I made this photo tutorial so you can see how to sew my Squirrel Sewing Pattern ~> scroll down for step-by-step photos!
This sweet little squirrel is named after ‘Sue’ a.k.a Suraliyama – one of the lovely sewists I met in India when I visited Bluemango. This toy pattern has some small pieces so I wouldn’t recommend it for a beginner toy maker who should start with one of my easy patterns.
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*** 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 my Squirrel Sewing Pattern can SEE how to sew a squirrel toy! (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 Sue the Squirrel Sewing Pattern)
Let’s get started!
EARS:
STEP 1
Sew a main and a contrast fabric EAR PIECE together. Repeat for the other ear.
STEP 2
Trim the seams at the tip of the EARS and turn them right sides out.
TIP: Use a wooden chopstick or turning tool to make the corners nice and ‘pointy’.
STEP 3
Fold and pin the base of the EAR PIECES as shown on the pattern markings.
TIP: Make sure you fold them to opposite sides to make a RIGHT and a LEFT ear!!!
HEAD:
STEP 4a
Fold and pin the FACE PIECES at the cheek dart (with the fabric right sides together) …
STEP 4b
…and sew the cheek dart closed.
STEP 5
Sew the FACE PIECES together from D – E. (Leave open at the top from D – L.)
TIP: Clip this seam very well.
STEP 6
Sew the CHIN PIECE to the FACE PIECES from F – E – F. Take your time and use lots of pins for this seam so the pieces don’t pucker and form wrinkles. (Nobody likes wrinkles?!)
* I outlined the CHIN PIECE in blue in the photo below
so it’s easy to see it.
TIP: Sew this seam wit the CHIN PIECE down.
STEP 7
Pin the EARS in place on the FACE PIECES using the pattern markings to guide you. (The fold of the EARS should be facing (touching) the FACE PIECES.) Sew the EARS in position with a 3mm (⅛ inch) seam. This will stop the EARS from slipping when you sew the head together later.
EYES:
STEP 8
If you are using CRAFT EYES insert them now. If you are embroidering the eyes you will do it after you stuff the toy.
TIP: I have a tutorial to show you how to insert craft eyes on my blog.
TUMMY:
STEP 9
Fold and pin the TUMMY PIECE at the tummy dart (fabric right sides together) and sew the tummy dart closed.
ARMS:
STEP 10
Fold and pin the OUTER ARM PIECES at the arm darts (fabric right sides together) and sew the arm darts closed.
STEP 11
Pin and sew the INNER ARM PIECES to the OUTER ARM PIECES.
STEP 12
Stuff the ARMS leaving about 12mm (½ inch) free of stuffing and pin them closed.
TAIL:
STEP 13
Sew the TAIL PIECES together from J – K, leaving the stuffing gap open. (see the black arrow in the photo below!)
STEP 14
Clip this seam well, especially the very curved parts and turn the TAIL PIECES right sides out. Pin and the TAIL PIECES together along the tail seam (with the fabric RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER).
STEP 15
Pin the tail seam of the TAIL PIECES to one of the BODY PIECES between J and K.
TIP: Start pinning on each end then ease the opposite curves to fit together. Take your time and use lots of pins.
STEP 16
Pin the other BODY PIECE to the first BODY PIECE, the TAIL PIECES in between, leaving the BODY PIECES open at the top between J and L.
STEP 17
Sew all 4 PIECES together from O – K, along the tail seam – J. Check that you have caught ALL 4 layers in the tail seam then secure the TAIL in place with a zig-zag stitch for extra strength.
SIDE SEAMS:
STEP 18a
Pin the ARMS to the TUMMY PIECE using the pattern markings to guide you.
STEP 18b
Sew the ARMS to the TUMMY PIECE with a 3mm (⅛ inch) seam. You really don’t want these pieces to slip as you sew these seams because they would be a pain to unpick!
STEP 19
Pin and sew the TUMMY PIECE to the BODY PIECES from F – M, with the ARMS in between, tucked ‘inside the body’. I find it is easier to sew one side at a time.
SEW THE HEAD TO THE BODY:
STEP 20
Roll the top of the TAIL PIECES and tuck them ‘inside the body’ so the tail is out of your way.
STEP 21
Pin the CHIN & FACE PIECES to the BODY & TUMMY PIECES at the neck seam, matching point N at the centre and L on each side. Sew the neck seam from L – F – N – F- L on the other side with the EARS in between, tucked ‘inside the head’.
TIP: This is a hard seam to pin. I find the best way to do this is to turn the head right sides out and position it ‘inside the body’ so you can pin the pieces together at the neck seam, with the fabric right sides together. Take your time and use lots of pins.
STEP 22
Pull the CHIN & FACE PIECES out of the body. Pin and sew the squirrel closed from J (on the BODY PIECES – L – D (on the FACE PIECES).
FEET:
STEP 23
Fold one of the FOOT PIECES along fold 1, with the fabric right sides together, and pin the sides together. Sew the FOOT PIECE together, along the side seam, from M – B.
STEP 24
Fold the same FOOT PIECE along fold 2 and pin point B and C together. Sew the FOOT PIECE closed along the front (between fold 2 on each side).
STEP 25
Stuff the FOOT with toy stuffing, leaving about 12mm (½ inch) free of stuffing and pin the FOOT closed at the back. Repeat for the other FOOT PIECE.
STEP 26
Pin the FOOT PIECES to the TUMMY and the BODY PIECES matching point M, using the pattern marking to guide you with their position. (The top of the FOOT PIECES at point M must be facing (touching the TUMMY and BODY PIECES).
* I outlined the FOOT PIECES in blue in the photo below
so it’s easy to see them.
BASE:
STEP 27
Pin and sew the BASE PIECES right sides together from O – P, leaving the opening for stuffing and turning.
* NB * The BASE is wider (fatter) at the BACK!!!
STEP 28
Tuck the FEET ‘inside’ the squirrel and pin the BASE PIECE to the TUMMY & BODY PIECES, making sure you match point P at the front and point O at the back.
TIP: Double check to make sure the BASE PIECE is pinned with the ‘fatter’ (wider) bit to the BACK – this helps the squirrel to balance so it’s very important!
STEP 29
Sew the BASE PIECE in place, sewing right around without leaving a gap.
TIP: If the toy is for a small child go back and secure the FOOT PIECES in place with a zig-zag stitch for extra strength (like you did for the TAIL).
ASSEMBLY:
STEP 30
Clip the seams well, especially at the curves, and turn the squirrel right sides out through the turning gap on the BASE PIECES.
TIP: It makes it easier to turn if you push the squirrel’s head and tail out through the turning gap first… then gently pull out the ARMS and FOOT PIECES.
STEP 31
Stuff the nose and face area very firmly. This is important for when you sew the nose. Stuff the neck and tummy. Keep stuffing until the Squirrel is nice and fat without any wrinkles in the BODY. Stuff the TAIL making sure you start with small bits of stuffing to get right into the tip of the TAIL.
TIP: Make sure you stuff the squirrel evenly so it can stand on it’s own and doesn’t keep flopping over to one side!
STEP 32
Sew the stuffing gaps on the BASE PIECE and the TAIL PIECES closed using a ladder stitch.
‘HANDS’:
STEP 33
Pin the ARMS arms together so the ‘hands’ are touching in the middle. (You can experiment with the placement of the ARMS – they can be crossed, one on top of the other or ‘just touching’.) Glue the squirrel’s ‘hands’ together with strong, non-toxic fabric glue or sew them together securely.
FACE:
STEP 34
If you are embroidering the eyes, sew them now.
TIP: When I make toys for a young child I use embroidery thread to sew a French knot instead of craft eyes. I have a post about toy safety on my blog with more toy safety tips and guidelines.
STEP 35
Cut the NOSE PIECE from felt and pin it in position on the FACE PIECES. Sew the NOSE in place with embroidery thread and a blanket stitch.
Your Squirrel is ready to LOVE!
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I LOVE to see how your Funky Friends toys turn out!
When you’ve made your own stuffed toy squirrel you can come show it off ~>
Post a photo on my Funky Friends Factory Facebook page for me to see and YOU could win a FREE PATTERN!
Till next time,
Happy Sewing,
Pauline
