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The Very Taggie Caterpillar

08/16/2011 Adrianne Surian 31 Comments

Ah, scrapbusters. The way I prove to my husband that it’s *actually wise* not to throw things away.

I’m not sure if this little guy is technically a good scrapbuster or not, since he takes barely any fabric, and under 2 feet total of various ribbon. But my daughter just LOVES him, so it’s a win-win since I didn’t need to buy a thing.

Taggie Caterpillar


Time: one hour or less

Supplies:

  • Basic Sewing Supplies
  • 2 – 3×12 inch pieces of fabric
  • 20-24 inches of ribbon in various colors and textures
  • Candle/lighter
  • Optional embroidery floss or felt for eyes/face

I was so pleased to recall this polka-dot fabric leftover, since it makes such a great caterpillar body. These circles are about and inch and a half wide, so when I followed the pattern of the fabric, it stitched up a little narrower than I might have done otherwise. But it worked!

First, cut your fabric to 12×3, give or take, and affix your face (if you plan to have one). Mine was an afterthought. Duh. Much, MUCH easier to do it first!  Trim your ribbons into 2″ lengths.  I cut 10 pairs of legs and a set of antennae.

Gently melt the edges over a *controlled* flame. This will keep them from fraying.

You can also cut 4″ lengths and fold them in half to avoid this step, but then you need to use twice as much ribbon. Pin it around one of your body pieces. You may want to arrange two at the head for antennae (I did). All of these ribbons will be pointing inward. I know this may seem odd, but since stuffies get stitched inside-out, you arrange everything sort of backward. Just think of him hugging himself with a whole lot of legs. (Arms? Legs. Can you hug with legs?)

Now place your other body piece so that the right sides are facing and the legs are all inside. If you decide you want to make him crinkly (I opted not to) you can cut a piece of 3×12 inch cellophane or firm plastic bag and layer that on top of everything. Think, wipes package, cereal bag, or chip bag rather than grocery store plastic. When in doubt, scrunch it and see how loud it is – the louder, the better!
Stitch along one side, the head and the other side. Once you’ve stitched it once, add another row of stitching. It won’t take long, and it will pay off when your seams stay closed. Leave the butt-end open. That’s where his stuffing goes in. Try not to make jokes about this as none of them are family-friendly. :P

Once he’s all stitched up, you can trim the excess from the edges – especially the corners.

Now, turn him right side out. You can accomplish this with a butterknife or a chosptick. It may be tempting to use your scissors since they are right there, but just be *really* careful not to poke any holes if you do.

This is when I realized he had no eyes, so I stitched a couple on with embroidery floss.  I hate when I get ahead of myself!

Now, stuff him fairly lightly. Enough to puff up, but not really firm.  Pin his rear end shut.

Topstitch the open end. You could also whipstitch it or blindstitch it if you prefer, but I opted for strength of seam over detail orientation.

Now, you are going to quilt him to create his segments. This was easy for me to see my guidelines. If you have used something striped or dotted, it should be fairly easy, otherwise, just measure how big you want the segments and mark them with tape or disappearing marker.

Backstitch at the beginning and end of each segment. It might be tough to get your stitching started, so use the legs to guide the body back and forth under your machine if you need to.

Then trim up your loose quilting threads, and give him to a kiddo to enjoy!

Fun, quick project! ~ Adrianne

I link to these fabulous parties!

Sewing Projects, Tutorials

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I love it when you love my work! All tutorials and photos published at Happy Hour Projects are copyrighted. If you would like to feature my tutorial on your website or share it on your social media you may use one photo to feature, as long as you provide a link back to the original post.

If you feature a photo, it may not be accompanied by the project tutorial or recipe, whether in my own words as it originally appears or paraphrased by you. This also includes personal sharing on social media and Pinterest. Publishing multiple photos from a project, or including instructions with an accompanying photo are not permitted and you will be asked to remove them.

I love to share my projects, and my tutorials, recipes, and e-books are ALL free for your personal use. However, photos and ideas that are published to this site are my protected intellectual property. You may print them at home, but please do not copy or distribute them. I also allow all designs to be made and sold at fundraisers, craft fairs, etc. If you are selling a piece made from one or more of my free tutorials in your online shop, I require that you use your own, original photography, and include a link back to my website to credit me as the designer.

I hope you enjoy what you read here, and please be fair when you share!

Comments

  1. Amy Walden says

    01/12/2018 at 9:59 pm

    I can’t view any of the pictures. Can you update your photobucket so they can be viewed on a Mac computer?

    Reply
  2. Kimberlyann says

    09/10/2011 at 10:24 pm

    This is a great idea! She seems to really like it too! I would love for you to link up with us at http://www.thesasselife.com/2011/09/link-party-2.html.
    Hope to see you there!
    New follower,
    Kim
    http://www.thesasselife.com

    Reply
  3. Erin of HomeSavvyAtoZ.com says

    08/28/2011 at 9:58 pm

    Hi Adrianne!

    Hi Sheryl!

    Your caterpillar post was one of the most visited thumbnails at Savvy HomeMade Monday last week and will be featured in tonight's post to start the party! Thank you so much for linking up. If you would like to grab a feature button you can find it here: http://www.homesavvyatoz.com/buttons/

    Reply
  4. Crystal says

    08/24/2011 at 1:38 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing your taggie caterpillar last week over on the mommy solution meme. It was the top viewed idea last week.

    http://www.crystalandcomp.com/2011/08/the-mommy-club-share-your-resources-and-solutions-6/

    Reply
  5. Denise McDonough says

    08/23/2011 at 11:29 pm

    I wish I could make these :( Legit! My best friend is having a baby soon and I would die for these for her :( Oh man I need to learn to sew!

    Thanks for stopping by Mommy2Nanny3Doggy1 :)

    Reply
  6. Confessions of a Stay at Home Mommy says

    08/23/2011 at 3:29 am

    Thanks for linking up to last week's Tuesday Confessional link party! You've been featured so grab a brag button and let everyone know that you are a big deal: http://www.craftyconfessions.com/2011/08/awesome-features-from-last-weeks.html
    This week's link party is going on now, so don't forget to link up!
    ~Macy

    Reply
  7. WhyCuzICan says

    08/20/2011 at 8:18 pm

    Wow, your childs reaction to holding the toy in her sweet hands (and mouth) says it all– you made a winner there :D

    Visiting from Ladybird Ln- Weekend Show Off Party,
    ~Suzanne in Illinois

    Reply
  8. Candace says

    08/20/2011 at 1:19 pm

    LOVE IT! So sweet and cute! I hope you will link up to Scrappy Saturdays linky party @ candacecreations.blogspot.com

    Reply
  9. Amanda says

    08/20/2011 at 4:18 am

    Very cute! Come link up sometime at I Made It! Monday.

    Reply
  10. Kristi says

    08/19/2011 at 10:41 pm

    Thanks for linking up!! I pinned your project and can't wait to try it.

    Reply
  11. Erica says

    08/19/2011 at 8:24 pm

    This is so cute. My son loves tags…I will have to make him one during nap time! Thanks for sharing. I hope you will link this to my Delight Me party over at Doodles & Doilies!

    Reply
  12. Melanie says

    08/19/2011 at 3:37 pm

    Love this! Hope you'll link it up to Crafts for Under Twenty Somethings! Going on now until Saturday at noon!!

    Melanie
    http://bearrabbitbear.blogspot.com/2011/08/crafts-for-under-twenty-somethings_17.html

    Reply
  13. Danielle says

    08/19/2011 at 4:20 am

    This is too cute1 I need to make one of these for my new nephew:> Thanks so much for linking up:>

    Reply
  14. Nicole says

    08/19/2011 at 1:19 am

    I've been working on making a taggy blanket…inspired by you! My machine is giving me fits though….this should not be so hard! I'd love to try a taggy caterpillar, too! This is a great idea! I'm putting it on my FB page! Thanks for linking to Thrifty Thursday!

    Reply
  15. Amber says

    08/19/2011 at 12:45 am

    What a cute project! Thanks for linking up!

    Reply
  16. Latin Coupon Queen says

    08/18/2011 at 8:02 pm

    Adorable! THis is super cute and the baby …speechless Super cuterz! :0)

    Reply
  17. Mo says

    08/18/2011 at 7:49 pm

    Oh my goodness, so cute!

    Reply
  18. Kimberly says

    08/18/2011 at 5:36 am

    That is so cute! And your sweet little girl is adorable! Great tutorial. I'm your newest follower, too.

    Reply
  19. Kristi says

    08/18/2011 at 1:49 am

    What a cute and simple idea!! I love it.
    Would love it if you got the chance to link up at my Baby Week Linky Party this week!
    Baby Week Linky @ Bowl of Cherrys

    Reply
  20. Sarah S says

    08/17/2011 at 9:19 pm

    This is adorable! My little girl is 18 months but I think she'd still love this. I'm going to have to do this for sure. Perhaps it will get me out of my sewing rut!

    Reply
  21. Ty and Whitty says

    08/17/2011 at 8:42 pm

    so adorable. Thank you so much for linking this up to mine and Lindsays Party Show and Share! I am your newest follower come follow me :)

    A mommy's life…with a touch of YELLOW
    tyandwhitneyulrich.blogspot.com

    Reply
  22. christina says

    08/17/2011 at 2:29 pm

    love this! wish i knew how to sew!!

    Reply
  23. Chrissy says

    08/17/2011 at 3:09 pm

    P.S. Im your newest follower (:

    Reply
  24. Chrissy says

    08/17/2011 at 3:08 pm

    AHhh I LOVE this!! My son had like 4 different taggies when he was a babe. I want to make this for my girl…but I don't know how to sew! lol Guess I need to learn!

    Chrissy @ formamas.blogspot.com

    Reply
  25. LeAnne says

    08/16/2011 at 11:29 pm

    This is adorable (and so is the baby!)!!! Love it!

    Reply
  26. oomph. says

    08/16/2011 at 8:14 pm

    this is such a great DIY! i remember seeing taggies in the store for insane amounts of money! the caterpillat is so cute!

    thanks so much for stopping by [oomph.]
    returning the follow :)

    Reply
  27. sstone says

    08/16/2011 at 6:37 pm

    Love it! Thanks for posting! I have all that stuff, so I'm gonna make one. I'll be following!:)

    Reply
  28. Kelly says

    08/16/2011 at 5:10 pm

    Hi there-

    I followed you from a blog hop last week but have been having issues with Blogger. I am “officially” following you now. I can't wait to see what you make next!

    Have a great week.

    Kelly
    http://kellydunne.blogspot.com

    Reply
  29. Stephanie says

    08/16/2011 at 3:48 pm

    This is just SO cute. I need to get a sewing machine ASAP. I've been DYING to learn, and you're cute projects make me want to start now! :)

    Reply
  30. royalegacy says

    08/16/2011 at 3:06 pm

    This is a darling sewing project.

    Following you back. Thanks for coming to my blog and following me.

    Danielle
    ~*Royalegacy*~

    Reply

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  1. Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Toddlers says:
    11/26/2014 at 3:06 pm

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Hello, and welcome! I'm Adrianne, an artist, author, designer, and blogger in mid Michigan. I work from home, chase my two kids, and this once-city-girl is learning how to care for chickens and adjusting to life out in the country. I have a compulsion for daily creativity... sometimes it's jewelry-making, paper crafting, metal stamping, mixing and baking, or giving new life to recycled items. But with 2 young kids, time is short! My goal here at Happy Hour Projects is to share projects and tips that you can do in an hour or less. The ideas you find here are designed to add a little creativity in your day, no matter how much (or how little) time you have!

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