Free Tutorial - Snuggle Bunny and Kitty

Hello there!  I have a lovely surprise to share with you all today, it's a free tutorial to make a Snuggle Bunny and Kitty!  Not only are these little Snuglings quick and easy to make, they're bursting with cuteness, soft and cuddly and plump and squishy too!!   Perfect to make for baby showers, little ones or anyone who loves the cute loveable style of Japanese Kawaii! I've used a super soft woven wool felt for mine, but any type of felt should work nicely.  Finished bunny measures about 8 inches tall with ears pointed up and kitty measures about 5 inches tall. 

What you'll need:
:  6x8 inch felt for main body                                         :  4x4 inch felt for kitty's ears          
:  6x6 inch felt for bunny's outer ears                             :  6x6 pink felt for bunny's inner ears
:  3x4 inch felt for bow                                                  :  Scrap pink felt for kitty's heart patch
:  Pom-pom for bunny's tail (3/4 inch)                            :  Embroidery thread/floss
:  Polyfil                                                                        :  Pink coloured pencil
:  Disappearing ink marker and ruler                              :  Scissors, sewing needles and pins            
:  Clear drying craft glue                                                :  Q-Tip
:  2x 12 inch pipe cleaners for bunny's ears                    :  Wire cutters
Download the pattern here.
.: Print pattern onto regular printer paper - no need to re-size the pieces.
.: Cut out pattern pieces and pin each piece onto your chosen felts.
.: Carefully cut around patterns.
.: To mark the grid onto the felt, keep the paper pattern piece pinned in place and gently lift its outer edges, using your disappearing ink marker to mark the beginning of the lines onto the felt. Then remove the pattern piece and use the ruler to connect the lines. The grid will help with the facial features and arm placement in later steps.  (It's only necessary to mark the grid lines onto the front piece of felt.)
.: Transfer the dots onto bunny ears with your disappearing ink marker.
.: Use two strands of thread/floss to embroider the eyes and arms and one strand of embroidery thread/floss for the snout, whiskers and all seams.  Try to keep your stitches small, neat and evenly spaced as this gives a nice, clean finish and prevents the stuffing from escaping from the seams.
.: Click on any of the photos to enlarge them.
Ok, lets begin!

.:  Embroider details onto face using stem stitches to outline the eyes and snout.  The eyelashes are straight stitches at the outer corners of each eye.  Fill snout in with satin stitches.  Embroider whiskers with straight stitches.  Stitch the outline of the arms with evenly spaced running stitches.

.: Now fold the front piece in half, right sides facing, and whip stitch the darts at the top of the head. Repeat on the back piece.
**The darts are the cut out 'V's at the top and bottom of the head. Once the head is folded in half vertically the two sides of the 'V' should meet at the center. Whip stitch the edges of the 'V' together. This will help give the head a more rounded appearance.
.: Position heart patch onto the back piece of the kitty's body and applique in place.

 .: Position front onto back, wrong sides together and pin. Starting at the bottom, blanket stitch all the way around, leaving an opening for stuffing.
.: Stuff firmly and blanket stitch opening closed. As you close the hole, add more stuffing to the bottom area if needed. The snuggle bunny or kitty should be full and plump and quite firm, but not to the point of bursting at the seams.

To make the bunny ears, position an inner ear onto an outer ear, wrong sides facing.  Blanket stitch around sides of ears, leaving the bottom edge open.  Next, you'll be making a pipe cleaner frame for each ear.  This will allow the ears to bend.
1. Fold a pipe cleaner in half and lay it onto the ear as shown.  Trim ends of the pipe cleaner with your pair of wire cutters so that they're about an inch longer than the bottom edge of the felt ear.  
2. Fold the right side of the pipe cleaner so that it forms a right angle just above the bottom edge of the felt ear.  Please notice that I've allowed a bit of room at the very top and bottom of the felt ear so that once the pipe cleaner is inserted, the frame will fit nicely.  You don't want it to be too big or small for the area.
3. Twist the end of the piece you've just folded around the straight piece on the left, making sure that the tip is laying flat and not poking out at all. 

4. Twist the end of the left side of the pipe cleaner around the piece at the bottom, making sure to tuck the tip down so that there's no sharp, poky edge sticking out.  Your frame should be just wide enough at the base so that it fits between the two dots marked at the bottom edge of the felt ear.
5. Slide the pipe cleaner frame into the ear.  Blanket stitch bottom closed.
6. Fold the bottom right hand corner of the ear so that it aligns with the right hand dot.  Blanket stitch the bottom edge down.  Fold the bottom left hand corner of the ear so that it aligns with the dot on the left and blanket stitch the edge down.

.: Pin ears onto head seam and ladder stitch front and back of each ear in place.  If the ears seem to be a bit wobbly, do another row of ladder stitches to the front and backs to anchor them in place.

.: To make the kitty ears, position front ear onto back ear, wrong sides facing.  Blanket stitch around sides of ear, add a few pinches of stuffing to plump them up and blanket stitch opening closed.
.:  Pin ears onto head seam and ladder stitch front and back of each ear in place.

 .: To attach the bunny's tail, turn the bunny over so that the back of the body is facing you.  Determine where you'd like to place the pom-pom and mark a dot in that spot with your disappearing ink marker.

.: Squeeze a blob of glue (or, use a Q-Tip to apply it) onto the marked spot and position the pom-pom on top.  Gently press the pom-pom down into the glue for a minute or two to set.

.: To make the little bow, fold bow in half lengthwise, right sides facing. Make a few tight stitches at the center on the wrong side of the bow to create a permanent pinch.
.: Fold bow in half width-wise, wrong sides facing. Blanket stitch the two short ends together.
.: Fold bow so that the blanket stitches run down the center.
.: Position short edge of Bow Center onto the center of the blanket stitches. Whip stitch short edge onto center of blanket stitches.
.: Wrap the bow center around over the front of the Bow, and overlap the opposite short edge onto the stitched edge. Stitch in place and keep your thread attached for securing onto the bunny or kitty's head.

.: Pin bow to bunny/kitty’s head and sew in place with a few stitches.

.: Gently rub your pink coloured pencil into the cheek area adding layers of colour. Use your finger or a Q-Tip to gently smudge it in for a softer look.

Aren't they just the cutest??   So, what you waiting for?  Go grab your supplies and get started!  ｡◕‿◕｡

You're welcome to sell these little darlings, I just ask that you offer GINGERMELON design credit in any written description please.  And I'd love to see how they turn out so please share your pics on my facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/gingermelondolls?ref=hl

Happy sewing everyone!!
~Shelly xo

A Sweet Pigling Pair

I've been spending some time revising a few of my older patterns lately and have recently completed the new pattern for Flora:   http://gingermelondolls.blogspot.ca/2015/03/a-new-look-for-flora-explorer.html and the design of the Pocket Bunnies (still working on re-writing the pattern for these):  http://gingermelondolls.blogspot.ca/2015/03/spring-sale.html. With each one, I've created what I hope is a cuter, more detailed design as well as an updated version of each pattern that includes a new grid for easier placement of facial features and lots of close-up photos to better show how to make them.  Here is my latest addition, the Pocket Piglings!

I'm having so much fun re-doing these little sweeties and it really is fun to see how they compare to the originals once they're done!

That's the original piggy in the middle!  As you can see, the new piggies are a bit smaller in size and I've designed a new ear and snout shape for them. 

Here's a look at the pocket piggies and bunnies that are now complete.  Next will be the fox...

Just so you know, the new versions of the patterns will be available once all the Pocket Pets have been re-done.

Happy Easter and Happy Passover dear friends!  I hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend! 
~Shelly xo