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!

Elephant stuffed animal tutorial (with pattern)!

So, as I have said in previous posts, I just made (and mailed!) a little present for my new neice due any day (actually due yesterday =P)!  I am waiting until she is born to reveal the quilt in it's entirety (check out the matching quilt here!), but here is the stuffed elephant I made to match!  Soft minky on one side,  a patchwork of bright colors on the other.  Floppy ears perfect for the little hands to grab!  I'm loving it!

Do you want to make one too???


Materials: A bunch of small scraps pieced together at random or 1/3 yard of printed cotton fabric (for body)
                  6" of a coordinating printed cotton fabric (for ears)
                 1/3 yard minky (for ears and body)
                 Embroidery floss (for braided tail, and eye)
                 Stuffing

Time:        One evening, two long naps


I made a patchwork with my leftover scraps for one side of the elephant.  It was soooo easy.  Just sew a few pieces together, cut a line with your straight edge, and sew a few pieces onto your new straight line.  Don't have any scraps? Or don't want to worry about sewing a patchwork? Never fear!  Just use fun patterned fabric instead.  It turns out just as cute.

Print out pattern with page margins set to zero.

Cut out your fabric pieces.  Make sure you flip over your pattern after you cut out the printed cotton body, so that the minky is cut out the other way, like is shown below.  Same for the ears.  Cut out one minky and one cotton ear, then flip over the pattern, and cut out another minky and anther cotton ear. 

All of my pieces cut out. I'm ready to start sewing!

Sew the ears together with 1/4" seam allowance.  Put one printed ear and one minky ear right sides together and sew around the curved part.  Leave the end of the ear open so you can flip it right side out.

Flip ears right side out.  Transfer markings from pattern to ear for the pleats, on the outer side of the ear, only.

Fold the outer dots in to line up with the center dot (with both layers of fabric) -- pin in place. 

Sew pleats with 1/4" seam allowance. Whew.  Ears are done, and ready to be sewn onto the body!

If you want to embroider eyes, now is the time to do it!  For the eyes, I used the woven wheel embroidery stitch.  It's actually a lot easier and quicker than it looks. I think it makes perfect little eyes.  If embroidery scares you, try a button, or nothing at all!  It will be super cute either way!

Pin one ear on each side of the elephant, line up ears as shown on pattern. 

Sew ears onto each side of the elephant with a 1/4" seam allowance.

I braided embroidery floss to make a cute little tail.  Sew tail onto one side of the elephant, with a 1/4" seam allowance.

I really thought I took more pictures of the last steps, but I guess I didn't. =P Sorry!

Pin both sides of the elephant right sides together.  I pin A LOT when I use minky, since minky is stretchy and slippery.  Sew together with 3/8" seam allowance (to make sure you hide your previous 1/4" seams).  Leave a 2"-3" gap along the back leg.  Clip corners and severe curves so that it will lay flat when you flip it right side out (not sure what that means? Check out my Jellyfish tutorial).

Fill with stuffing until fairly firm, and hand-stitch the opening closed.   Ta da!  You are done!