https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/stag-head • Posted by Octopus Publishing
I made a huge one of these for our Christmas window display one year at The Makery, and months later he was still up there! We have so many comments and requests for the pattern, I thought it was high time I shared him with you all. This stag is somewhat smaller than my original, but equally charming, I think.
I made a huge one of these for our Christmas window display one year at The Makery, and months later he was still up there! We have so many comments and requests for the pattern, I thought it was high time I shared him with you all. This stag is somewhat smaller than my original, but equally charming, I think.
Make the antlers and ears Begin by cutting out all your felt and fabric pieces: 4 x antlers from the felt; 4 x ears, 2 x side heads, 1 x top head and 1 x back head from the fabric. Use pins to mark the ear positions and also points A and B on the side head pieces. Snip the notches on the side head and top head pieces. Use pins to mark the dots and the loop hanging position on the back head piece.
To make the antlers, first place one of the felt antler pieces on top of another and pin them together. Machine top-stitch all the way around the antler, leaving the bottom (straight) edge open – you need a very small seam allowance here, no more than 0.5cm ( in). Repeat with the other two felt antler pieces.
Now stuff the antlers. Gently push the stuffing in, a little at a time. You’ll find it very hard to poke the stuffing all the way into the ends with your fingers, so use a knitting needle. The antlers need to be rigid enough to stand up. No one likes a floppy antler.
For the ears, place one pair of fabric ear pieces right sides together and machine stitch round the curved sides with a 1cm (¼in) seam allowance, leaving the straight edge open. Clip the corners to reduce some bulk, then turn ear the right way out. Again, you might need your knitting needle to help you. Pinch the ear in half at the open seam and tack together at the bottom with a couple of hand stitches. Repeat for the other ear.
SEW AND STUFF the head Take one finished ear and tack it to one of the side head pieces, as noted on the pattern, on the right side of the fabric with raw edges aligned. You need to ensure that the open side of the ear is facing towards the nose of the head piece. Repeat with the other ear and second side head piece.
Take the top head piece and pin it to one side head piece, right sides together, matching the notches and point A. Machine stitch in place with a 1cm (¼in) seam allowance. Match the top head piece to the other side head piece, and again machine stitch in place, matching the notches.
Now machine stitch the two side head pieces together from the nose point around to the bottom of the neck, between the pins (points A to B on your pattern), leaving a 1cm (¼in) seam allowance.
Then machine stitch the two side head pieces together at the top, between points C and D. Pin and machine stitch in place with a 1cm (¼in) seam allowance.
Take the back head piece and pin it to the rest of the head, right sides together, all the way around the opening you’ve left at the back of the neck. Machine stitch in place with a 1cm (¼in) seam allowance, leaving a 10cm (4in) opening at the bottom. Clip all curves.
Turn the head right-side out and stuff it with polyester stuffing so that it’s rigid enough to stay upright.
Finish your stag Decide where you would like your stag’s eyes to be. I position them about 7.5cm (3in) apart and 6.5cm (2¾in) down from the antlers. Mark with tailor’s chalk or an erasable fabric marker.
To make the eye dimples, I have a nifty method that means you don’t end up with knots or ends. First cut a piece of thread about 80cm (32in) and fold it in half. Thread the two cut ends through the eye of the long needle, to make a big loop. Push the needle into one eye position and bring it out of the other eye – but don’t pull it all the way; you want to leave a loop on the first side.
Push the needle back in at the second eye, 0.2cm ( in) away from where it just came out, through to the first eye and through the loop. Now pull the needle all the way, making the thread taut so that it dimples the eyes and gives the face some shape. When you’re happy with the appearance, make a couple more stitches on each side, then finish by bringing the needle up some distance from the eye and snipping the thread neatly, so it disappears inside the the fabric and stuffing.
Now make a loop with the embroidery thread and stitch it to the marked position (given on the pattern) on the back head piece, so that you can hang your stag up for all to admire.7. Hand stitch the opening in the bottom of the head with ladder stitch. Position the antlers on the top of the stag’s head, as noted on the pattern. Hand stitch in place using ladder stitch.