Stuffed Monsters: Gus & Dorothy

Click image to enlarge

Designer: Patti Milazzo
Some of you may remember my one-eyed buddy, Luigi.  He’s a monster but of the most friendly sort.  And he has a couple of friends to introduce you to….meet Dorothy and Gus.  Yes, they too enjoy befriending small humans, sitting on desktops and shelves and to be simply adored by all.  They are softy, squishy and perfect for a game of toss or snuggling.  And like Luigi, they can be made using a mix of Fiskars sewing and paper crafting tools with fabric and felt.

As a special bonus, we've created a pdf file that you can view with the templates for both monsters, as well as the full instructions and lots of photos to help you create your own special new monster friends. Click HERE to view it.

Difficulty rating

Instructions (Print version)

Instructions for Dorothy:
1. Using either scissors or a rotary cutter, cut the following pieces:
  6 – petal shaped pieces from purple fabric (*see template)
  4 – foot shapes from orange felt (*see template)
  4 – Cut 4 wing shaped pieces from pink felt (*see template)
  2 – wedge shapes from teal felt. (*see template)
  1 – 3” strip of teeth cut with scissors.
  1 – 2” circle from white felt.  Use XL Round ‘n Round circle Squeeze Punch as template.
  1 – 1.5” circle from green felt. 
  1 – small circle from black felt.  Use Circle Pop Up Punch as template. 
  1- 5” piece of ribbon for bow

2. Machine or hand stitch monster features: 
-Stitch together 2 pieces for each foot – add a little fiber stuffing if you prefer. 
-Layer and stitch together pieces for the eye.
- Stitch together pairs of teal wedges for the ears.
-Stitch together pairs of wings.
Set these pieces aside.

3. To create the ball, start by taking 2 petals and placing them with right sides facing in, pin them together at the ends first.  Then position the wing in place (body of wing will be with the right side of the material) and pin to secure.  Now stitch along the side (following the curve – ¼” from the edge) from tip to tip.  Note: Backstitch where you begin and end to secure the thread.

4. As you did with the first piece, you will stitch on another 3rd piece.  Again, position the wing in place and pin – the body of the wing will be with the right side of the material.  Stitch from tip to tip backstitching as needed.  With 3 pieces sewn together you’ll have created one half (the back) of the sphere/ball.
5. Repeat steps 2 & 3 with the other 3 pieces of fabric but keep the 2 halves of the ball separate for now and set aside.

6. Add character’s facial features to the front half:
- Add felt eye, button eye and mouth with teeth face.
- Embroider across the bottom of the teeth with black embroidery thread.

7. Now with right sides of 2 halves facing in pin together the edges.  Tuck the teal ears inside the top of the head and pin in place.  Stitch almost all the way around – leave a 2 ½” hole to add fiber later.  Be careful to tuck the wings out of the way.   Turn monster right side out.
8. Hand stitch feet to base of sphere to secure.
9. Fill rest of monster with fiberfill or cotton fiber; hand stitch opening closed and you’re done with Dorothy!

Instructions for Gus:
1.  Using either scissors or a rotary cutter, cut the following pieces:
  6 – petal shaped pieces from black fabric (*see template)
  1 – foot shape from green felt (*see template)
  6– Cut ½” x 4” strips of orange material with Rotary Cutter
  4 – 3” x ½” pieces of orange felt.
  1 – 1” piece of white felt for tooth with scissors.
  1 – 2” circle from white felt – right eye.  Use XL Round ‘n Round circle Squeeze Punch as template.
  1 – 1.5” circle from white felt – left eye. 
  1 – 1.5” circle from purple felt.  This will be the eye lid
  2 – small circle from black felt.  Use Circle Pop Up Punch as template. 

2. Machine or hand stitch monster features: 
3. -Stitch together piece for foot . 
-Layer and stitch together pieces for the eyes.  For lid, fold purple circle in half and stitch.
Set these pieces aside.

4. To create the ball, start by taking 2 petals and placing them with right sides facing in, pin them together at the ends first.  Then position the 2 orange felt pieces in place (larger portion will be with the right side of the material) and pin to secure.  Now stitch along the side (following the curve – ¼” from the edge) from tip to tip.  Note: Backstitch where you begin and end to secure the thread.  Trim off any excess orange felt.
5. As you did with the first piece, you will stitch on another 3rd piece.  Again, position the orange felt piece in place and pin – the larger portion of the orange felt will be with the right side of the material.  Stitch from tip to tip backstitching as needed.  With 3 pieces sewn together you’ll have created one half (the back) of the sphere/ball.
6. Turn the back half right side out and trim down the orange felt ridges with Pinking Shears.
7. Repeat steps 2 & 3 with the other 3 pieces of fabric but keep the 2 halves of the ball separate for now and set aside.

8. Add character’s facial features to the front half:
-Add felt eyes and tooth.  Pin and machine stitch in place.
- Stitch across bottom of tooth.
9. Now with right sides of 2 halves facing in pin together the edges.  Tuck the orange fabric strips in place at the top of the head and pin in place.  Again the orange strips will be inside for now with the right side of the fabric.  Stitch almost all the way around – leave a 2 ½” hole to add fiber later.  Be careful to tuck the fabric strip hair out of the way.   Turn monster right side out.
10. Tie knots in orange fabric strip hair and trim ends with Pinking Shears.
11. Hand stitch foot to base of sphere to secure.
12. Fill rest of monster with fiberfill or cotton fiber; hand stitch opening closed and Gus is complete!

Supply List:
Fiskars Brands: 99947097 Non Stick No. 5 Micro-Tip® Scissors
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_no-5-non-stick-scissors.aspx
Fiskars Brands: 9997 7097 Non-Stick #8 Bent Scissors
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_no-8-non-stick-scissors.aspx
Fiskars Brands: 94457097 Pinking Shears
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_pinking-shears.aspx
Fiskars Brands: 12-7424 7097 Large Squeeze Punch - Round n’ Round
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_roundnnroundl.aspx
Fiskars Brands: 12-7414 7097 Extra Large Squeeze Punch - Round n’ Round
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_round-n-round.aspx
Fiskars Brands: 12-25637097 Pop-Up Punch – Circle
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_pop-up-punch-circle.aspx

Fiskars Brands: 94457097 Pinking Shears
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_pinking-shears.aspx
Fiskars Brands: 12-97987097  28 mm Stick Rotary Cutter
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_28mm-stickrotary.aspx
Fiskars Brands: 12-59777097 12-in-1 Sewing Multi-Tool
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_12-in-1-multi-tool.aspx
Fiskars Brands: 12-87287097  3” x 18” Acrylic Ruler with Grid
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_3-x-18-acrylic-ruler-coastal.aspx
Fiskars Brands: 12-83727097  24” x 36” Cutting Mat
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_24x36mat.aspx
Other: Fabric scraps (at least 7” x 3”); Felt scraps; black embroidery thread; dried beans or bean bag plastic pellets; Fiberfil or cotton batting