February 8, 2024 by Zanoubia
Hanging the Rabbits:
If you want to hang your rabbits, make a large stitch on the back of the neck with embroidery thread. I hung my rabbits.
Making the Body:
Materials Needed:
- Lightweight cotton fabric
- Basic sewing kit
- Chopstick or similar
- Stuffing (I prefer wool)
- Embroidery thread
- Fabric scraps, buttons, lace, etc.
- Cut out the pattern and pin it to your doubled fabric – right sides together – and cut out. If you want to trace the face, do it now – on the right side of the fabric.
- Carefully mark the 1/4 inch seam line on one piece – on the wrong side of the fabric.
- Pin with right sides together and sew the seam by hand or machine. Leave the opening as indicated on the pattern.
- Clip the curves as shown, being careful not to clip the seams. Also make a notch at each end of the opening – indicated in red.
- You can turn the rabbit right side out just using the chopstick or you can turn the narrow parts first with a turning tool or by cutting a plastic straw in half. Dull one end of a bamboo skewer.
- Insert the straw all the way into an ear or arm and push the fabric into the straw with the skewer while guiding the fabric toward the skewer. Repeat for each ear, arm, and leg.
- Turn the body right side out. Use the chopstick to push the tips of the limbs all the way out.
- Pro tip – Run the end of the chopstick all around the seams using very firm pressure – this helps smooth the curves and fill out the shape.
- Massage the small curves with your fingers a little.
- Start stuffing the ears first. Add tiny bits of stuffing at a time and be sure to push it all the way in before adding more. Next, do the arms and legs before the body. Take your time. I spend tons of time on the stuffing. There are a couple more tips below.
- As you stuff, close your eyes once in a while and feel. You’ll feel gaps and lumps you might not otherwise notice.
- When the bunny is sufficiently stuffed, turn in the edges of the opening and stitch about 2/3 closed. Add a bit more stuffing if needed, and then finish closing.
- Pro tip – Place the bunny under a few books – For flat things like this, it helps make a smooth finished surface. Let it hang out under the books for about 30 minutes.
