Ok maybe it isn’t a fact that babies need a plaid whale, but for the soon to be here baby T a whale was a must! No one is cool enough to sell the perfect whale so here is how I made my own.
Why a whale?
I decided to make a whale because the design is simple, the animal is a favorite, no eyes or buttons required makes it baby safe, and not everyone has a stuffed whale!
After deciding on the whale I scampered over to JoAnn’s Fabrics and found some awesome snuggly yet manly plaid fabric as well as buying some navy blue thread and more batting (disclaimer: I now own 3 bags of batting because I always think I am out.) So I got home to my bounty of batting and started my stuffy making process.
Also, before you say it, I know this project would take like 30 minutes with a sewing machine. I am embarrassed to say I still don’t own a sewing machine, BUT proud to say I can sew a sturdy baby friendly stuffy by hand.
Steps:
1. Draw design for whale using my idea of what a cute whale looks like, pen, news print, and scissors:
2. Pin patterns to fabric, cut out each shape: 1 bottom piece, 2 profile pieces, 4 fins, and 1 tail top.
3. Pin fabric pieces together, starting with profile pieces then bottom of whale & tail top.
4. Sew these pieces together, leaving enough of a whole to flip seam side in and fill whale with stuffing.
5. Stuff yo whale
6. Sew fin pieces together and then sew to sides of whale.
7. Add some love.
As with the elephant for my bestie’s baby, I added a white heart to the whale for baby T and added baby’s initials. This is by no means a must, but I think it adds that extra touch.
8. Give stuffy to hormonal prego and tell her not to cry
'Babies Need Plaid Whales' have 2 comments
April 15, 2014 @ 10:59 am valerie680
So cute!!!! I love it. You’re a great crafter, Anne!
April 15, 2014 @ 7:09 pm Anne
Thank you Valerie! I am a work in progress 🙂