For some time I have been intending to put up a tutorial. It all seemed too complicated and unattainable as I thought it all a great mystery needing skills that seemed lacking. This week Mery, from Indonesia, asked if there was a pattern available for this project.
Ironically this was the project I have been thinking of sharing when it was created last year as a swap. So the time to tackle my timidity re the computer arrived. How embarrassing! Once I found a tutorial, asked some basic questions and followed the prompts it was possible but incredibly time consuming. Isn’t that always the case with unfounded fears and over thinking? Sometimes we just need a prod; so many heartfelt thanks to Mery for prodding.
MATERIALS:
This project only uses small amounts of felt and basic sewing skills.
For the hen and egg
you will need a square of white felt around 8” or 20cm ,
Scraps of red felt for the tongue, comb and wattle,
plus a very tiny scrap of orange or yellow for the beak.
The chicken
needs 3in square or 8cm of yellow,
also teeny piece of orange felt for the beak and feet.
Eyes.
I used black beads smaller for the chicken but if you are making for a very young child you may prefer to embroider or stitch on felt eyes.
Other bits :
Embroidery threads to match in white, red,orange and yellow . I used two strands of embroidery thread and mainly blanket stitch. The detail on the wing is a long straight stitch through both layers. The bead eyes I attach with a strong thread such as quilting thread or bead thread and make sure that they are well secured.
You will also need scissors, needles and pins plus a small amount of filling for the chick.
The egg sections were machine stitched, turned out and finished with a button and loop made by over sewing several strands of thread with buttonhole stitch pushed close together.You may want to use a novelty or plain button or even a hook and eye .
TO BEGIN:
Cut out your shapes- this is what you will have.
HEN
1. Cut a small slit in one of the hen pieces, a little below halfway and centered. Make it just big enough to fit the tail through ( you can see this on the above photo as a purple line on one of the hen body shapes). Stitch on the tail ( I did this on the back), then on the right side fold the tail to cover the slash and catch it at the sides with a couple of tiny stitches ,or if you prefer whip stitch it to the body section.
2. Place your beak and wattle on the hen. Pin the wattle onto the body piece so that it looks like an upside down heart and remove the beak for now. Stitch on the wattle, all around, with a small blanket stitch in matching thread.
4. Place the front and back of the hen together with the red comb placed at the top between the two pieces and blanket stitch together all around the sides. Leave the bottom open.
5. I blanket stitched along the bottom edge to neaten, but this is up to personal preference.
Wings:
The wings are made from paired felt shapes. This makes them firm and allows a slight curve. Pin the wing to the body referring to the photo . Stitch the two shapes together till you reach the point where it joins the body and then only stitch though a single layer at a time. When the wing is attached make a long straight stitch through both layers from each small curve on the underside of the wing.This helps to give the wing a small curve to the front.
Your hen egg- cosy or small puppet is finished and that was the “hard ” bit .
CHICKEN:
1. Onto one body piece place eyes and beak. It is easier to attach the beak first and then place the eyes. The beak is tiny and you may prefer to glue it on. I like to stitch, but again choose what best suits your style.
2. Sew the body together around the sides. There will be an opening at the base, cut a shape to fit after stuffing as the size of the opening changes . Stuff the body so that it becomes firm and egg-shaped, then tuck in the feet and close.
EGG
Pair the oval sections . Sew the two pairs together leaving a big enough opening to allow the chicken to be inserted. At one of side of the opening you may want to make a buttonloop and on the other sew on a button.
You may choose to make the egg first so the chick fits in better – so which comes first is entirely up to you. ENJOY
Copyright.
The pattern is given freely for personal use to make items to, donate, sell and gift; however not to commercially mass produce . I would be pleased to be credited as the designer and thrilled to hear from you and see your results.Please do not alter or sell the pattern.
