Cute Zebra

t o f o llow
easy life
With a n d
tions By Paloma Rocha
instruc atterns.
size P

1
 Cute Zebra
. Size: 6” approximately
Please, read all of
the instructions before
starting your
project.
Materials
. White felt (5”x 9”).
. Black felt (8”x 7”).
. Scraps of gray felt.
. Stuffing.
. Embroidery floss.
. 2 safety eyes (8 mm).
. Black cotton yarn.

Cutting out shapes

Print a page 8 of this pdf, and cut out templates using scissors. Trace templates onto felt
using a felt marker or pencil and cut out on the line. Cut carefully so edges are vertical,
not slanted.

Cutting tiny shapes

Remove paper
pattern

Paper pattern
Felt
Cut

Cut out the paper pattern roughly and attach it onto felt. Roughly cut out the felt around
the pattern, which will be easier to maneuver and cut to final shape without removing
paper.
2
 Sewing and embroidery
These unicorn is embroidered and stitched together with embroidery floss.
In case you´re not familiar with one of the stitches, you can practice the stitches a few
times on a felt scraps before working on a softie. None of the stitches are difficult, but can
take some practice to get perfect. Always keep your stitches and the space between them
the same length. Be consistent with your sewing tension.
Or, if you want to keep embroidery to a minimum, you can sometimes glue on certain
elements, instead of embroidering them.
You can experiment and use your imagination to customize the project.

1. Applique stitch 2. Overcast stitch 3. Straight stitch 4. Back stitch

1out Working
2 in direction

3 out 2 in
1out
Keep thread Carry needle 1 stitch
beyond previous stitch
at right angle

5. French knot 6. Satin stitch 7. Lazy daisy 8. Running stitch

le
circ
Entwice

1. Appliqué Stitch: Stitching a felt piece onto a felt surface. Place the appliqué on the background
felt. Make tiny stitches perpendicular to the edge of the appliqué.
2. Overcast Stitch: Simple stitch over the edge of the felt. Also called whip-stitch, is used to attach
two pieces of felt. This isn´t a decorative stitch, so always use floss that matches the color of the felt and
make the stitches small and neat.
3. Straight Stitch: Use a simple straight stitch to create a motif.
4. Back Stitch: This simple stitch creates a solid line so it´s great for outlining shapes or creating text.
A backstitch gets its name because you create it moving the needle a stitch backward before moving it
forward to create the next stitch.
5. French Knots: The French knot produces a rounded knot that can be used to create a series of
decorative dots. To make it, bring the needle up at the point at which you want to make your French
knot, hold the thread and wrap it around the needle twice, as shown. Bring the needle back to the
starting point and put the point back through the fabric very near where it emerged (be careful not use
the same exact hole) . Pull the needle to the back of the felt and pull taut.
6. Satin Stitch: The satin stitch is composed of parallel rows of straight stitch and is often used to fill
in an area with floss. The make very nice eyes and noses on softies.
7. Lazy daisy: Make a small loop and then anchor it with a single stitch at top for the decorative stitch
that resembles a flower petal.
8. Running Stitch: The running stitch is simple to make. Make this stitch by weaving the needle
through the felt at evenly spaced intervals. Just be careful to keep the length of your stitches and the
space between them same length.

3
 Appliqué
stitch 4
3
Inser
t
eye

French
1 knot
Eyee
hol
Stuff
2
Back
stitch © Paloma Rocha 2016
Straight
Overcast stitch stitch
the darts
(wrong side)

5
Running
stitch

Overcast Stuff
stitch
8

9 10 11

Overcast stitch Overcast

the darts stitch
(wrong side)

4
 Appliqué stitch
Cut slices

12 13

Overcast
15
stitch

Fold
Fold

Paint
s
Overcast th cheek
e
stitch
16

14
Overcast
stitch

1. Using the templates, cut the doll pieces from felt.

2. Embroider a curved mouth with two strands of light gray embroidery floss and a few
back stitches. Make the nose with two French knots, as shown.
3. Using the picture as a guide, arrange the snout felt piece on the head front. Tack the piece
down with a pin to keep it in place while you sew. Using the matching embroidery thread
and needle, appliqué stitch around the edges leaving a gap open.
4. Lightly pad the snout with a little toy stuffing, using a toothpick to help you to get
padding even. Carefully, make two tiny holes with the tip of a very sharp pair of embroidery
scissors. Insert safety eyes and connectors at back.

5
5. Overcast stitch the darts on front and back head pieces with two strands of matching
floss, making sure to sew them up on the wrong side of the felt.
6. Thread the needle with two strands of black floss. Make the brows by sewing a tiny
straight stitch and, if you like, add little eyelashes at the outer corner of the eyes.
Carefully arrange all the black pieces on zebra front and back, using the picture as a guide
(see page 9). Pin or glue the pieces in position. Then sew the stripes with matching thread
around the edges using running stitch.
7. Fold the sides of underbody piece together and stitch the center on the wrong side using
overcast stitch . Fold the legs back against underbody piece and stitch the gaps closed at
leg joints on the wrong side.
8. Stitch together back legs and underlegs, using the picture as a guide.
9. Tie two knots in the yarn, as shown in the diagram.
10. Align the two zebra shapes together, so the tail is sandwiched in the middle, and thread
an embroidery needle with two strands of matching embroidery floss. Stitch the shapes
together using overcast stitch, leaving a gap open.
11. Fill it firmly with toy stuffing. I like stuff the legs while I sew. When you think you’ve
put enough stuff in the zebra, add a bit more and stitch it closed.
12. Stitch the mane to head, using appliqué stitch and two strands of black floss.
13. Cut straight slices into the mane shape, being careful not cut until the edges, to create
tufts.
14. Align the two ears pieces (gray + black) and sew together with a overcast stitch, using
two strands of black embroidery floss. Fold the ears in half and stitch their bottom using
the picture as a guide.
15. Stitch the ears to the head.
16. To paint the cheeks, rub a pink artist pastel onto a piece of paper and then apply the
resulting powder to the zebra with a soft blush.

6
7
 Stripes (See page 9)
Black

Zebra (cut 2)
White

Ears
(cut 4)
2 Gray
2 Black Snout (cut 1)
Black

Mane (cut 1)
Black

Underlegs
(cut 1)
White

8
Stripes template
(real size)

9
 Designed by:

Noia Land
©2016 Paloma Rocha.
www.noialand.com

©2016 Paloma Rocha.

This pattern is intended for personal use only
and not for commercial resale. Photocopying,
emailing and the other copying to share these
instruction is strictly prohibited by law without
the designer´s written permission. Thank you
for respecting the designer´s copyright.

10