Layla the Elephant softie
Posted by jessica on Wednesday, January 18th, 2012
Today we bring Back to you by Popular Demand one of our most popular tutorials by Jessica Christian.......
Project Name: Elephant Softie-aka Layla the Elephant (cause I like naming things)
Course Instructor: Jessica Christian
I am so excited to be here at Riley Blake with another tutorial! Hi everyone! I'm Jess, from Craftiness is not Optional.
Elephants are so adorable are they not? Ok, maybe they're cuter in Riley Blake fabric than in real life. (isn't everything?!)
My girls have been loving on these little elephants and playing with their big floppy ears!
The fabrics are from Riley Blake of course-the pink is Pink-Indian Summer, the green ears are Green Indian Summer Damask.
On the blue elephant, the floral is Promenade in Blue , and the plaid is Promenade in, you guessed it-plaid.
They have cute little appliqued eyes and the ears! I love those big ol' ears. Too cute!
Of course elephants have got to have tails!
If you'd like a floppy eared elephant of your own, read on!
You'll need:
fabric-2 coordinating fabrics. 1/2 yard of each is plenty-but you really only need a FQ or scraps for the ears
thread
lightweight iron on interfacing
ribbon
scraps of white and blue felt
poly fil
my free pattern
First tape together the pattern, then cut out the pieces of your pattern as labeled. Cut all the pieces so that they are mirroring each other, ie right sides together. Use a 1/4" seam allowance throughout.
Then take the ears, and iron on the interfacing to one wrong side of one piece. Sew the two ear pieces right sides together around the outside of the ear. Leave the inside curve open. Repeat for other ear. Then clip the curves (or use pinking shears-so quick and does the hard work for you!), and turn right side out.
Press around the edges.
Then sew a gathering stitch along the open side, and gather the ears.
You can gather them in more or less, whatever you want! Pin them to the curve of the elephant body like so..then baste the ear along the gathering stitch you sewed earlier. Repeat for other ear.
Then take the elephant head piece and pin on top of the ear. You'll have to manipulate it a little to get it pinned but it will fit nicely.
Then sew those pieces together.
Lightly press. repeat with other side of elephant.
Then take the white eye piece and place it where you want. (you can add heat n bond to the felt to help it stay in place while you sew it down) Sew around the edge of the eye with a satin stitch. (a zig zag stitch with the stitches close together)
Add the blue for the eyes and sew it down the same as the white. Then fold down the ear and pin so it won't get caught in the seam. Do the same for the lower ear-I just took a picture before I did!
Grab a 3-4" piece of ribbon and tie a little knot in the end. Heat seal the edge with a lighter or fray check, and place it where you'd like it.
Then pin the two sides of the elephant together like so. Sew around the entire elephant, starting at the back and ending right after the neck, leaving about a 3" opening. Clip corners and curves-but not too close to the seam! Turn right side out and stuff with poly fil. Sew the opening close with an invisible stitch, and you're done!
Enjoy your adorable elephants!
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