Barn owl

y t o f ollow
eas life
With s a n d
tion
instruc atterns.
size P

By Paloma Rocha
 Barn owl

Feltie
Size: 7”

Please, read all of

the instructions before
starting your
project.

Materials
. Caramel felt (6” x 6”). . Pencil or felt marker.
. Beige tone felt (15” x 15”). . Matching embroidery threads.
. White felt (4” x 7”). . Embroidery needle.
. Scraps of black felt. . Scissors.
. Stuffing. . Chopstick or pointy tool.
. 2 Small buttons. . Fabric glue.

2
 Felt
Felt can basically be divided into two types: wool felt or washable felt. Wool felt is
recommended for this doll. These quality materials help felties look their very best.

Print a page 10 and 11 of this pdf, and cut out templates using scissors. Trace templates
onto felt using a felt marker or pencil and cut out on the line. Cut carefully so edges are
vertical, not slanted. To cut small circles, cut into the felt in a spiral motion, turning the
felt piece around as you sew, and making the spiral smaller until you get the size of circle
you want.

Cutting tiny shapes

3
 Sewing and embroidery
These owls are embroidered and stitched together with embroidery floss.
In case you´re not familiar with one of the stitches, you can practice the stitches a few
times on a felt scraps before working on a doll. None of the stitches are difficult, but can
take some practice to get perfect. Always keep your stitches and the space between them
the same length. Be consistent with your sewing tension.
Or, if you want to keep embroidery to a minimum, you can sometimes glue on certain
elements, instead of embroidering them.
You can experiment and use your imagination to customize the project.

1. Applique stitch 2. Overcast stitch 3. Straight stitch 4. Blanket stitch

2 in 2 in
3 out
1in
1out
Keep thread
Working
at right angle direction

1. Appliqué Stitch: Stitching a felt piece onto a felt surface. Place the appliqué on the
background felt. Make tiny stitches perpendicular to the edge of the appliqué.
2. Overcast Stitch: Simple stitch over the edge of the felt. Also called whip-stitch, is
used to attach two pieces of felt. This isn´t a decorative stitch, so always use floss that
matches the color of the felt and make the stitches small and neat.
3. Straight Stitch: Use a simple straight stitch to create a motif.
4. Blanket stitch: The blanket stitch is both decorative and functional. Use this stitch
to accentuate an edge or to attach an appliqué.

4
 Head

Glue

Face
front
Head
front

Face
back

Eyes Beak Pupils Straight

stitch
Appliqué
stitch

Appliqué Appliqué
stitch stitch

Using the picture as a guide, arrange the face felt pieces on the front head piece. Tack the
pieces down with a pin or a dot of fabric glue to keep them in place while you sew.
First, glue the caramel heart shape in place using a dot of fabric glue. Pin the white face in
place on the head. Using the matching sewing thread and needle, appliqué stitch around
the edges using two strands of white embroidery floss. Keep the stitches small so you will
barely see them when you are finished.
Sew on the eyes and pupils with appliqué stitches in matching sewing thread. If you have
difficulties cutting out the tiny pupils, embroider a French knot or sew small satin stitches
to suggest the pupils.
Center the owl beak between the eyes, checking against the picture to position it correctly.
Thread an embroidery needle with one strand of caramel embroidery floss and sew
around the beak with a small, neat appliqué stitch.
Re-thread the needle with four strands of black floss and embroider the eyelashes with
one small straight stitches for each eye.

5
 Overcast
stitch darts
(wrong side)
Head Head
back front

Overcast
stitch

Stuff Overcast
Opening stitch
for stuffing

Overcast stitch the darts on front and back head pieces with two strands of beige floss,
making sure to sew them up on the wrong side of the felt.
Align the two head pieces together, right sides out. Thread an embroidery needle with
two strand of beige embroidery floss and sew the two head pieces together with a overcast
stitch. Stop stitching when opening is small enough for stuffing. Fill it with toy stuffing
and stitch it closed. Knot thread and cut off excess.

Wings
Overcast
stitch

Stuff
Wings
shapes

Overcast
stitch

Align two wing pieces (white + caramel), and sew together with a overcast stitch. Leave
a gap at the base of the each wing and fill it with a tiny amount of toy stuffing, using a
toothpick to arrange it evenly. Overcast stitch the gap closed.
6
 Body
Overcast
stitch darts
(wrong side)
Body
Belly

Straight
stitch
Opening for
Blanket stuffing
stitch
Overcast
stitch

Stuff

Running
stitch
Stitch loosely
around the edge
and pull to
tighten

Using four strands of caramel embroidery floss, add a few decorative stitches to the belly to
suggest feathers.
Overcast stitch the darts on the body and belly shapes with one strand of beige floss, making
sure to sew them up on the wrong side of the felt.
Stitch both body pieces to belly using blanket stitch and two strands of beige floss. Stitch
back together, leaving the top open.
Then, stuff firmly with toy stuffing. Continue to add a bit of stuffing so that the body is
stuffed firmly all the way. Run a gathering stitch just below the neck opening and tighten
the thread, closing the hole.

7
 Assembling
Position the head so that
it overlaps the body. Pin
head to body. Using an
embroidery needle and
one strand of gray floss,
attach with embroidery
thread using a ladder
stitch and going round
and round till the head
Ladder
stitch is nice and secure. If it
seems wobbly, go back
around one more time
with the stitching.

Button

Begin
Needle
Button
Button
Floss
Knot Knot

Cut approximately 20” of thread (I prefer to have more I really need). Thread the floss
through both holes of a button. Center the button in the middle of the piece of thread.
Thread both ends of the floss onto a long embroidery needle.
Follow the path on the illustration to attach the wings. Push the needle through the top of
the outer side of the right wing and pull the button with the arm. Tie a knot inside the right
wing. Push the needle in through the right shoulder and out through the left shoulder. Tie a
knot against the left shoulder. Push the needle through the top of the left wing and through
a button. Push the needle down through the other hole of that button, through the top of the
left wing and out the right armpit. Tie a knot against the body and snip off the excess thread.
8
Photo gallery

9
 Face
(cut 1)
Caramel

10
Beige
Head (cut 2)

Face
(cut 1)
White
 Belly
Body (cut 2)
(cut 1)
Beige
White

Pupil Eye
(cut 2) (cut 2)
white Black

Wing
(cut 2 white)
(cut 2 caramel)
Beak
(cut 1)

11
 ©2013 Paloma Rocha.
This pattern is intended for personal use only
and not for commercial resale. Photocopying,
emailing and the other copying to share these
instruction is strictly prohibited by law without
the designer´s written permission. Thank you
for respecting the designer´s copyright.

Please, visit my etsy shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Noialand
for more downloadable PDFs.