Hen and Chicks Felt Playbook

Downloadable PDF Pattern:

Hen and Chicks Felt Playbook - Template

Instructions:

1. Print the pattern on an 8.5 x 11 inch paper, with narrow margins; you might want to enlarge it up to 10% since the felt sheets are 9x12 inches. Cut out the pattern and pin shapes onto the designated colors of felt or print on freezer paper and iron onto felt. Cut around the edges. Please note that some shapes need more than one piece and some pieces can be more easily cut using a scalloped fabric scissor and pinking shears. Remove paper patterns and pins.

2. Take the 2 hen bodies and lay them on top of the third and fourth pieces of orange felt. Cut them 1/4th inch larger than the original first two to make a seam allowance.

3. Arrange the eggshells, corn, and wings on the hen body pieces as shown. Place the eggs and corn on the slightly smaller pieces. Sew the wings and corn completely in place. For the eggs, sew only along the bottom half to create a pocket where the chicks can be placed later. Be sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of each row of stitches to reinforce the seams and make the pockets durable for play.

4. Sew the green corn husks completely in place. Sew the green grass so that it forms a pocket where the chicks can sit later. Finally, sew the yellow haystack along the bottom edge only, creating a flap that can be lifted to reveal the corn hidden underneath.

5. Trim any stray threads. Place wrong sides together for the front hen page and the back hen pages.

6. Begin inserting the antique gold beaks, red combs and wattles, and the gingham ribbon between the layers of felt, then pin them in place. Position the pins with the heads facing inward so you can sew over them easily without the heads getting in the way. Make sure the pieces are lined up carefully, so when the book is closed the pages align properly. Keep in mind that one orange piece is slightly larger than the other to allow for the seam allowance. Cut the ribbon to about 12 inches each—just enough length to tie a bow and keep the book closed. It’s best to leave the ribbon a little longer at first; you can always trim it later if needed.

7. Carefully begin stitching around the head area first, making sure each piece is securely stitched between the layers of felt. At certain points, you may need to use the full seam allowance, as felt can stretch slightly while sewing under the presser foot. This is why managing the layers carefully during this step is helpful. Once the head area is secured, stitch the front hen pieces together and then stitch the back hen pieces together.

8. Trim off the extra seam allowance for a smooth edge, being careful not to trim off the beak, comb, wattle, and ribbon. Trim threads.

9. Lay the hen pieces on top of each other and stitch a portion of the tailfeathers together along the most vertical part of the tail. This will create the binding or hinge of the book.

10. Now that the cover is complete, we can move on to hand sewing the chicks. I like to separate my embroidery floss into 2 strands out of the 6 for a finer stitch line, though this step is optional. Start by knotting the end of your thread and threading your needle. Then sew the facial details for each chick: For the first chick, sew two small black knot stitches for the eyes. For the second chick, sew two upside-down V-shaped eyes. For the third chick, sew simple slit-shaped eyes. After finishing each chick’s eyes, secure the thread with a knot on the back of the single layer of yellow felt before moving on.

11. Fold the beaks in place and stitch onto the front of the chicks. Tie bows with the gingham ribbons and stitch beneath each beak. Use a whip stitch to sew the front and the back of the chicks together, leaving a hole to insert the stuffing. Knot several times and hide the end of the thread inside the seam of the chicks.

12. Lastly, tuck your little chicks into their egg pockets and tie the bow on the mother hen playbook.