MAKING PAPER PATTERNS AND CUTTING OUT

1 Enlarge the pattern pieces (see page 67) on a photocopier – by 190% for the small owl and 215% for the large owl.

2 Trace all the pieces onto tracing paper but use it folded (and place the line indicated on fold to the folded tracing) for the back, the base, the face and the tummy.

Mark the arrows, dots, broken lines and crosses on each pattern piece, then cut out.

3 Use a dressmaker’s pencil to mark each piece separately on the wrong side of the fabric. Ensure that the arrows run in the same direction as the grain of the fabric. When cutting corduroy, have the nap of the fabric running downwards, ie the corduroy will feel smooth as you stroke it downwards.

4 For the small owl: From green/pale blue spotted fabric, cut 1 face to the fold, 1 pair of lower sides, 1 pair of upper sides and 1 back to the fold. From aqua patterned cotton fabric, cut 1 tummy to the fold and 1 base. From lime green felt, cut one pair of eye patches. From turquoise plain cotton fabric, cut 2 pairs of claws and 1 pair of beaks. From lime green plain cotton fabric, cut 2 pairs of wings. From 2oz wadding, cut 1 pair of wings. From turquoise felt, cut 1 pair of eyes.

5 For the large owl: From turquoise spotted fabric, cut 1 face to the fold and 1 pair of upper sides. From turquoise corduroy, cut 1 tummy to the fold, 1 pair of wings, 1 pair of lower sides, 1 back to the fold and 1 base to the fold.

From lime green felt, cut one pair of eye patches. From lime green plain cotton fabric, cut 2 pairs of claws and 1 pair of beaks. From turquoise patterned fabric and 2oz wadding, cut 1 pair of wings. From turquoise felt, cut 1 pair of eyes. From deep blue felt, cut 1 pair of 3.5cm-diameter circles for the inner eyes