I love simplicity in design – a single shape cleverly manipulated becomes something unexpected. It’s so pleasing! Today I have a free softie pattern to share with you that I think encapsulates this concept. It’s called Circle Bird and it’s made of two circles. Let’s see how it works!
You’ll need:
- 1/4 yard of fleece or felt in the main body color
- scrap of fleece or felt for the belly
- scrap of orange felt for the beak
- pair of 12mm black safety eyes with washers
- black embroidery floss or size 8 perle cotton, 12 inches
- coordinating all-purpose thread
- fiberfill stuffing
- Optional: poly pellets and a length of old pantyhose for stuffing the body; blush for the cheeks
Download the Circle Bird pattern templates and print them out.
From the body fabric cut 1 body circle, 2 head circles, 2 tail pieces, and 4 wing pieces. From the belly fabric cut one body circle. From the felt cut one beak piece.
Place the two body circles right sides together and sew almost all the way around, leaving a 1-inch opening for turning and stuffing. Do the same with the two head circles. Clip the curves and turn both the body and head right side out.
Use the tip of a pair of embroidery scissors or a ball point awl to poke two holes on either side of the head for the eyes. Insert the safety eyes from the right side of the fabric and slide the washers onto the posts until they’re flush with the wrong side of the fabric.
Thread an embroidery needle with black Perle cotton (or 2 strands from a length of 6-ply floss) and tie a knot at the end. Take two small straight stitches next to each eye to form eyelashes. Tie off on the inside of the head. Repeat for the other eye.
Stuff the head firmly with fiberfill. Close the opening with ladder stitch. Center the beak on the front seam. Hand stitch the beak in place with coordinating thread using small backstitches.
Place two wing pieces right sides together. Pin, then stitch around, leaving the opening as marked. Clip the curves and turn the wing right side out. Close the opening with ladder stitch. Repeat for the second wing.
Make the tail in the same way. Fold the raw edges under 1/4 inch and close the opening with ladder stitch.
Optional: Cut off a 5 inch length of pantyhose and tie a knot in one end. Fill with poly pellets, then tie off the other end. Slip the pantyhose bag inside the bird’s body. Stuff the rest of the body with fiberfill (hemostats are helpful for this task!). Close the opening with ladder stitch.
Place the head on the body and pin it in place. Ladder stitch the head to the body, going around twice so that the attachment is firm.
Place the wings on the bird and tack down along the top edge. Place the tail on the bird and tack down along the straight edge so that the tail sticks up. Optional: blush the cheeks with a little bit of blush.
Give your Circle Bird a hug!
Abby, this is so cute. And I love circles and round things, so I especially adore this little bird. Thank you for sharing your beautiful work!
Super cute! I’m definitely going to stitch one up. Thanks.
So cute! Once I get my sewing machine unpacked, I might just have to make one of these.
So adorable! I really love the little details, like the eyelashes and blush cheeks. Thanks for sharing this pattern!
Thank you!
Love this little bird! So cute and so easy to follow your instructions. Thanks
You’re welcome!
I love this! Do you think it would work to use felt instead of fleece? I made this bluebird costume for my baby and it would be cute to do a matching softie bluebird 🙂
http://www.marthastewart.com/911340/bluebird-halloween-costume
Yes, you can definitely use felt rather than fleece.
cui cui or piou piou . It is a funny bird . Thankyou very much
best regards
michele
Thanks for posting this! I have been looking to make a cute gift for a friend’s 5 year old and this is perfect!
As a small business owner I really enjoy reading your emails. Informative and helpful. Thanks for the free pattern. I will definitely make one.
Always enjoy your words of wisdom, and
Thank you for your generosity Love this little bird…
I see an Easter basket addition ahead.
Thank you!
I love it! Thank you so very much! I shared it on my facebook also. Hope you get a lot of customers! You are great.
Linda in OK
This is really cute.
This is an adorable pattern. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Absolutely adorable! I love this.
This little bird is just too cute! I love the vintage look of it.
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing your talents.
The yellow chic is TOO cute – the simplicity pull you in!
The other animals are adorable too – These softies would be perfect in stockings hung by the fire.
I look forward to exploring your site.
Thank you!
The bird is just darling! But I do have a question – I love the polly pellets, as it does give weight to a softie; but how do you get that large of a panty hose pellet filled stocking into a small opening??? It appears that the circle has to be sewn around the pellet ‘ball’! How does one accomplish this?? Thanks!!
Hi Tami, Great question! The pantyhose bag of pellets is super malleable. You basically just sorta squish it and push on it with your fingers until it pops right inside the small opening.
This is very cute and I plan to make several in different colors.
I’m afraid I am missing the instructions for attaching the different colored belly fabric, though; I see where the cut out instructions are but am I just missing the sewing instructions?
To make the belly white just cut one of the larger circles in white and one in yellow. They are the same piece, just cut in different colors. I hope that helps!
Thank You 🙂
OK, I haven’t tried to make this so I must be missing something. Are the tail pieces and wing pieces made from circles, too? It just says, “Place two wing pieces…” . I’m old (7 0) and I just don’t get it.
Hi Sue, Could you download the template sheet? That will give you the wind and tail pieces.
OK, I told you I was missing something – these little old eyes missed the template pattern. Boy, this sure makes things easier! Thanks for your help and patience
i signed up for your news letter and got the pattern for the squishy owl but Im unable to print the pattern
Hi, I’m not sure which pattern you’re referring to. Please email me for customer service inquires.