Make a… rocket
Step 1 STITCH
your four rocket bodies using two strands of stranded cotton for the cross stitch and one strand for the backstitch. The front of the rocket shows the astronaut looking through the window, the two inner pieces have seats and panels, and the back should be the same as the front, but with the window removed, and replaced with the small separate chart on page 68, marked with a blue outline.
Step 2 MAKE
and attach your pockets following the instructions on page 69.
Step 3 TRIM
away some of the unstitched aida around the rocket, leaving 1.25cm (½in) on all edges, and follow the outer shape of the rocket as you cut. Turn the remaining unstitched fabric over and onto the wrong side of the rocket, but leaving approximately 5mm (⅛in) on the right side – this will create a white aida border around the rocket, and give you a place to machine stitch the layers together. Clip the corners near the rocket burners, and press in place. Repeat for the four rocket shapes.
Step 4 CUT
eight fins from green felt using the template provided. Place together in twos, and either use fabric glue, or use small, neat stitches to catch stitch the edges together. Place the front and left inner rocket together, wrong-sides facing, and the same for the back and inner right rocket. Place two fins at the bottom of each rocket section, with the edge of the fin between the layers and over the seam allowance. Place the end of a length of green ribbon between the layers on the front and back sections, so that when assembled they can be used to tie the rocket together. The two pieces of webbing are used to hold the front and back of the rocket together, and should be placed so that they form a hinge between the sections. Pin and then tack the edges of the front and back sections, making sure the fins, ribbon and webbing are held firmly in place.
Step 5 USE
white sewing thread to machine stitch around the edge of both rocket pieces. You can hand stitch around the edges, but you must make sure everything is held firmly in place. The astronauts and aliens can now take their positions in the pockets inside the ship. Ties or thin elastic can also be added to the upper seats to add extra seating.
Remember to stitch the back without the window – instead filling in with stitches as shown in the chart above...