Projects

Get crafty with this super cute project from from Meet Me At Mike’s – 26 crafty projects and things to make, by Pip Lincolne.

Claire’s wheat-bags are not just cute, they are really useful and can make you feel better in so many ways. Wheat-bags are not suitable for small children, but you could make this as a toy for a child or baby by filling it with toy stuffing rather than wheat.

project by: Claire Robertson
suitable for: beginners
should take: no more than 1 ½ hours

Shopping list

• 30 cm × 32 cm piece of canvas-weight fabric, such as canvas, corduroy or denim (Fabric 1)
• 21 cm × 32 cm piece of contrasting canvas-weight fabric (Fabric 2)
• 10 cm × 20 cm piece of gingham or dotted fabric for ear lining
• 5 cm × 5 cm scrap of white craft felt
• 5 cm × 5 cm scrap of dark-coloured craft felt
• Embroidery floss in white, black, red and pink, or colours to match your fabrics
• Approximately 800 g of wheat kernels or toy stuffing

Crafty needs

• Sewing machine
• Thread to match your fabric
• Paper scissors
• Fabric scissors
• Measuring tape or ruler
• Dressmaker’s pins
• Iron
• Seam ripper in case of mistakes
• Embroidery needle
• Funnel or A4 piece of paper
• Sewing needle

Pattern needs - click here to download [PDF]

• There are seven pattern pieces:
• Piece A (top panel)
• Piece B (face panel)
• Piece C (bottom panel)
• Piece D (ear)
• Piece E (legs and arms)
• Piece F (inside eye)
• Piece G (outside eye)

You will need to cut the following:

• From Fabric 1, cut two of piece A, two of piece C, two of piece D and four of piece E.
• From Fabric 2, cut two of piece B and four of piece E.
• From the gingham or dot fabric, cut two of piece D.
• From the white felt, cut two of piece F.
• From the dark felt, cut two of piece G.

Before you start sewing
Make sure your machine is threaded and your bobbin is full.
Note that seam allowances are 1 cm unless it says otherwise.
Sew each seam twice to stop fraying and add strength.
For best results, trim loose threads as you go.
Trim the seams and clip along the curves to give them a nicer shape once they are turned right side out and stuffed.

1. Make the body
With right sides together, pin a piece A to a piece B along the longest edge. Sew the seam. With right sides together again, pin the bottom of piece B to piece C along the longest edge and sew the seam. Repeat with the remaining piece A, piece B and piece C. One of these panels will form the back and the other the front of your softie wheat bag.

2. Make the face
Stitch the white felt eye pieces (G) onto the front piece B to make the face. You can use a backstitch or running stitch to stitch around the edges. Be sure to use only two strands of white embroidery thread for sharp results.

Now, you need to stitch the little dark eye pieces (F) on top of the white felt eyes – refer to the photo as a guide.

Add eyelashes using three nice, straight stitches. Stitch a little nose using pink embroidery floss – a small backstitch is fine, or a French knot works a treat. Stitch a mouth with pink embroidery floss, and perhaps some eyebrows if you feel like it.

3. Make the ears
Next, with right sides together, pin the inner ear fabric piece D (the gingham or dot fabric) to the outer ear fabric piece D. Machine sew the curved edges, leaving the straight edge open for turning out. Trim the seams close to the stitching. Clip along the curves to give them a nicer shape if stuffed, and turn right side out. Repeat for the other ear.

On the inside of the ear, where marked on the pattern, pull the gingham or dotted fabric into a pleat and stitch about 3 mm from the edge to hold the pleat in place. Repeat for the other ear.

4. Make the legs and arms
With right sides together, pin the matching limb pieces E together. Machine sew the seam, leaving the short, straight edge open for turning out. Repeat with the other E pieces to give you four lovely limbs in total.

Trim the seams close to the stitching and clip along the curves. Turn out the right way.

5. Sew it all together
Pin the ears, legs and arms onto the front panel – refer to the diagram.

Note that all the limbs should be facing inwards at this stage, so that they don’t get caught in the seams.

Machine sew into position about 2mm from the edge to secure.

With this front body panel facing you – and double checking that all the limbs and ears are tucked well inside, away from the seams – place the back body panel (made up of the three smaller panels) over the top, right side facing down, and match the two panels up around all four edges. Pin in place and machine sew all around, leaving a small gap between the legs for turning and filling.

Snip the corners, clip the seams close to the stitching and turn out.

6. Fill with wheat
You can use a funnel, or you can make a cone shape from a piece of A4 paper and some sticky tape.

Use this to funnel the wheat into the softie bag. Fill with wheat, then tip upside down so you can stitch the opening closed using small, tight stitches.

If stuffing with toy stuffing, stuff slowly and carefully, using small pieces of stuffing, until the shape is firm but cuddly. Then stitch closed with small, tight hand stitches.

Heat the wheat bag for 30 seconds in the microwave on medium–high heat or until it’s just warm, not hot (be sure to test the temperature carefully before you use it).

Safety notes

• Do not overheat wheat bags – check the temperature diligently.
• Wheat bags should not be given to small children.
• Use wheat bags only as a heat pack for direct application to the body.
• Never use them as bed warmers, as this is a fire risk.
• Do not reheat until the wheat bag has completely cooled.
• Unpick and refill the bag if the wheat starts to smell toasty.
• Do not put wheat bags into storage until they are completely cold.

WIN: We have one copy of Meet Me At Mike’s – 26 crafty projects and things to make, by Pip Lincolne, Hardie Grant Books, RRP $49.95, to give away.

To go in the draw to win this absolutely lovely book, just tell us in the comments box below what type of craft projects you like to make. (You must be logged in to enter).