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Introduction: Jigsaw Simplicity Kitty!
As more generations come and go, sewing has become a lost art. Schools have had to stop teaching it nationally because of educational cuts and the adults who can teach the art do not usually have the time between balancing work and life. Teens may not have access to learn the art of sewing through guardians or teachers, but most have access to the internet. Making sewing tutorials on creating fun things like dresses, backpacks, and stuffed animals is how we can preserve one of the oldest arts to date. In this easy tutorial, you will learn how to efficiently sew a cat plushie.
The materials you will need for this project are as follows:
A sewing machine
Fabric scissors
Fabric chalk (normal chalk will stain your fabric)
¾ of a yard of fabric (for the main body) ⅜ of a yard of fabric (for the cats designs)
⅜ of a yard of fusible web
A 30oz bag of fiberfill
An iron and ironing board
Measuring tape
Thread
Pins and a pin cushion
Optional! 34.5cm of twill tape
Optional! Buttons for the eyes and nose and if you want whiskers get yarn. (The pattern will teach you how to sew eye and nose appliques but I want to do my own, I will also not be adding whiskers to my kitty.)
Simplicity pattern 8403
When looking at your pattern, you will notice that there are a few cat plushies you can choose from; A, B, C, and D. This tutorial is going to be covering how to sew plushie A.
Step 1: Iron Your Clean Fabric
First, you’re going to grab your clean washed fabric and lay it nicely on your ironing board. It is ok if some hangs off, you will just need to carefully pull more on to the ironing board as you go. Then, grab your iron and start smoothing out all the wrinkles in your fabric (I did not have an ironing board in this step so I staged the photo! Please do not iron without one). It may be helpful to have a spray bottle on hand for tough wrinkles (most irons have them built in).
Step 2: Folding Rule
Next, we are going to take our now smooth fabric and you’re going to fold the fabric in half making sure the salvages are end to end, right sides together; you are working on the wrong side (the side without the pattern). As you pay attention to this, make sure the fabric is on grain (length and width of fabric are matching on both sides of the fabric).
Step 3: Cut Paper Pattern Pieces
Afterwards, you are going to open your pattern and find the pattern pieces you need to use to cut out your fabric. 673
You will see that each pattern piece is labeled according to the cat you chose to do. For cat A, we will need pattern pieces 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. After you find the correct pattern pieces, you are going to carefully cut them out.
Step 4: Body Fabric!
Then, place pattern pieces, 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 on the body fabric (the main fabric you want your cat to be). Do not start pinning yet; you need to make sure that all of your pieces fit on the fabric like a puzzle.Your pattern pieces have words on them! These are very important! They tell you how many of that singular piece you will have to cut out. So if the pattern piece says CUT 3 OF FABRIC, you’re going to repin and cut this piece three times so that you have three of it; take into account how much more fabric you will need for the duplicates as you are placing your pieces.
Step 5: Symbols!
As you are placing, pay attention to the symbols on your pattern pieces. Pieces with arrows that are sideways need to be placed sideways on the fabric, pieces with arrows that point upwards need to go upwards and the last arrow will be connected pointing down. This means that piece needs to be pinned on the fold. The reason for this is that most fabrics can stretch one way while they can't be stretched another way. Pattern pieces with triangles on the outline are called notches. You need to cut outward and back in when you get to these. They help you line up the fabric that goes together. Now pin!
Step 6: Cut the Pieces Out!
Once pinned, you are going to very carefully cut your pieces out.
Step 7: Contrary/Secondary Fabric Pieces! 879