Easter Chick {a free sewing pattern and tutorial}

Hellooo! I was looking around for little gifties for the kiddos for easter this weekend and decided instead of buying some crappity-crap from china that I would end up throwing out in the near future, I would make something for them instead. To be fair I did purchase a few crappity-crap things, like parachuting bunnies, but I made a cute chick for each of their baskets, too.

I know this is late, since Easter is this Sunday already, BUT I did manage to get a free pattern put together for you all. And, if you don't think you have time to make these before Sunday, they are QUICK! It took me 1.5 hours walking into my office Sunday night to completely finished chick (this is with design work, making the pattern pieces, digging for fabric and everything). The second one I got done in an hour, with multiple kiddo interruptions and a diaper change. So, if you've got a few minutes this week, I am sure you can get a couple done for Easter baskets, too!

image from http://s3.amazonaws.com/hires.aviary.com/k/mr6i2hifk4wxt1dp/15040103/da512839-e471-4a05-83b4-8f10cfd32595.png

Ok, here we go! I am assuming you have basic sewing skills here, so this tutorial is pretty simple.

Materials

Download EasterChickSewingPatternByRebeccaDanger (click to download pattern)

1/3 yard of yellow fleece, or cuddle fabric, or whatever you want for the body

Scrap orange fleece or fabric for feet (8" x 10")

Small piece of orange fleece or felt for beak (2" x 2")

Small piece of black fleece or felt for eyes (2" x 2")

Stuffing

Needle and thread that matches the body fabric

Chopstick

Scissors

Note: Seam allowance is 1/4" and included in all pattern pieces.

Instructions

1) Cut out all pieces. Each pattern piece notes how many pieces to cut and from what fabric.

2) Place eyes and beak on body as indicated on body piece. With matching thread, topstitch around beak and eyes. No real seam allowance here, just close to the edge. The eyes are so tiny, just do the best you can. You could also use fabric paint for the eyes if you prefer.

3) With right sides facing, sew around wings and feet, leaving open as indicated on the pattern pieces. Sew top of back of head to bottom of back of head, leaving open as indicated on pattern pieces.

4) Trim into curves of wings and feet to help them lay flat once turned. Turn, using the chopstick to help with the toes. Lightly stuff the wings. I didn't stuff the feet, but you can if you want!

5) Using the marks on the pattern, line up the legs and wings on the body and baste in place about 1/8" from the edge.

6) With right sides facing, line up the front and back body and pin together. Sew around entire body (you do not need to leave a hole for turning since there is in an opening on the back of the body).

7) Trim into the curves of the body to help it lay flat once turned. Turn body right side out. Stuff the body. Using the needle and matching thread, close the back of the body (I use ladder stitch, you can use whatever you would like).

Stick your chicky in a kiddo's Easter basket and make their day!

My goldy chick is fleece with fleece feet, and my yellow fluffy chick is yellow cuddle fabric (I found it at JoAnn's) with quilting cotton feet. I hate working with the cuddle fabric since it poo-poos EVERYWHERE, but my goodness it makes a darling chicky! (And yes, the gold chick's feet are bigger than the fluffy chick's feet. I decided after the first one they should be slightly smaller)

There you go! I was feeling off with my creative mojo and this little project totally threw me back in line since it was so quick and satisfyingly cute once finished. If you have questions, please just post a comment below.

Have fun!