP: It is very easy to muddle up the top and the bottom of the BODY PIECES so make sure to sew the BODY PIECES together along the middle seam. (The whale’s eyes are on the sides so check that you are sewing the seam on the opposite side to the whale’s eye!)

STEP 6

Sew the TOP TAIL PIECE to the BODY PIECES matching point B.

EYES

STEP 7

If you are using craft eyes insert them now using the pattern markings to guide you with their position. If you are embroidering the eyes or using felt, you will sew them after the toy is stuffed.)

THROAT AND TUMMY

STEP 8

Sew the THROAT PIECES to the TUMMY PIECES, matching the dots of the pattern markings.

STEP 9

Sew the THROAT & TUMMY PIECES together, along the middle seam, from A – D. Don’t forget to leave the gap open, for turning the whale, on the TUMMY PIECE.

STEP 10

Sew the TAIL BASE PIECE to the BODY PIECES matching point D.

* I have outlined the TAIL BASE PIECE in red in the photo below so it’s easier to see!

STEP 11

Pin the FLIPPERS to the BODY PIECES, line up the front of each FLIPPER with the pattern markings on the BODY PIECES.

* I have marked the back of each FLIPPER with a red line in the photo below.

STEP 12a

Pin the whale together along the sides next – matching point point A at the front and E on the TAIL PIECES and the pattern markings for the flipper position, on the sides.

TIP: Take it slow and use lots of pins and ease the pieces together as you go.

STEP 12b

Sew right around the whale, along the sides, without a gap. Sew an extra zig zag stitch to secure the FLIPPERS if the whale toy is for a young child. They will be tugged on quite a lot and you want them to be sewn in really well.

* Don’t forget – There will be ONE MORE line of stitching for you to do on the tail AFTER you turn your whale right sides out. This gives the tail a nice shape —> so don’t forget to sew it!

STEP 13a

Clip the seams well especially around the very curved seams.

Step 13b

Trim the seam allowance around the TAIL PIECES before you turn your whale right sides out. This help it to turn out nice and smooth and flat.

TIP: I find it’s easier to turn the whale if I pull the FLIPPERS out first!

STEP 14a

Do not stuff your whale now! BEFORE you begin stuffing, pin the edge of the TAIL PIECES so that the edge seam lies flat.

TIP: This is the same way you did the flippers, BUT I have drawn this in the TAIL PIECE pattern markings to show you where to start and end the stitching line.

Step 14b

Sew a line of stitching around the edge of the tail using a 5mm/¼inch seam allowance to create a flat seam around the edge of the tail.

STEP 15

Stuff the tail area firmly with toy-stuffing, use small bits of stuffing to get right into the tips of the tail. Fill the nose and head area next, making sure the nose is firmly stuffed, then fill the rest of the body with toy-stuffing.

STEP 16a

Use the felt templates to cut out felt for the CHEEK and BLOW HOLE PIECES. Yes! A whale has 2 blowholes!!! Glue or sew the BLOW HOLE PIECES onto your whale using the pattern markings to help guide you.

STEP 16b

Glue or sew the CHEEK PIECES onto your whale using the pattern markings to help guide you.

TIP: If you are making the toy for a child under 3 years old, you should also use felt for the eyes (instead of craft eyes). I have a blog post with more toy safety tips HERE.