List of requirements

  • Front
  • • Plain fabric: 7”x 7” square
  • • Patterned fabric: 2 strips 4” wide x 7” high and 2 strips 4” high x 13” wide
  • Back
  • • Patterned fabric: Cut two pieces
  • • 13”wide x 12” high
  • Pocket
  • • Patterned fabric: Cut two pieces 3” x 3” square
  • Tooth
  • • White felt 11” x 7”
  • • Velcro (hook and loop fastener)
  • • Embroidery thread and needle
  • • Pencil paper and scissors to make tooth template
  • • 12” x 12” cushion pad
  • • All seam allowances ½” unless otherwise stated
  • Make pocket

    1. Lay two pieces of fabric right sides together.

    2. Sew up one side seam across the top and down the other side. Turn inside out. Turn in ½” on the bottom edge and sew seam closed.

    3. Press and leave to one side.

    Make tooth

    1. If you need help creating the “tooth”, log on to www.farmersjournal.ie/country-living and you will be able to download a template. Copy template and cut out of paper.

    2. Fold felt in half, lay pattern on top, draw around the edge and cut out.

    3. Take one piece and, using the photo as a guide, draw two eyes and a mouth. Embroider around the eyes and mouth using four strands of embroidery thread and stem stitch. See stem stitch note.

    4. On the other felt piece, attach two strips of Velcro (the softer loop side) down each side of the tooth by sewing around the edge of each strip and backstitching to secure in place.

    5. You now have two pieces of felt tooth: the front with the embroidery and the back with the Velcro. Lay these two pieces together, right sides out, and stitch around the edge, taking 1/8” seam, leaving a 1” opening at the top for stuffing. Stuff the tooth lightly, so it looks padded, rather than stuffed. Stitch opening closed. Leave to one side.

    Stem stitch: To make stem stitch come up through the front of the fabric, move forward one stitch to the right, going down into the fabric. Now come up at the back of the previous stitch. Continue, making sure your working thread is below your needle at all times. See diagram above.

    Pillow Front

    1. Lay pocket in the centre of the 7” plain square. Stitch down both sides and across the bottom, 1/8” in from the edge.

    2. Attach Velcro strips (hard, nylon hook side), as before, making sure they match the strips on the back of the tooth. See photo as a guide.

    3. Now, attach two strips of patterned fabric 4” x 7”, one to the top and one to the bottom. Press seams away from centre.

    4. Attach two strips of patterned fabric 4” by 13” to each side. Press seams away from centre. This is the front of the pillow complete.

    Pillow Back

    Turn under, press and sew a double fold 1” hem (1” + 1”) along one long edge of each backing overlap section See figure 2 online.

    Assembly

    1. Lay the pillow top right side up.

    2. Lay backing sections on top, right side down and overlapping each other, matching the edges all around. Sew ½” seam all around the outside edge. Trim corners. Turn right side out and press. Insert cushion.

    NOTE: If you are unable to download the template for the tooth online, please send a stamped, addressed A4 envelope to Sewing for Kids Series (tooth fairy pillow), Irish Country Living, Irish Farmers Journal, Bluebell, Dublin 12.