Rainbow Sunshine Plushie This is a simple and happy little plushie that any baby is sure to love—perfect for cuddling, exploring and chewing. Supplies: 6x12-inch piece of fleece (I love the cotton fleece, but it can be hard to come by…) Ribbons in a variety of colors (approximately 1inch wide) Thread to match your fabric Fiberfill Black embroidery floss Copy of the pattern Tools: Sewing machine Scissors Ruler Disappearing Marker Pins and a needle Project URL with photos: http://chezbeeperbebe.blo gspot.com/2010/02/tutori al-and-pattern-rainbowsunshine.html

This Sunshine Rainbow Plushie and its instructions were created by Holly Keller of Beeper Bébé. It is intended for personal use and may not be reproduced, copied, or reused without permission from Holly Keller/ Beeper Bébé. That said, please do use the instructions to make your own plushie for you or for gifts. Happy crafting!

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Instructions; 1. Print the template on page 3 and cut out. 2. Fold your piece of fleece in half so you have a double-layer. Pin the template to your layered fleece and cut around the edge of the template. 3. Cut your ribbons in a variety of lengths ranging from 2-4 inches. You will need approximately 14 pieces of ribbon, depending upon the width of the ribbon you are using. Most of mine were about 1-inch wide. 4. Determine the order of your ribbons (I did the color wheel thing on mine because I am obsessed with a color wheel effect as of late—but feel free to do your own thing, and in fact, I know you will because I have seen photos of the things my readers make from my tutorials and you all have a way of uniquely making these things yours…). Place your two circles of fleece together, right sides facing one another, wrong-sides facing out. Folding each piece of ribbon in half, sandwich it between the layers of fleece, pinning the ribbon pieces in place all along the perimeter (about ¼-inch of the ribbon should stick beyond the edge of the fleece) with about 1 inch between each ribbon, The ribbon pieces should face in—the fold of the ribbon facing toward the center of the fleece.

Your ribbon should face into the center like this & should be sandwiched between the layers, right sides of the fabric facing each other. Got that?

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5. Sew around the perimeter of the plushie (½ inch inseam), being sure to leave an opening where indicated on the template for stuffing later. Pay attention now—you will not sew the ribbon that sits within the area that needs to remain open for stuffing right now—that ribbon’s time will come, just not yet. Once you are done sewing, unpin the ribbon you have not sewn into place. 6. Turn the plushie right side out, taking care to push out the edges gently with a chop stick or the tip of your scissors. Place the plushie right side up, and fold the lower edge only of the opening in by about ½ an inch (it should be folded in just enough that it will look consistent with the rest of the seams and the lines of the plushie). Pin your unsewn piece of ribbon on this fold, facing outward as the rest of the ribbons are now. Using your sewing machine, sew along the bottom edge only, securing that ribbon in place.

Your plushie should look like this once you turn it right side out.

Place the remaining, unsecured ribbon between the layer of the opening here & sew into place, along the bottom edge only.

7. Stuff your plushie with fiberfill. Do not overstuff—keep it pillow-y and a little mooshy (yes, mooshy is a technical sewing term). Sew the opening closed using an invisible ladder stitch. Invisible ladder stitch Split stitch

8. Draw an embroidery face design (pages 3/4) onto the front of your plushie with disappearing marker. Using 4 strands of embroidery floss, embroider the face design, using a split stitch (above) for the mouth (as well as eyes & nose for the cheerier design) and satin stitch for the eyes/nose on the stoic face. Voila, people! You are done. Now go bestow your plushie upon a deserving baby. Or if you must, you can keep it all for you. 2

Rainbow Sunshine Plushie Template & Stoic Face Embroidery Design

Leave this much open for turning & stuffing later.

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Alternate Cheerier Face Embroidery Design

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