Giraffe Softie
5:09 PM
Another project for the baby.
I only have 6 weeks left, and a long list of things to get done before her arrival that are more important than stuffed toys. I just thought I'd do the fun, unnecessary things first. For some reason, I don't feel inspired by making crib sheets lately.
The kid's room is giraffe themed. So I wanted her to have a feminine giraffe to make a little connection to all the other giraffe prints going on. Each kid has a shelf, and my son has a giraffe, so I thought I'd go with a giraffe softie toy for her shelf too. I decided to make one, and was inspired by this cutie over at PinkSuedeShoe. She mentions in her post how time consuming stuffing the skinny neck was, so I decided to hack out my own pattern to make it easier to stuff.
Some of my favorite features are the rat-tail ribbon horns (is it really called rat-tail ribbon or is that just what my mom called and that's all I know?) and the eyelashes.
I was lazy and just used a fine tip permanent marker (rather than sew embroidery) to draw 3 eyelashes before I sewed on the button eye.
The mouth and nostrils were also just drawn on with a skinny Sharpie.
The limbs are attached by buttons. I actually made button holes in the joints so they are movable and removable. I don't know exactly why you'd want to take all the arms and legs off the giraffe, I'm sure my boy would have a fun game with it being dead and limbless or something, but that just seemed the easiest way to make them adjustable.
Also taking tips from PinkSuedeShoe, this was really easy to stuff. Mainly because I designed it a little white trash. I serged the bottom and just gathered it all together to cinch it up underneath. I'm planning on putting fabric in there over the polyfill stuffing. So this method made it super easy to fill with stuffing, but could present a problem used as an actual toy and the kids pulling out all the stuffing. I actually think if I'd had another adult around to help me, I could have knotted it tight enough with no hole.
I thought about adding a turquoise belly, but left the only turquoise accent the inside of the ears.
To make the red and white giraffe print, I actually painted all the pieces with fabric paint after they were cut out. Then I could heat press them while they were all flat.
It was a fun little project, and sits on Baby Ellaria's shelf which will be above her crib once we eventually set it up.
As I was making it, I thought it was turning into a total flop, like the shape of the legs, but in the end, I think it's pretty cute.
18 comments
She's adorable! I don't blame you one bit. I made a lot of bedding for my second son...and when it came to the crib sheets I actually gave in a bought some.
ReplyDeleteGiraffe would win any time over bed sheets! I made pillows today instead of finishing curtains, and I understand. :) She is adorable, and I like the idea of stuffing her bum like that.
ReplyDeleteWhat an adorable giraffe!
ReplyDeleteThis is just absolutely adorable! What a fantastic job you did!
ReplyDeleteSo so cute! It is perfect for the wonderful nursery you are creating!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. I love the eyelashes, the turquoise ears and the buttons. Fantastic! x
ReplyDeletevery cute jess. PS. I got a new machine, it sounds like a jet engine.
ReplyDeleteYou have the best stuff!! He is soo stinkin' cute!
ReplyDeleteIf I ever make another giraffe I'll take a good four inches out of the neck! Yours turned out so cute. Really so so cute! And you don't even miss that super long neck at all. She is still so so cute! (Eyelashes make her a girl giraffe... right?)
ReplyDeletethat giraffe is sooo adorable it makes me want to have one to cuddle all day... lol i think you did a great job! thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteThat giraffe is SO cute and I just love that you used buttonholes on the limbs. Well done!
ReplyDeleteCute!!!!
ReplyDeleteSooooo cute! Love the rat-tail cord for the antenna. What a great Idea. Love the red.
ReplyDeleteLOVE! Soooo cute...my favorite colors too!
ReplyDeleteLove it!
ReplyDeleteDarling! And believe me, I know my giraffes! We saw hundreds of them when we served our mission in Kenya!
ReplyDeleteLOVE! So cute...my favorite colors too!thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletenatural mattress
So I wanted her to have a feminine giraffe to make a little connection to all ... giraffecostumeadult.blogspot.com
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