Here’s the step-by-step guide for sewing the memorable characters from the Fat Albert TV series.
Supplies
If you’re sewing the whole gang, you’ll need a variety of felt colors:
Skin tones – I tried to get as close as possible to their complexions, so I used brown and tan felt. White felt Black felt Bright yellow felt Medium yellow felt Orange felt Red felt Lavender felt Light purple felt Light pink felt Dark pink felt Medium green felt Dark green felt Light blue felt Medium blue felt Threads of different colors: red, orange, black, white, yellow, dark blue, light blue, light green.
Lots of stuffing.
For Russell’s jacket, I used two small sew-on snaps. If you’re making him, you’ll need at least two.
For their hair, I used a little bit of wool that I felted onto their heads. So if you decide to do that, you’ll need black wool.
You’ll also need:
Scissors – thread and fabric scissors A needle A felting needle If you don’t want to make all of them, you could just gather the colors depending on the character.
Finally, I’m not showing how to make the doll bases. I have another guide for that which I recommend you look at before starting this one.
Step 1: Prepare Your Doll Bases
To start, sew all of the character bodies. If you’re making all the characters, you’ll need to sew eight. Try to get their skin as close to the proper colors as possible.
You should have sewn their faces at this step, but I didn’t know if I really wanted faces. You may want to sew their faces on now.
Step 2: Adding Fat to Albert
First, you’ll need to add fat to Albert’s body. Start by cutting out two half circles. They don’t need to be perfect circles, so you can let them be squares with rounded corners.
Next, sew around the curved sides. Flip it inside out and fill it with stuffing. Wrap it around Albert and sew a few stitches to keep it attached. Then start stitching it on.
When you get to the bottom of his belly, tuck in any extra felt that hangs too low.
Step 3: Sewing His Clothes
For his red sweater/shirt, cut out one large rectangle, two small rectangles (for sleeves), and two thin strips for the scrunch around his wrist. Lay one sleeve on your large rectangle. Next, thread your needle and sew up the sleeves. Fold your shirt in half and sew the side and lower half of the shirt/sleeve.
For the scrunched cuffs, fold a strip in half and sew it on one side. Flip it inside out, put it in the shirt sleeve, and sew around the sleeve/cuff. Flip it out and put the shirt inside out. Scrunch around the bottom of the shirt and pull it tight.
For his pants, cut out two rectangles, and cut two ‘j’s into each side. Sew up both sides of the pants. Holding the two sides you have just sewn, push them together and hold it flat. Starting on one side, sew along the edge. Flip the pants and try them on Albert.
Step 4: Adding the Little Details
For his belt, cut out a thin black felt strip. Wrap it around him to make sure it’s long enough.
Cut out three or four blue little rectangles to hold the belt and sew them on the pants. Put the belt on him and sew a few stitches to the belt ends to keep it together. You could put a buckle on the belt if you wanted to.
For his shoes, cut out two rectangles, four ovals, two half ovals, and two little blue circles. Stack two white ovals on top of each other and stitch around the edges. Fold a white strip in half and sew up one side. Attach the white tube to the shoe base and stitch around the bottom. Sew the toe onto the end of each shoe. Sew the little circles on the inside of the shoes.
Sew a face on him and he’s done.
Step 5: Felting Russell’s Hair
Just take a little bit of wool and felt it on the front of his head. I don’t think he ever really takes his hat off, except for in the hospital episode, so you don’t have to do this step.
Step 6: Sewing Russell’s Clothes
For his pants, you are going to do the same thing as for Albert’s pants, only a little smaller. Cut out two rectangles and cut two ‘j’s into each side. Sew up both sides of the pants. Holding the two sides you have just sewn, push them together and slide a pin to hold it flat. Starting on one side, sew along the edge. Flip the pants and they’re finished.
For his shirt, you will do the same thing as Albert’s, but a little smaller. Cut out one large rectangle, two small rectangles, and two thin strips for the scrunch around his wrist. Lay one sleeve on your large rectangle. Next, thread your needle and sew up the sleeves. Fold your shirt in half and sew the side and lower half of the shirt/sleeve.
For the scrunched cuffs, fold a strip in half and sew it on one side. Flip it inside out, put it in the shirt sleeve, and sew around the sleeve/cuff. Flip it out and put the shirt inside out. Scrunch around the bottom of the shirt and pull it tight.
Now you’re finished sewing Russell. He’s all done, too.
Repeat these steps for the other characters.
