Patterns The notebook
A first felt mouse, sewn entirely by hand
The softie every beginner should make first: two body pieces, a base, two ears and a tail, all sewn by hand in an evening.
Pinned up on
A felt mouse is the right first softie because felt does not fray. There are no seam allowances to press, no turning through a gap, and every stitch stays visible, so you can see exactly what your hands are doing. The whole toy fits in the palm, and it takes one evening.
The shape is a teardrop: two matching side pieces that meet along the back, plus an oval base. Draw a teardrop about 11 cm long and 6 cm tall on card, with a flat bottom edge. The base is an oval 10 cm long and 4.5 cm wide. Ears are two circles of 3 cm with a small flat cut at one side.
Step 1: Cut and mark the pieces
You need
- paper templates
- felt
- small scissors
- pins
Pin the templates to the felt and cut round them rather than drawing a line first. Felt pens leave a line that shows on the finished edge. Cut two side pieces, one base and two ears in the contrast felt.
Keep the scissor blades long and close them slowly. Short snipping cuts leave a jagged edge that every stitch will then exaggerate.
Step 2: Sew the back seam
You need
- two side pieces
- matching floss, two strands
Put the two side pieces together and sew from the nose to the tail end along the curved top, using a small whip stitch about 3 mm from the edge and 3 mm apart. Two strands of floss are enough. Six strands look chunky and tend to tangle.
Start with a knot hidden between the layers so it never shows on the outside.
Step 3: Add the ears before stuffing
You need
- ears
- matching floss
Pinch the flat edge of each ear into a slight cup and stitch it to the head through the back seam, about a third of the way from the nose. Doing this now lets you push the needle straight through. Once the body is stuffed you would be stitching blind.
Step 4: Attach the base and stuff
You need
- base oval
- fibrefill
- a chopstick
Whip stitch the base round the bottom edges, leaving a 3 cm gap at the tail end. Stuff in small pieces, nose first, packing it firmly with the chopstick. A mouse stuffed loosely sags at the nose within a week.
Close the gap with the same whip stitch.
Step 5: Face and tail
You need
- dark brown floss
- a 12 cm length of braided floss
Make two French knots for eyes, wrapping the needle twice, and one small satin stitch triangle for the nose. Take each stitch in through the base, so the knots are hidden underneath. Plait three lengths of floss for the tail, knot the end, and sew the top securely into the back seam.
Because the eyes are stitched, this mouse is safe for a baby to chew on. Glued or plastic eyes are not.
Once you have made one, change the proportions. A longer body and smaller ears make a different creature with the same three steps, and you will have learned the order of operations that every larger softie follows.