Hi everyone! I’m excited to share this easy sewing project with you! Today, we’ll be sewing a simple felt dog that’s perfect for kids ages 6 and up (with a bit of adult supervision!). This project is a fantastic way to learn sewing basics while letting their creativity shine. Ready to get started? Let’s create our furry friend!

What You’ll Need:

• Felt (in your chosen colors for body)
• Free Dog pattern (link below)
• Sharpie Creative Markers (or similar) for tracing
• Embroidery floss (try to match the colors to your felt)
• Needle with the big eye / Embroidery Needle (a child-friendly one works best)
• Scissors
• Stuffing (polyester filler, scrap felt, or even ripped-up plastic grocery bags)

Step 1: Trace and Cut

First, grab your free dog pattern, click the pattern image below to download it, and print it out, and let’s get tracing! The pattern includes the dog’s body, legs, ears, and tail.

Lay the pattern pieces on your felt and use your marker to trace around them. Remember to flip the pattern pieces when tracing any that you need to cut out twice; this ensures they match up perfectly when you sew. After tracing, carefully cut out your felt pieces, trimming any marker lines off where possible. Don’t forget to save any scraps as they make great stuffing for your dog!

     

Step 2: Create Eyes

Now, let’s add some adorable eyes and a nose! You can either use small pieces of felt (perhaps in a contrasting color) for the eyes and nose or create simple stitched versions.

Make a simple knot at the end of the embroidery floss, then poke the needle from the back of the dog’s body piece to the front where you want the eye to be. Secure it by making a “knot stitch” — just pull the thread tight and tie a little knot by looping the floss and pulling it through. If you want a bigger eye you can repeat this a few times, I did 3 stitches for my dogs eyes.  Repeat for the second eye, ensuring the knots are on the inside of the dog piece.

Step 3: Adding the Ears & Legs

Now, let’s attach the ears and legs. Place two back leg pieces on either side of the dog’s body piece. Thread your needle again and use another simple knot stitch to secure them in place. Repeat with the front legs and the ears.

Step 4: Start Sewing the Body

Begin sewing at the back leg area of the dog. Knot your starting stitch behind one of the legs, and use a blanket stitch around the bottom of the dog’s body, pausing when you reach where you want to add the tail.

How to Blanket Stitch: To make a blanket stitch, start by threading a needle with some sturdy thread and tying a knot at the end. Choose the edge of your fabric where you want to start stitching. Poke the needle up from the back of the fabric, so the knot is hidden. Pull it all the way through. Next, bring the needle back down into the fabric a little bit away from where you came up, then pull it through again. Before you pull the thread all the way tight, loop the thread around the edge of the fabric and bring the needle back through the hole where you first poked it up. Keep repeating this process, making sure to keep the stitches evenly spaced and pulling the thread tight each time, until you reach the end of your stitching line.

Step 5: Add the Tail

When you reach the bottom of the dog, it’s tail time! Place the tail between the two body pieces of felt and use a running stitch to sew it in place.

How to do a Running Stitch: To make a running stitch, start by getting your needle and thread ready with a knot at the end. Begin by pushing the needle up through the fabric from the back to the front, pulling it all the way through. Then, move the needle a little forward and poke it back down through the fabric making sure to leave a small space. Pull it through until the thread is tight. Next, poke the needle back up through the fabric right where you came down so it makes a little stitch. Keep going back and forth, moving forward a little each time and sticking the needle down and then back up, making sure the stitches are nice and straight. Continue until you reach the end of where you want to stitch!

Step 6: Continue Sewing A Blanket Stitch

Once you have the tail attached, continue with a blanket stitch up the back of the dog, around the dog’s face and neck, pausing when you reach the dog’s front legs.