T-rex Dinosaur Softie Tutorial and Pattern!

Remember how I'm way too nice and always sew a matching something-something for the quilts I make? (See the Robot, owl, bunny, doll quilt,  elephant, and butterfly for a refresher! =D) Well, when I made the dinosaur quilt for my new nephew Issac, I knew that I would get to make a cute little dino softie to match! 

After searching the internet extensively, I couldn't find a single pattern/tutorial of a dino that I like well enough to use. So I decided to make my own! And since I had to make up a pattern for me to use, I decided to share it with all of you!

Materials: About 1/4 yard of printed fabric
                  8"x8" scrap of minky (for the belly and bottoms of the feet)
                  18" coordinating 1/2" rick rack
                  Stuffing

Time:        Two evenings, one long nap

***Seam allowance is 1/4" unless noted otherwise.***

Print out pattern with page margins set to zero.

Cut out all of the pattern pieces. I raw edge appliqued the little red polka-dots to the body to make it match the quilt a little bit better -- they are definitely optional!

2. Pin two of the leg pieces right sides together and sew along both long edges to make a tube. Then  pin the round foot piece to the bottom tube of the leg and carefully sew around the circle. Repeat with other leg. Honestly this is the very hardest part -- the rest is smooth sailing! =)

3. Pin two of the arm pieces right sides together and sew all around the long sides and the bottom. Flip both the arms and the legs right side out and stuff. I used a few stuffing pellet bead thingys in the bottom of the hands and feet to add weight so they would hang down better, but this is totally optional.

4. Sew the inside "V" of the body closed with right sides together. This creates a rounder shape for the body.

5. Pin the belly to the sides/tail of the dino and sew together. 

6. Sew the side of the head to the long strip.

7. Pin and sew the other side of the head to the long strip. Cut off any extra length of the strip.

8. Pin each leg to the minky belly so the edge of the leg is about 1" from the side seam. Sorry this is hard to see -- the legs are hidden inside!

9. Pin the bottom circle to the body/belly of the dino (sandwiching the legs) and pin the tail together. Sew about 1" of the tail that is closest to the bottom to complete the circle opening of the body before attaching the bottom. Does that make sense? Leave the rest of the tail open for now. Sew the bottom circle to the body.

10. Pin each arm to the body (about 1/4" from the edge of the minky belly). Pin the front of the head to the belly right sandwiching the arms in place. Sew the front of the head to the belly, leaving the sides open.

11. Sew a piece of rick-rack along the right side of the fabric down the center of the rick-rack a scant 1/4" away from the edge of the fabric (that way when you sew the seam together with a 1/4" seam these stitches won't be visible).

This is how it will look on the outside!

12. Pin and sew the entire tail together leaving a 2" gap on the bottom of the tail so you have room to flip right side out, and stuff! The inside will now look like this:

13. With right sides together (completely inside out) carefully pin and sew the back of the head onto the back.

14. Flip right side out and stuff. Like the arms and legs, I also put a handful of the stuffing beads in the bottom to help the dino sit upright, but that is optional. Hand sew the gap in the tail closed.

15. You are done! Enjoy your cute and huggable little t-rex!