Ingredients
- 1 sheet of rust-colored wool-blend felt, at least 9 by 12 inches
- 1 sheet of cream wool-blend felt, at least 6 by 9 inches
- 1 small sheet of dark brown felt, at least 3 by 3 inches
- 2 tablespoons of polyester fiberfill stuffing (clean scrap fabric also works)
- 1 yard of rust-colored embroidery floss
- 1 yard of cream embroidery floss
- 24 inches of dark brown embroidery floss
- 1 hand-sewing needle with a sharp point
- 1 pair of fabric scissors, 4 to 6 inches long
- 1 small embroidery or fabric pencil
- 3 straight pins, optional but helpful
- 1 small pair of tweezers, optional for placing stuffing into the ears
- 1 sheet of scrap paper, at least 8.5 by 11 inches, for the pattern
- 1 ruler, at least 6 inches long
- 1 clean cotton towel or cloth, about 20 by 30 inches, to protect the table
- 1 small bowl, about 4 inches wide, for holding thread scraps
Instructions
- Cover your table with the cotton towel before you set out the felt, scissors, and thread.
- Draw a simple fox body on scrap paper, about 5 inches long and 3 inches high. Cut out the paper pattern, then mark a separate cream belly shape about 3 inches long.
- Place the paper body on the rust felt and trace around it twice. Cut both shapes slowly, keeping the scissors upright. Trace and cut one cream belly, one cream tail tip, and two small dark brown circles for the eyes.
- Set one rust body piece in front of you and position the cream belly near the lower center. Pin it with one or two straight pins.
- Thread the needle with 18 inches of cream floss and tie a small knot at one end. Use short straight stitches around the belly, spacing them about 1/8 inch apart.
- Add the face before joining the body pieces. Use 12 inches of dark brown floss for two small eyes, a triangular nose, and a short mouth line.
- Place the cream tail tip at the narrow end of the second rust body piece and stitch it down with cream floss.
- Put the front and back body pieces together with the decorated sides facing outward. Thread the needle with 24 inches of rust floss and begin at the lower side using a blanket stitch.
- Continue around the body, including the ears and tail, until you have about 1.5 inches left open along the lower side.
- Add stuffing through the opening in small pinches. Use the tweezers to guide a little stuffing into each ear.
- Close the opening with the same blanket stitch and tie a small knot on the back.
- Check the face and seams under good light. Tuck any visible thread tails beneath nearby stitches.
- Gather the scraps into the small bowl and sweep the towel clean. Store the finished fox flat for a few hours if needed.
Notes
Keep the sharp needle and fabric scissors away from young children. Use a dust mask if cutting a large amount of felt or dusty fabric.
- Cook Time: 150 minutes
