Pollinator Pillows – Bird

Transfer all pattern markings to the fabric using a disappearing ink pen or tailors chalk.

Place Beak pieces right sides together and pin the two angled edges.

Stitch using a ½ inch seam allowance, leaving unpinned edge open.

Backstitch at the beginning and end of your seam.

Trim the corner. Be careful not to cut into the seam.

Turn right side out. Press

Stuff Beak to your desired fullness.

Pin the opened edge.

Baste it closed using a ¼ inch seam allowance.

Place one Bird A piece on a Bird B piece right sides together, carefully matching all of the notches. Pin.

TIP – This is quite a steep curve so pin it well.

NOTE – These pieces will match at the seam allowance. Do not match raw edges, as those will not match.

Stitch with a ½ inch seam allowance.

TIP – Take your time when stitching the curve.

Clip the curves so that the seam lays flat and does not pucker.

Press the seam open and flat.

TIP – Ensure that it is smooth on the right side of the fabric.

Repeat steps 2.1 to 2. 4 with the other set of Piece A and Piece B.

Place Piece C in the triangle shaped area between Piece A and Piece B. Match the notches on all three pieces carefully.

Stitch using a ½ inch seam allowance and backstitch at the beginning and end of your seam.

TIP – Be mindful of the point where all three panels meet and ensure that there are no holes.

Clip the curves on the seam.

NOTE – clip into the seam allowance along the curves, being careful not to clip into the stitching.

Press all the seams open and flat.

Repeat steps 2.6 to 2.9 for the other side of Piece C.

Pin Beak to the Bird at the notches and baste using a ¼ inch seam allowance.

Place both halves of the bird right sides together and pin or clip the outside edges together, leaving a 2-inch hole on the tummy side for the stuffing.

Stitch around the perimeter of the bird body with ½ inch seam allowance. Backstitch at the beginning and end of your seam.

TIP – Be mindful that the beak is sandwiched in correctly to ensure that all of its edges are caught in your seam.

Clip into the curves.

NOTE – clip into the seam allowance along the curves, being careful not to clip into the stitching.

Turn bird right side out and give the whole body a gentle press to remove any wrinkles.

Stuff Bird to your desired fullness.

TIP – Really stuff a lot into the pillow to make it extra huggable!

Use a slipstitch (also called a ‘ladder stitch’) to stitch the gap closed.

Fold your fabric under by ½ inch. You will be stitching along this folded edge.

Thread your needle, tying the two thread tail ends together in a knot. This will provide added strength to your finished seam.

Push the needle up and through one of the folded seams, from the inside of the lining to the outside, pulling the thread tail completely through.

The knotted end will now be nicely concealed within the seam on the inside.

Directly across from the starting point, push the needle down and then back up through the fold on the opposite seam fold to create a stitch that is between ⅛ to ¼ inch long. When the thread is pulled through, the stitch is concealed within the seam crease, and there will be a horizontal stitch connecting the left and right sides of the opening.

Repeat to the end of the opening. To tighten the stitches, gently pull the thread. This will conceal the stitches in between the seams.

To end, create a loop for your needle to pass through by picking up a tiny section of the opposite seam and passing the needle through the loop. Tighten to form a knot. Reinforce the stitching as needed by repeating this step

Poke the needle back into the fabric next to your stitching and pull it all the way through to the other side.

Pull the thread taut and snip it close to the fabric. Allow the thread tail to slip back inside the Bee Body so that the tail is now hidden inside.

NOTE – The stitches have been left loose in this picture to show what the ladder stitch looks like. Pull the thread through and taut after each stitch.

NOTE – The pictures do not depict the Bee Pillow being sewn, however the construction is the same.

OPTIONAL – Stitch on a button wherever you’d like for an Eye. Repeat for second side.

Congratulations! Your Bird Pillow is now complete!