Fox & Bear Pillows

These pillows are easy to make and full of character. Made with a simple design, they can be done in any size you desire. And the polar fleece make them oh so soft!

Skill level: Beginner

Materials:

• Polar fleece, wool or felt in various colours (at least 2 contrasting)
• Small strip of sued/leather or buttons (for eyes and nose)
• Batting
• Thread
• Cardboard or paper

How to Guide:

Make your template
I used an old cereal box to get the size I wanted, but any piece of cardboard or paper will work!

• Draw the basic outline of your animal - for the body, think of them in the shape of a bowling pin, but with some added padding. 
• You may want to draw the full outline so you get an idea of what the animal will look like whole, but you will only need one half for the template – this way it will be perfectly symmetrical.
• Once you get the shape you want, retrace about ½ inch around (to add room for the seam).

Cut out your template

• Cut out your half animal template along the added ½ inch line. 
• You should have a straight edge on one side of your template, and the half shape of the animal on the other. 

Use your template

• Lay out your fabric on a hard smooth surface, right side up.
• Fold right sides together.
• Place the straight edge of your template along the folded edge. 
• Using fabric chalk, trace around your template.

Cut out your animal

• Pin along the inside line of your shape. 
• Cut along the chalk line. 
• Repeat a second time so that you have two of the same animal cutout. 

Paper cut

• Using regular paper draw the inner ears, snout, tail and paws.
• Cut the pieces out.

Place these cutouts on your animal and made adjustments as needed to get the right size, shape, facial expression.

Paper to fabric

• Once you have the right templates for your animal features, place them on your fabric, pin and cut them out

Fabric features

• With one piece of your animal outline facing right side up, pin on your facial features.
• With the other piece of your animal outline facing right side up, pin on your backside features.

Sew on your features

• Line your needle up as close to the edge of your feature as possible and stitch in place. 
• Repeat for all features, both for the face and backside.
• If you seam line is a little wider in some areas, carefully trim off the edges.

Eyes and nose

• Cut out the shapes for your eyes and nose (or use your buttons).
• Use a little hot glue to hold in place, and then tack down the edges with a few stitches. 

If the pillow is for a baby, be sure to tack down the edges and not just glue. When the glue wears, it could be a chocking hazard.

Front to back

• Place the two pieces right side together and line up the edges. 
• Pin in place. 
• Sew the front and back together, leaving an opening at the bottom. 

Stuff it

• Turn your piece right side out.
• Stuff it with the batting. 

When stuffing, fill the ears and shape the head first so that they are good and full. Try to “over stuff” a little, it will flatten in time so you want it good and stuffed to start!

Close it up

• For the most seamless look, hand stitch the opening closed. 

Place in a cozy corner for snuggling!