Sewing Tutorial: Patchwork Mini Fabric Elephant Cushions

Make your very own herd with this Fabric elephant Cushion tutorial…

This sewing tutorial uses the lovely bright colours of The Craft Cotton Company’s Indian Garden fabric range.  I love the bright bold colours and patterns of this range, they are perfect for summer.

I don’t think it’s possible to make too many of these, and I think this herd will be growing very soon! 

Fabric was gifted by The Craft Cotton Company.

Patchwork Mini Fabric Elephant Cushions

Materials

• Paper.
• Pencil.
• Ruler.
• Pins.
• Batting.
• Stuffing.
• Fabric: Indian Garden fabric by The Craft Cotton Company. 
• Scissors.
• Needle.
• Thread.

Patchwork Mini Fabric Elephant Cushions

1. Draw the templates for the elephants: 
   • On a piece of paper draw an elephant outline to the size you require excluding the tail and ears.  Then draw the ears separately.  Alternatively print out the templates in the picture and cut them out. 

2. Cutting out the fabric:
   • Using the paper templates cut out your fabric for the elephants.  You will need two pieces of the body in the same fabric.  For the ears, you will need two pieces for each ear and I opted for a different colour for the front and back.
   • Handy tip: cut the front and back pieces out at the same time placing the fabrics wrong sides together to ensure after cutting they are both the right way. 
   • Cut out two pieces of batting using the ear template.  For the tail cut out 2 pieces of fabric 3x10cm.  

3. Sewing the tail together: 
   • Place the two strips of fabric right sides together and sew down one side, along the bottom and up the other side leaving the top edge unsewn.  Turn the right way out.  

4. Sewing the elephant together: 
   • Place the back elephant piece right side up, take the tail and lay with the raw edge of the tail against the raw egde of the body piece and pin in place. Place the front elephant piece on top, pin and sew around the edge leaving a 4cm gap for turning.  

5. Making the ears:
   • Place the two pieces of ear fabric right sides together and place a piece of batting on top.  Sew around leaving the side edge unsewn.  Turn right way out and slip stitch to close.  

7. Stuffing and adding the ears: 
   • Turn the elephant right way out and stuff. Slipstitch closed the gap.  Slipstitch the ears onto each side of the elephant.   Knot the tail.  

The tutorial is also available for free over on The Craft Cotton Company’s blog.