Stitching Bunnies... x3

I recently purchased a new sewing machine {more on that in a later post!} However, before I get to that, I have a related confession to make: I can't STAND stuffed animals. They vary in quality {material wise} and can be cheap + ever too easy for people to buy...and buy... and BUY! That being said, I didn't always loathe plushies, but you can imagine how many have come {and GONE} through these doors over the years with 3 little folk! In my ever so humble opinion, if you really don't like a certain mama...give her kiddo a stuffed animal as a present...that or Moon Sand! ...ahem, so back to the original topic at hand... I recently purchased a sewing machine! And just so you don't think I am a total Bah-humbug when it comes to stuffed animals + the like...I realized that it wouldn't be a proper Easter without something new + squishy for my littles to hug + love. I decided that I would make something extra special for them with my new machine...What you ask? Bunnies, ofcourse! Three of them for my 3 little folk.

*************

However, you should know that in the more recent past, some of my sewing ventures have gone poorly when I would try to sew in multiples. For example, a couple of years back when I had decided to mass produce reusable snack bags or sew several pairs of baby elastic waist pants at once for an Etsy- Shoppe- Pipe -Dream...not so much. All the same, I did some internet browsing for inspiration. I loved this design here, but decided since I was making 3 bunnies, something more simplistic would suit me better. In the end, I decided I would design, draw + cut a template for my little bunnies, using a paper bag. I sound really cool, right? Truth be told, sadly, I don't have a printer up + working at home for such simple downloads {doing most of my printing at work at the college}. Inconvenient? Sure, but at times it forces me to be slightly more creative than I might have dared to be otherwise! I cut 1 Body, 1 Ear + 1 Bottom Template {Cut paper bag photographed above}.
Body: 1 solid + 2 Print {3 total pcs.} Ears: 2 of each solid + print faric {4 total pcs.}
Bottom:1 solid fabric {1 total pc.}

*************

Day 1: Sewing the Ears: front sides of 1 print + 1 solid with a zigzag stitch, then turn right side in + pressing with an iron. 6 double sided ears later... Day 2: The Bodies: 1 print + 1 solid, front sides together, zizagi stitched. Only this time, as I pinned the fabrics, I included one of the 2 ears between the two prior to stitching. The solid fabric is to be the front of the bunny {with the face}, so I positioned the ears as if the 2 ears together would cross the face {solid body} forming an X {when inside out}. I chose to have the printed sides of the ears facing fowards for this. Day 3: Face. With the back open + unsewn, I embroidered simple faces on the bunnies. Day 4: Bottom. Turn the bunny inside out, pin the 2 prints together at the back + zigzag stitch. Next, add the bottom round piece, pinning and zigzag stitching with the right sides in, leaving a small space for turning right side out + stuffing. Once stuffed, stitch on your pom-pom tail, then sew the small open area shut by hand.I am so pleased that I managed to finish these up AND keep them a special Easter surprise!Cutting your own patterns is really a fun thing to do... Any imperfections have more to do with rushed sewing than they do with the pattern. When sewing in multiples, I found it was easier for me to complete "a stage" x3, then put the project aside for another day {vs. doing each bunny from start to finish seperately, 3x}. I used corduroy as the solid fabric for 2 of the bunnies, but I absolutely adore the one bunny where I used yellow fleece...I will surely use that material exclusively for the front in the future! Most importantly though, these little bowling pin bunnies are much loved by all 3 of my kiddos; bitten by the babe, cradled by the Fif + snuggled by the Monks {I LOVE that at 7yrs old, this big boy of mine still loves his babies}. Well worth every bit of effort, if this mama says so herself!

xo.