Retro Print Plush Monsters

It’s no secret that kids love bright colours and playful designs, which is why we’re certain our stitched monsters will bring a smile to the faces of many. Although we’ve selected the Multi Spots print from The Very Hungry Caterpillar collection, there’s no doubt that a pretty, pastel palette would produce a finish just as desirable.

Essentials

Fabric: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Makower, Multi Spots,
50cm Felt: purple, yellow, orange, lime, white, black Embroidery thread, DMC: orange (946), turquoise (3845), red (321), black (310), yellow (307), purple (552), green (470)
Fusible webbing Stuff

Dimensions List

At their widest points, excluding arms and legs:
Green monster: 18cm x 23cm
Orange monster: 15cm x 27.5cm
Yellow monster: 10cm x 29cm

Make a green monster

Using the templates available on www.sewmag.co.uk cut out each of the pieces from appropriate fabric, being mindful to transfer all markings and fixing fusible webbing to the eye pieces. Iron the pupils to the whites of the eyes and hand sew a French knot to the top right corner of each, with white embroidery thread.
Press the eyes onto the green felt top body piece of the monster. Using two strands of yellow thread, straight stitch around the pupils and repeat for the whites of the eyes with turquoise thread. Make three French knots with black thread for the nose.
To create the mouth, straight stitch the curve of a smile in red embroidery thread. Repeat, following this line with turquoise, green, orange and purple threads to create five lines close to one another. Using the same method, stitch a cross on the bottom of the yellow felt back piece.
Pair up the arm and leg fabrics with right sides facing and sew three edges,5mm in, leaving the short straight sides unstitched. Turn through, press and fill each with a mixture of lavender and rice, before sewing the ends closed.
Sew the green top half of the body to the spotty bottom piece, along the straight edge, with 1cm seam allowance. Press the seams and top stitch the felt flat. Pin the arms and legs into position.
Cut an 8cm length of 26mm wide orange, green, lime and yellow grosgrain ribbons, as well as 10mm wide purple and turquoise options. Pin them into place to form the hair and secure a looped 8cm piece of 26mm wide orange ribbon to the bottom to form a tag.
Pin the front and back body pieces together with right sides facing and the arm, leg and hair pieces folded to the inside. Sew around the edges with a 1cm seam allowance, leaving a gap for turning. Pull through, press and fill with stuffing, before slipstitching the gap closed.

Stitch an orange friend

Repeat Step 1 of the green monster tutorial. Use two strands of yellow embroidery thread to straight stitch around the pupil and purple thread to work the edge of the white of the eye. Stitch a mouth to the front orange piece and a cross on the back purple body as in Step 3.
Refer to Step 4 of the green plush instructions to make arms and legs. To form the hair, cut an 8cm length of 26mm wide green, lime and yellow grosgrain ribbons, as well as 10mm wide purple and turquoise options. Create a tag from green ribbon, as before.
Machine stitch the orange felt and spotty body pieces together along the straight edge, with 1cm seam allowance. Press the seams and top stitch the felt flat, before pinning the hair, arms and legs into place.
Lay the purple felt back piece over the front body piece with right sides facing and the arms,legs and hair facing inwards. Sew around the edges with a 1cm seam allowance and leaving a gap for turning, stitch the arms and legs into position as you go. Pull through, press and stuff before stitching the gap closed.