Download the pattern.After printing out the pattern, I recommend that you trace the pieces for the bird's body ontofreezer paper. Ironing the waxy side of the freezer paper pattern to the fabric will be easier towork with than just pinning it in place.To trace, use a light table or a window.

Materials: fabrics, wrapped ﬂorist wire, beads, feltTo see blog post with lots of pics go to

http://nelliedurand.blogspot.com/ Lay the body piece over the fabric. It helps tosee your placement if there is light behindthe fabric. Move the pattern around, beaware of how the eye of the bird is placed aswell as the patterns along the back, tail, andbreast (wings cover up the rest). The designpattern placement is more important thangrainlines.You are ﬁguring out just one side of the bodyat this point.Secure the pattern in place with a couple ofpins. Iron the wax paper pattern to the fabricand then cut it out.Determine the other side of the bird's body.Remove the paper pattern and lay the rightside of cut out piece to right side of the fab-ric. Use a light source to match up pattern-ing. Some fabrics make it easy by having re-verse images. For others you need to lookfor an area that almost repeats the patterns.Pin the cut out bird body piece to the desiredarea for the other half of the bird's body. DoNOT cut out the pattern shape. If the fabricpiece is large, cut it well beyond the patternlines.Take the layered pieces to the machine andstitch the top seam between the beak andtail. Be sure to leave seam allowances at thebeginning and end of that seam.

by Nellie Durandof “Nellie’s Needles” April, 2008Find the balance point to make it stand.. Experiment with leg positions, including adding a bend. Enjoy!

Bird Pattern

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Cut out the other half of the bird using thealready cut out bird as a pattern.Trim the top side seam with pinking shearsOR clip all those curves with regular scissors.Cut out the stomach pieces. Use a lightsource to select appropriate patterning forthe breast and end of the tail.Open the bird and pin the breast pieces tothe bottom seam of the bird's body. Theshorter one goes to the beak end. Note thatthe seam allowances are turned where thetwo pieces meet. Stitch this seam leavingseam allowances at each end.Pin the bird body to the other side of thebreast pieces and stitch.Clip the curves in the seams with scissors.Trim the points off the beak and tail ends.Turn the body right side out, being sure thebeak and tail are fully turned. Stuff the endswith fiber fill leaving a hollow at the openingfor the legs to fit into.The material for the legs of the large birdsthat I found is wrapped florist wire. It is fairlystiff and requires wire cutters.Cut an 18" length plus two 3" lengths. Bendthe long one in half with a gentle curve that isthe width of the birds body.

by Nellie Durandof “Nellie’s Needles” April, 2008Find the balance point to make it stand.. Experiment with leg positions, including adding a bend. Enjoy!

Bird Pattern

a. Insert the bend of the long wire into thehollow cavity. Continue stuffing the body untilyou are satisfied with its fullness.b. Making sure the legs piece is pushed upinto the body secure the wire to the openingof the seam with a stitch or two through thewrapping around the wire.c. Take a stitch through the fabric to get tothe other side of the wire. Take another stitchthrough the wrapping on the wire at the in-side of the leg.d. Use the ladder stitch to close the seam.Alternate running stitches in the folded edgesof each side. Take a few stitches before pull-ing the seam shut.e. Secure the body to the other leg with a fewstitches through the wrapping on the wire.f. Run the thread through the stuffing to exitabout 1" above the seam in the wing area.Make three stitches that catch the wire. Knotoff and secure the wire at the same level onthe other side.

note: these extrastitches will stabilize the bird to stand.

by Nellie Durandof “Nellie’s Needles” April, 2008Find the balance point to make it stand.. Experiment with leg positions, including adding a bend. Enjoy!

Bird Pattern