Today we are sharing a project from this awesome book, Flip Dolls & Other Toys That Zip, Stack, Hide, Grab & Go. This adorable Peekaboo Turtle comes with a free template and instructions to help you as you go. They would make great early holiday gifts or babyshower gifts, don’t you think?
Check out the Peekaboo Turtle Tutorial from Flip Dolls & Other Toys That Zip, Stack, Hide, Grab & Go after the jump…
Peekaboo Turtle
Your little turtle comes out of her shell to say hello! Make a few extra shells for your turtle—even reptiles need options.
Difficulty – Moderate
special skills Embroidery Details (page 20)
Tools & Materials
Basic Sewing Tool Kit (page 10)
Peekaboo Turtle Template
11 x 14-inch (27.9 x 35.6 cm) piece of fabric for the body
12 x 16-inch (30.5 x 40.6 cm) piece of fabric for the inner shell
12 x 16-inch (30.5 x 40.6 cm) piece of fabric for the outer shell
8 x 14-inch (20.3 x 35.6 cm) piece of low-loft batting (see page 14; I prefer the softness of cotton batting for this project)
Threads to match fabrics
Stuffing
Embroidery floss for the eyes
Instructions
1 Copy the templates and cut them out.
2 Cut one of each Body template (Top and Bottom) in the body fabric, a Shell Top and Bottom from the inner shell fabric, and a Shell Top and Bottom from the outer shell fabric. Cut two low-loft batting pieces from the Bottom Shell template.
3 Stack the two Shell Bottom pieces with right sides facing on top of one piece of batting. Sew the layers, leaving a 1-inch (2.5 cm) opening. Clip slits in the seam allowance and turn right side out through the opening. Iron so that the edges of the opening are folded in. Topstitch around the edge, closing the opening as you go.
4 Sew the darts in the Shell Top pieces one at a time (these darts will add shape to the shell). Fold the fabric along the light gray lines and sew from the inside to the outer edge for each of the eight darts.
5 Stack the two shell top pieces, right sides facing, on the remaining batting, lining up the dart seams. Sew around the edge, leaving a small opening to turn the piece right side out. Clip slits in the seam allowance and turn right side out. Iron the shell, then topstitch around the edge, closing the opening as you go.
6 Tack the shell top to the shell bottom where indicated by black dots on the template. Make four strong tacking stitches in the topstitching on each dot.
7 Create the round head on the top body piece by pinning the curved edge A to the straight edge B of the turtle’s head. Sew edge A to edge B (or align the fabrics as you sew without pinning them first). Repeat on the other side of the head, sewing the straight edge C to the curved edge D.
8 Pin the top body to the bottom body with right sides facing, carefully lining up the newly sewn edges of the top head with the bottom head. Sew the top to the bottom, leaving a small opening in the hind leg. Clip small slits all the way around the body in the seam allowance right up to the seam. Take your time! Be careful not to cut through the seam, and pay special attention to sharp corners.
9 Turn the body right side out and poke out all points with a chopstick or other turning tool. Stuff the body firmly, adding small amounts of stuffing at a time. Sew the opening closed by hand using a ladder stitch.
10 Embroider the eyes using a satin stitch.
11Slip the turtle body into the turtle shell with the tacked points of the shell tucked in between the front and hind legs.
Now slip the turtle into a different shell. Maybe something with a stripe? What can I say? She’s fickle!
