Sea life: sunfish, whale

shark and dolfhin

t o f o llow
easy life
With a n d
tions By Paloma Rocha
instruc atterns.
size P
 Please, read all of
the instructions before
starting your
project.
. Finished size: shark 5”, dolphin 4”, and sunfish 4”.
. Difficulty level: Easy/intermediate.

Tools
. Embroidery needle
. Pencil or felt marker.
. Scissors.
. Chopstick or pointy tool.
. Embroidery scissors.

Sunfish
. Gray felt (4“ x 6“).
. Pale yellow felt (2“ x 5“).
. Stuffing.
. Embroidery floss.
. 2 safety eyes (8 mm).
Materials
Whale shark
. Dark gray felt (4“ x 6“).
. White felt (3“ x 2“).
. Stuffing.
. Embroidery floss.
. 2 safety eyes (6 mm).
Dolphin shark
. Blue felt (4“ x 6“).
. Pale blue felt (3“ x 2“).
. Scraps of pale blue.
.Stuffing.
. 2 safety eyes (6 mm).

How to embroider in felt

To embroider the designs, first trace the embroidery template on the thin tracing paper
or a tissue paper and pin this paper on the felt shape, as shown. Using large needle and
embroidery floss, sew along the pencil lines. Then, carefully, tear away the paper to remove
it, using a pin to remove any little pieces of paper.
2
 Felt
Felt can basically be divided into two types: wool felt or washable felt. Wool felt is
recommended for these ornaments. These quality materials help dolls look their very best.

Cutting out shapes

Print a page 10, 11 and 12 of this pdf, and cut out templates using scissors. Trace tem-
plates onto felt using a felt marker or pencil and cut out on the line. Cut carefully so edges
are vertical, not slanted.

Cutting tiny shapes

Remove paper
pattern

Paper pattern
Felt
Cut

Cut out the paper pattern roughly and attach it onto felt. Roughly cut out the felt around
the pattern, which will be easier to maneuver and cut to final shape without removing
paper.

Sewing and embroidery

These little sea animals are embroidered and stitched together with embroidery floss.
In case you´re not familiar with one of the stitches, you can practice the stitches a few
times on a felt scraps before working on a doll. None of the stitches are difficult, but can
take some practice to get perfect. Always keep your stitches and the space between them
the same length. Be consistent with your sewing tension.
Or, if you want to keep embroidery to a minimum, you can sometimes glue on certain
elements, instead of embroidering them.
You can experiment and use your imagination to customize the project.

3
 1. Applique stitch 2. Overcast stitch 3. Straight stitch 4. Satin stitch
2 in

1out
Keep thread
at right angle

5. Lazy daisy 6. Split stitch 7. Back stitch

1out Working
1out direction

3 out 2 in
2 in

Carry needle 1 stitch

beyond previous stitch

8. French knot 9. Ladder stitch 10. Running stitch

le
circ
Entwice

1. Appliqué Stitch: Stitching a felt piece onto a felt surface. Place the appliqué on the background felt.
Make tiny stitches perpendicular to the edge of the appliqué.
2. Overcast Stitch: Simple stitch over the edge of the felt. Also called whip-stitch, is used to attach two
pieces of felt. This isn´t a decorative stitch, so always use floss that matches the color of the felt and make
the stitches small and neat.
3. Straight Stitch: Use a simple straight stitch to create a motif.
4. Satin Stitch: The satin stitch is composed of parallel rows of straight stitch and is often used to fill in
an area with floss. The make very nice eyes and noses on softies.
5. Lazy daisy: Make a small loop and then anchor it with a single stitch at top for the decorative stitch
that resembles a flower petal.
6. Split stitch: Each stitch always emerge from the center of the previous stitch, to split the floss in half.
7. Back Stitch: This simple stitch creates a solid line so it´s great for outlining shapes or creating text.
A backstitch gets its name because you create it moving the needle a stitch backward before moving it
forward to create the next stitch.
8. French Knots: The French knot produces a rounded knot that can be used to create a series of
decorative dots. To make it, bring the needle up at the point at which you want to make your French knot,
hold the thread and wrap it around the needle twice, as shown. Bring the needle back to the starting point
and put the point back through the fabric very near where it emerged (be careful not use the same exact
hole) . Pull the needle to the back of the felt and pull taut. To make a bigger knot, wrap more twists of
thread around the needle and/or use more strands of floss in your needle.
9. Ladder stitch: The ladder stitch is used to attach separate parts such as a doll’s head. It’s called the
ladder stitch because the stitches look like a ladder until you pull the stitches tight to close the seam. Pull
every four or five stitches as you stitch. When the thread is tightened, the stitches should be virtually
invisible.
10. Running Stitch: The running stitch is simple to make. Make this stitch by weaving the needle
through the felt at evenly spaced intervals. Just be careful to keep the length of your stitches and the space
between them same length.

4
 Dolphin

1 ing
Runnch
stit

daisy
Lazy tch
sti Back
stitch
Eye holes

4
La
3 z
st y d
itc ai
h sy
French Inser
t
knots eyes

cast Straight
Over ch stitch
stit
cast
7
Over ch
stit St
uf
f

5
6 Paint the
cheeks

1. Cut the felt shapes.

2. Carefully position the body at the top of the belly piece. Adjust the body so that it´s
centred correctly and pin in place. Sew the bottom line using tiny running stitch and two
strands of matching floss. Don´t sew the fins.
3. Embroider the design using the picture as a guide (see page 2).
4. Carefully, make the tiny holes with the tip of a very sharp pair of embroidery scissors.
Insert safety eyes and connectors at back. Thread the needle with two strands of black floss.
The eyebrows and eyelashes are made using a small straight stitch for each eye. Embroider
the mouth using a few backstitches, as shown. Carefully position the pale blue felt shape
on the body, and attach in place with a pin. Stitch it in place using appliqué stitch and two
strand of matching floss.
5
5. Align the two fin pieces and sew together with a overcast stitch, using two strands of
matching embroidery floss.
6 . Align the two dolphin pieces together, right sides out, so the fin is sandwiched in the
middle, and sew them together with overcast stitch. Continue stitching until you are left
with a small opening enough for the stuffing.
7. Fill firmly with toy stuffing and stitch the gap closed. To paint the cheeks, rub a pink
artist pastel onto a piece of paper and then apply the resulting powder to the face with a
soft blush.

6
 Sunfish

1
Running
stitch

Lazy
Straight daisy
Inser
t stitch
4 stitch
eyes

Eye holes
Back
stitch
3 French
knots

Ove
rc
stitc ast
h

5 Stuff

Paint
6 7 the
cheeks

1. Using the templates, cut the doll pieces from felt.

2. Position the face shapes as shown. After that, sew them in place around the edges with
matching thread using running stitch.
3. Carefully, make the tiny holes with the tip of a very sharp pair of embroidery scissors.
Insert safety eyes and connectors at back.
4. Thread the needle with two strands of dark gray floss. The eyebrows and eyelashes are
made using a small straight stitch for each eye. Embroider several French knots and lazy
daisy stitches using the picture as a guide and silver floss. Place the fins in place and secure
then using a few long straight stitches, as shown.
5. Align the two sunfish pieces and sew them together with overcast stitch. Continue
stitching until you are left with a small opening enough for the stuffing.
6. Fill firmly with toy stuffing and stitch the fish closed.
7. To paint the cheeks, rub a pink artist pastel onto a piece of paper and then apply the
resulting powder to the face with a soft blush.
7
 Whale shark

B
sti ack
tch

French
knots

1 2

es
hol
Eye

4
ing
Runnch
st i t
3
ht
Inser
t t r aig h
5 eyes S titc
s

cast
Over ch
sti t

6
é
Appliqu
stitch
cast
Over ch
stit
St
uf
f

7
Paint the 8
cheeks

1. Cut the felt shapes.

2. Embroider the design using the picture as a guide (see page 2).

8
3. Carefully position the body at the top of the face piece. Adjust the body so that it´s
centred correctly and pin in place. Sew the bottom line using tiny running stitch and two
strands of matching floss.
4. Carefully, make the tiny holes with the tip of a very sharp pair of embroidery scissors.
Insert safety eyes and connectors at back. Thread the needle with two strands of black floss.
The eyebrows and eyelashes are made using a small straight stitch for each eye. Embroider
the mouth using a few backstitches, as shown.
5. Align the two fin pieces (gray + white) and sew together with a overcast stitch, using two
strands of gray embroidery floss.
6. Sew the fins on the body front and back, using the picture as a guide.
7. Align the two whale shark pieces and sew them together with overcast stitch. Continue
stitching until you are left with a small opening enough for the stuffing.
8. Fill firmly with toy stuffing and stitch the gap closed. To paint the cheeks, rub a pink
artist pastel onto a piece of paper and then apply the resulting powder to the face with a
soft blush.

9
Dolphin templates
(real size)

Pa
tc
Pa h (c
le ut
Bl 2
ue )

Body (cut 2)
Blue

Belly (cut 2)
White
Fin (cut 2)
Blue

Embroidery templates
(real size)

10
 Sunfish templates
(real size)

Body (cut 2)
Gray
Face (cut 2)
White

Fin (cut 2)
Gray

Embroidery templates
(real size)

11
Shark whale templates
(real size)
Body front (cut 1)
Gray

Face (cut 1)
White

Body back (cut 1)

Gray
Fin (cut 4)
2 Gray + 2 White

Embroidery templates
(real size)

12
 Designed by:

Noia Land
©2016 Paloma Rocha.
www.noialand.com

©2016 Paloma Rocha.

This pattern is intended for personal use only
and not for commercial resale. Photocopying,
emailing and the other copying to share these
instruction is strictly prohibited by law without
the designer´s written permission. Thank you
for respecting the designer´s copyright.