Charlie the Chimp… From the book ‘Soft Toys to Make for Children’. A chatty, ad-hoc tutorial on how to make him. For further softie excitement go here and watch the movie!
I didn’t use the actual pattern. I just used the photo as a guide – it’s made from squares, long rectangles and circles. I just cut all the bits out free hand to the size I wanted. Laying the bits all next to each other where they should go, until I was happy. I made sure to allow for seams – so cut the body and limb and ear and hand and feet bits about 1cm larger all around. You could play around with the nose shape and eye shape – make it the way you like! Perhaps you want him to have stubby little arms or legs… or bigger ears. You could make the arm/hand all one piece and it would be way quicker to make! Customise him to your hearts content.
Next the sewing begins. Firstly, I attached the face pieces to the Chimpy front. I used the sewing machine, but you could hand stitch these if you prefer. Then I sewed the ear bits together (right sides facing) to make 2 ears. I was careful to clip the seams nicely to try and make a nice ear shape. I turned them out the right way and pressed them. I did the same with the foot and monkey hand bits, sewing: clipping : turning again.
The next bit was to stitch the hands and feet to the long tubes that are the legs and arms. I folded the tubes in half and pressed the folded seam. Then i tucked the hand piece inside – lining up the straight edge of the two pieces – making sure the hand was tucked well inside the tube and it was pinned away from the line of stitching I was about to make down the side of the arm. Then I Stitched up the sides of the arm tubes with the pinned away hand inside.
Then do the same with the legs – pinning the foot piece inside and sewing up the seam. Next I turned the arms and legs right way out and pressed them. You are supposed to stuff them.. but i like them floppy! Do what you prefer.
Next you just pin everything into position – (this concept is beautifully executed by Emily from The Black Apple – go watch her video with Martha if you don’t get how to sandwich the limbs inside the body!) with all limbs pointing into the monkey front piece, keeping limbs and ears well away from the stitching line (with pins) – Sandwich the lot by placing the back piece right side in over the top… all ears and limbs should be tucked in and NOT protruding over the edges. It will look like a lumpy square – with the monkey back facing you on the top (wrong side up) Stitch it all up, leaving an opening of about 3 inches at the bottom for turning and stuffing. Turn out the right way, stuff firmly, and sew up. Then sew on eyes and a back stitch a smile! Voila! I’m going to make lots of these.. it was FUN!
xx Mikes
