GoodMood

20 pages
Height ~ 12 - ½” (32 cm )

All rights are reserved. Tutorial cannot be copied, distributed, reproduced in any way, and also used in any information
1
system without obtaining permission from the author.
Introduction. Part 1 Аліна Лебідь

Does your child like stuffed toys? Make him or her happy Tips: If you don’t have such instructions, use the fol-
with a pretty elephant, that will become best friend and lowing guidelines:
playmate. You may sew the toy by yourself or attract the A)
child to this exciting activity and do it together.
You will need a few materials to make a stuffed toy.
In addition, you may use your fantasy and make it
unique – make changes the way you want, change col-
ors, use different materials and additionally sew clothes
and accessories.
Before you start – preliminarily read project instructions
so you will be prepared. Briefly read the project instruc-
tions so you know what to expect. E)
MATERIAL:
When you are making a toy choose thick cotton (linen,
calico, fleece, plush) instead of smooth, fine and very
rough materials. These materials are thick and elastic
enough; raw edges do not fray.
lay your fabric on an ironing board with the right side
facing down;
B) lay interfacing with the glue side facing down onto the
wrong side of fabric;
C) place the press cloth over the interfacing(dry or wet
press cloth, depending on the properties of the adhe-
sive layer);
D) keep the iron on each part of the fabric piece within 10
seconds, continue this action until you have fused the
entire piece of interfacing to the fabric;
turn the fabric over, cover with press cloth and repeat
the fuse process;
F) let the fabric cool down for 30 minutes and check the
adhesion of the interfacing to the fabric, if necessary,
repeat the whole fusing process

Fleece and plush are synthetic and more elastic fabrics, THREADS:
they more stretch and expand when are padded - this Choose strong cotton threads and threads with lavsan. It is
must be taken into account when choosing a fabric. better to sew toy’s arms and body with strong threads, for
instance reinforced ones.
Cotton fabrics almost do not stretch; they are made
from natural fibers, and can shrink after washing. There-
fore, it is recommended, especially for garments that
you will subsequently wash, to prewash the fabric ac-
cording to the care instructions. When the fabric is dry, it SEWING MACHINE NEEDLES:
is necessary to iron it well in order to avoid mistakes dur-
ing cutting. All projects in this book used 70 and 90 gauge universal
sewing machine needles. Such needles are good for use
with cotton fabrics. Ballpoint needles, or jersey needles,
used with knit and elastic fabrics such as jersey. Ballpoint
FUSIBLE INTERFACING: needles have a more rounded tip than a universal needle
which pushes the fabric fibres apart rather than cutting
You may use a fusible interfacing to help your plush hold them. This reduces the risk of skipped stitches when the
its shape, it strengthens the fabric and adds stability to fabric is stretched.
the parts shape.

Fusible interfacing keeps the toy from stretching and raw

edges from fraying. SEWING NEEDLES:

For this project, we used - knitted interfacing. Sewing needles are used for sewing the opening by
hand, décor attach, buttons or temporary stitches. Sew-
You should fuse the fabric according to the manufactur- ing needles come in varying thicknesses and lengths. It is
er's instructions. better to have a variety of different needles on the spot.

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Introduction. Part 2 Аліна Лебідь

SEAM ALLOWANCE: FABRIC MARKERS:

Patterns do not have seam allowance – you need to
add ¼” (5-6 mm) seam allowance after you trace the
outline of the pattern. If the fabric is fraying and isn’t
fused with interfacing – you should add extra seam al-
lowance.
Before turning right side out, trim the excess fabric of
seam allowance to reduce bulk. Use pinking shears or
cut notches, as described below.
Trace the outline of the pattern and transfer all labels
onto fabric with a water-soluble pen or marking chalk.
The drafting lines will then just vanish into the air over a
few days and will not reappear. Left lines can also be
erased by simply dabbing off with water.
Marking chalk can be removed with a brush.

IRON:
PINS: When using natural materials and sewing the clothes - it
will be necessary to press the fabric with iron. It makes
You will need pins or sewing clips to hold your two piec- sewing process easier and toy appearance more attrac-
es of fabric together. Pins come in a variety of lengths tive.
with metal, plastic or glass heads. Give preference to
good quality pins. Use sharp points of pins to prevent You will also need iron to fuse interfacing. Put press
from snags or unsightly holes. Plastic pin heads can melt cloth between the iron and your fabric when you are
under the heat of the iron or make the sewing process ironing to prevent the fabric from ruining.
more difficult.

STUFFING:
PLAIN SEAM: It’s better to use synthetic HollowFibre stuffing. It comes
in round-shaped bubble fiber or cloud-shaped fiber. Hol-
Use 2 – 2,5 mm stitch length. To prevent seam from un-
lowFibre is good because of its light weight, bulky shape,
raveling, you need to secure it with a back stitch or lock
elastic, and it well spread inside the toy’s parts and does
stitch. Use a built-in lock stitch feature on a sewing ma-
not create lumps.
chine, sew back a few stitches, and then sew forward
again. Sew the fabric, considering the seam allowance.
You can take the pins out as you are sewing or carefully Tip:
and slowly sew over the pins. If you need to sew the cor-
ners, stop the sewing machine just before the corner. Stuff evenly and carefully every part of toy(you can
Lift the presser foot with the needle down in the fabric. spread the stuffing inside by sticking the needle outside
Pivot the fabric right round to face the new direction, and making rotational movements inside)
lower the presser foot and start sewing.

SEAM RIPPER:
You can make sewing mistakes no matter how careful
you are. If you need to pull out mistake stitches, do this
carefully so it won’t slide and ruin your fabric. You can
remove remains of thread with tweezers.
контуры выкройки и обозначить все необходимые
отметки на ткани.
SCISSORS:
You will need big fabric scissors to cut the fabric. It’s
easy to cut any material with them. Use nail scissors to
cut the thread, make notches along the curved seam
and other minor work with fabric and thread.
Don't cut paper with the same scissors that you use for
cutting fabric - the blades will dull much more quickly.

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Introduction. Part 3 Аліна Лебідь

You will need pinking shears to cut the raw edges – they If you don’t have pinking shears, you can cut curved
prevent the fabric from fraying. Cut the edges after sew- seam allowances by notching.
ing the fabric pieces. Stop cutting 3-4 mm before the
sewing line, but not more than 5 mm. Cut more edge
fabric in particularly difficult spots and small pieces. 1. Clip inward curved seam allowance, not reaching 2
mm to the stitch line. The sharper curve, the more
Don’t cut off seam allowance of opening for turning
right side out! clips.

1. Curved seam allowance

1 1

2. Outward curved seam allowance 2. Clip “V”-shaped notches along the outward curved
seam allowance 2 mm away from stitch line. The
sharper curve, the more notches.

2
2
3. Clip off the seam allowance diagonally at the outer
corners, 2 mm away from stitch line (e.g., nose
curves, etc.)

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4
What will you need? Аліна Лебідь

DIFFICULTY

There is nothing complicating in creating stuffed toys,

you just need to be patient and enjoy the process.
Elephant project requires intermediate sewing skills.
Key challenges you should focus more on are the trunk
and attaching the head to the body.

SIZE:
 Approximate height 12 - ½”(32 cm)

TOOLS and MATERIALS:

 gray color fabric 13 x 41” (33 x 104 cm)

 fusible interfacing fabric 13 x 41” (33 x 104 cm)
 Color of thread to match sewing fabric
 black embroidery floss
 Poly-fil stuffing, approximately 150 - 200 g
 scissors
 needles
 fabric pins
 water-soluble marking pen
 paper for printing sewing patterns

PATTERNS ARE ON PAGES — 18-20

* Elephant is made of fleece in picture on the right,

and it is made of natural linen on picture 17

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 Cutting and marking Аліна Лебідь

Streatch seam allowance 1/4” (5– 6 mm)

 Print patterns that are on pages 18-20. At the print dialog box, check the box that says print at “Actual Size”
or 100%. Check the size with prototype 1х1” (25 x 25 mm). If the sizes match, the patterns can be cut out.
 Before you start, iron and fuse interfacing according to the manufacturer's instructions or as described in the
introductory section “Fusible Interfacing”.
 Before you trace the patterns onto fabric, make sure that stretch line matches the stretch of the fabric. The
lengthwise line should go in the direction of the lengthwise (warp) thread.
 First, mark the patterns placement dots on the wrong side of the fabric, then trace the patterns and add all
markings and labels. Note that you also need to place some details in the opposite direction. Leave some
space between the patterns for seam allowance.
 When all pattern pieces are marked, add 1/4” (5-6 mm) seam allowance throughout the project. Cut out all
patterns along the allowance line.

cutting layout:
Stretch

lengthwise (warp) thread

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 Arms — C Аліна Лебідь

1. You need 2 pairs of arms. Align them with 2. Pin the arms pieces together with the pins. Sew
right sides facing. the arms with sewing machine. Leave opening for
turning right side out.

3
notches

3. Cut the raw edge along the seam with pinking 4. Turn the arms right side out.
shears or make notches. Don’t cut off the seam Lay a paper pattern on the right side of arm and
allowances of opening that is left for turning. draw the stitching line with water-soluble pen in
place attaching arms to the body.

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Tail - H, A Аліна Лебідь

5 6
5 6
6 5 6
6

5. Grab the tail piece and snip 6. Fold the tail in half with 7. Pin the tail piece and sew it on
it. right side facing. machine. Turn right side out.
1
1

6 A 2
2

8. Locate the tail placement line
located on the corresponding paper
pattern and transfer it over to the
right side of A – lay the tail on top
and baste it.
9. Lay back pieces on top of 10. Pin the pieces and sew in
each other, with right sides machine, leave the opening for
facing together and tail between turning and stuffing(as shown on
A pieces. the picture above)

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Body - А, B, C.
1 1
B 2
11. Align B pieces together
with right sides facing.
3 3
4 4
14. Lay a pattern piece on the
right side of the body back and
draw the sewing lines for
attaching arms to the body with
water-soluble pen.
2
12. Pin the body front pieces
together and sew them on
machine.
15. Place the arms on their
placement lines over the body
back – so that points 3 and 4
matching up.
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Аліна Лебідь
B A
13. Grab the sewn body front and
back - spread the seam allowances
apart and press them with iron.
16. Pin the arms and tail, as
shown on the picture. Baste the
arms.
*remove basting stitches once
you’ve sewn body front and back
pieces.

17. Don’t remove pins from arms and tail, align 18. Pin the body front and back together, and sew
the A and B pieces with right sides facing and pin
them.
19. Trimming: Cut the raw edges with
pinking shears or clip notches.
Аліна Лебідь
them on machine.
20. Take the pins out of the arms and tail, turn the
body right side out. Stuff the body and arms firmly
through the opening. Make sure you evened out
the stuffing and there are no hollow parts or
lumps.
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Ears - G Аліна Лебідь

13.1

13.1

21. Grab two pairs of ears and 22. Pin the ears together and 23. Trimming: Cut the raw
align them with right sides facing. sew them together on machine. edges with pinking shears or clip
Leave opening for turning right notches.
side out.

13.1 13.2

13 10 10 13

13.1 13.2

24. Baste the ears along the 25. Press the ears on both 26. Fold the ears in half, so
stitch line. sides and remove busting that point 13.1 and 13.2
stitches. matching up – pin the ears and
sew them on machine.

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Head - D, E, G Аліна Лебідь

D E 10

10 10

8 8

27. Align D and E pieces with 28. Pin them together and sew 29. Trimming: Cut the raw
right sides facing. on machine. edges with pinking shears or clip
notches.

10

30. Spread the seam 31. Pin the ears and head together, sew them. Make sure the open
allowances apart and press them part of ear points toward the trunk. Hold the ears on head with
with iron. basting stitch.

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Head - D-E-G, F Аліна Лебідь

F 11
12

E
G D

32. Pin F piece with sewn D 33. Sew them together on 34. Trimming: Cut the raw
and E together. machine. edges with pinking shears or clip
notches.

F
12

11

7
9

35. Pin two head pieces and F
together, sew them on machine.
Leave the neck placement
opened.
36. Snip seam allowance along 37. Turn the head right side out
the head 1 mm away from and stuff it firmly with stuffing. Pay
stitching line or cut the raw edges special attention to the trunk,
with pinking shears. make sure you evened out the
stuffing so that there are no
creases.

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 Face embroidery Аліна Лебідь

38. Lay a paper pattern on
head and transfer the eyes
placement with water-soluble
pen. If you don’t like the eyes
placement, you can place them
the way you want.
39. Make sure the eyes are
symmetrical. If you don’t like the
eyes placement, you can move
them.
40. Make
holes in paper
pattern of nose, transfer the main
dots over the trunk. Embroider
cross-stitches with black floss.

41. Grab the black embroidering floss and embroider the eyes.
Tip: Fold the floss in half and push its tips through the eye of the needle. Pull floss through the fabric and then
pass the needle through the loop at the end.

Alternative: You can cut the eyes out of black fabric (fabric shouldn’t fray) and sew them around the circle.

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 Аліна Лебідь

42. Stitch the arms and body openings with grey

thread.
Thread your needle, tie the two thread tail ends together
in a knot, and push your needle through one of the folded
seams near the machine stitch, from wrong to right side.
Pull the thread completely through the fabric so that the
knotted end of your thread will now be on the wrong
side. Now stitch the opening until the end of it.
Alternately make short stitches along the seam creases,
continue this process until you reach the end of your
opening.
Pull the thread to tighten the stitches and make a knot.
Then, pull the thread through the whole section, or take it
out 3-4 cm away from the stitch line. Pull the thread, hold
it taut while snipping the thread. The excess thread
should sink back inside. That’s all!

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 Аліна Лебідь

7 8

 Fold the neck seam allowance inside.

 Pin the head and body together.
 Stitch the head and body with grey thread.
 Use a ladder stitch, as shown on the previous page.

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 Аліна Лебідь
Сongrats!
Elephant is ready to bring joy to you!

Alina Lebid

Soft and cute! Make your leisure time enjoyable and unforgettable - spend your time doing an interesting activity with your child and
create a little miracle! Create a favorite textile and eco-friendly toy that will bring joy to you and your baby!

© A.M.Lebid, author, 2021

© M.M. Alsaniuk, English translation, 2021

Patterns are sold only on the site: https://www.etsy.com/shop/GoodMoodToys

All rights are reserved. Tutorial cannot be copied, distributed, reproduced in any way, and also used in any information system without obtaining permission from the author.

Items made with this pattern can be sold with the permission of the author and a link to the store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/GoodMoodToys

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