THE BASICS

BASTING THE TEMPLATES

THREAD BASTING

■ Trim a piece of fabric to in larger than your

EPP template around each edge.

■ Attach the paper template to the centre of the fabric, and pin to hold in place.

■ With a knotted length of thread in your needle, take a large running stitch along the top curve within the seam allowance (Fig 1). Draw up the thread to gather the fabric around the top of the template (Fig 2).

■ Backstitch within the seam allowance to secure the thread, and knot off.

■ Press the curve well with a hot iron. Leave to cool slightly, then remove the paper before pressing the curve again.

CUTTING OUT

When cutting the applique features and ears, mark half of the pieces required and then the template needs to be turned over to mark out the remaining half so that the pieces are cut as mirror images of each other.

For the applique features, trace the required templates onto the paper side of fusible webbing and cut out. Fuse the shapes to the wrong side of your fabric, following the manufacturer’s instructions, then cut out each shape neatly on the marked lines.

PREPARING EARS

Cut templates as instructed then place two pieces right sides together (note that for the Owl design you fold each ear, instead of cutting multiples). Sew along the top of the ear – leaving the bottom open for turning. Clip V-shaped notches in the seam allowance at regular intervals, taking care to avoid cutting the stitching. Turn right side out and press. Repeat for the other ear.

ATTACHING APPLIQUE FEATURES

Remove the backing paper. Position thefeatures onto one basted fabric scallop, referring to the pictures for placement, and then fuse in place. Repeat for any remaining features.

ATTACHING THE EARS

Arrange all of your clamshells onto a background fabric, taking care to cover raw seam allowances with the basted curved pieces. Pin all of the clamshells in place. To add the ears, tuck the raw fabric edges of the prepared shapes behind the clamshell face using a seam allowance of 3/8in. Adjust the position as desired and pin into place. Once all of the clamshells have been sewn in place, sew around each of the facial features to fully secure them.