Ferdinand is a lovable frog, perfect for Valentine’s Day or any day. He’s got Velcro hands and feet so that he can hug a soft, plush heart (or a box of candy or another gift you have in mind). Oh, and with that golden crown he’s also a frog prince.
To make Ferdinand you’ll need:
- 1/2 yard of bright green fleece (like this)
- 6 inch x 12 inch piece of red fleece (like this)
- scraps of wool-blend felt in dark yellow and white
- a pair of 12mm black safety eyes
- black and white embroidery floss or Perle cotton, 18 inches of each
- 3/4 inch Velcro, 4 inches
- fiberfill stuffing
- coordinating all-purpose thread
Download the Ferdinand the Frog templates, print and cut them out (cut along the outer lines, stitch along the inner lines). Fleece is stretchy so be sure to align the arrows on the pattern pieces so that they’re parallel with the selvedge.
From bright green fleece cut:
- 2 bodies
- 8 arms/legs
From red fleece cut:
- 2 hearts
From yellow felt cut:
- 1 crown
From white felt cut:
- 2 eyes
Transfer the markings to the fabric with a disappearing fabric marker or chalk.
Cut the Velcro into four 1 inch pieces. Pin, then sew a piece to the palm on the right side of of four arm/leg pieces.
Pair up a Velcro limb with a plain one and stitch around, leaving the straight edge at the top open, as marked. Repeat to create 3 more limbs. Clip the curves, especially between and around the fingers, and turn the limbs right side out. Stuff the fingers and palms, leaving the remainder of each limb unstuffed. If you’d like, topstitch across the elbow/knee of each limb.
Pair up the body pieces, right sides together, and stitch around leaving gaps for the crown, arms, legs, and the stuffing opening.
Place the arms on your work table, one Velcro side up and one Velcro side down. Slide each arm through the stuffing opening and out at each arm opening. Pin.
Place the legs on your work table, Velcro side down. Slide each leg through the stuffing opening and out at each leg opening. Pin. (It helps to push the hands up into the head to get the out of the way.)
Slide the crown through the stuffing opening and up to the crown opening, aligning the straight edge with the edge of the head. Pin.
Stitch the arm, leg, and crown openings closed.
Clip the curves, especially at the neck and around each eye, and turn the frog right side out.
Use the tip of a pair of embroidery scissors or a ball point awl to poke a hole through each white felt circle slightly below center.
Poke eye holes in the frog as marked.
Slide the post of the safety eyes through the felt eyes, then through the frog. Push the washers on until they’re flush with the fabric. (Note that safety eyes are intended for children ages 3 and up. Embroider the eyes with satin stitch if you’re making this toy for a baby.)
Thread an embroidery needle with black floss (3 strands from 6-play floss) or Perle cotton and embroider the mouth with stem stitch.
Stuff the frog firmly, beginning with the eyes (hemostats are awesome for this!). Close the opening with ladder stitch.
To make the heart, place the two heart pieces right sides together. Pin, then stitch around, leaving the opening as marked.
Clip the curves and turn the heart right side out. Take two straight stitches with white embroidery floss (3 strands from 6-ply floss) or Perle cotton to make a highlight. Stuff the heart firmly and close the opening with ladder stitch.
(If you’d like, enlarge the heart template by 100% and make an even larger plush heart for Ferdinand!) Wrap Ferdinand’s arms around the heart, or another treat, and give him to someone you love for an un-frog-ettable Valentine’s Day!
I love your patterns! They are always so cheery and the finished products make me smile!
Charming! (Prince Charming?)
Thank you for the free pattern! It is so generous of you:). I made this as part of a baby gift which included a fabric basket , gauze swaddling blanket, burp cloths and wash cloths, all in coordinating frog prints. The frog came out so great, although I skipped the crown and Velcro, and sewed a little red heart on his chest. I’m in love with him! I wish I could show you a picture!
I already made a frog for my little boy and he adores it. We couldn’t wait for Valentine’s Day. Thanks!
Wow! that was so fast. Thank you for sewing Ferdinand!
What a cute frog. I am not a softie maker – but love your blog. I sew a lot of other things and make small dolls or animals in felt. But this frog is tempting me to actually machine sew a toy. I think a visit to the fabric store is in order – my grandson will hopefully love it. Thank you for the pattern and inspiration.
You’re welcome, Hilary.
My brother collects frogs. I can’t wait to make this for him. It is much bigger than I expected. I hope he has a suitable display area.
Why can’t I print the Ferdinand the Frog pattern information. The templet printed just fine but the instructions are blank.
Help, Lola
Hi Lola,
It sounds like you were able to print the templates just fine. I’m not sure I understand what you mean when you say that the instructions are blank. There aren’t any instructions to download here. They are part of the blog post. If you’d like to download a single document that contains patterns and instructions you can do that with any of my patterns in my shop.
Thank you!
Abby
I also love the whimsy and good feelings your creations bring. I do have a question, have ever tried pinking shears as an alternative to clipping curves?
Sure, pinking shears work great!
SO cute! My niece will love this for Valentines, thank you for sharing the pattern!
He is so adorable!!!!! Thank you for sharing! I have posted about him on my Hopeful Threads facebook page, as he will be perfect to sew for donation for our “FLUFF Project” which provides stuffed toys for children in foster care.
You did it again! Another cutie that I just want to eat up! Ferdi is on my list as number one new friend to sew for my little friends or even a big friend (me)! Thank you so much for all the free patterns you share. Oh BTW I love my eye thingy dingy you suggested for the safety eyes. I purchased two sizes. My hubby is starting to think I’m buying weapons with all the unique sewing supplies I purchase.
Thanks again, love you and you site!
Susie
He’s beautifully adorable. Thank you so much for your work.
Thank you for this — he’s adorable! 🙂
Thank you so much for the free pattern. I can’t wait to try it!! He is so adorable. Now we need a Frog Princess. 🙂 Absolutely your work, your blog, your business trips. So glad I found you!
Have great day!
Thanks, Christine. I’m seeing a frog with long Rapunzel braids!
Adorable!
i love your cute little frog!!! i love all your little design details, like the belly button 🙂
Hello Abby
This will be a great way for me to use up my green and red fleece which I bought 6 months ago! Really looking forward to making him! Can I also just say how much I love receiving your newsletter every week? Here in the UK it’s half term for my 3 little ones this week and I’m sure we will gave loads of fun making and playing with your free patterns- thank you so much 🙂
Rose xx
Thank you for reading the newsletter, Rose!
I love this. I cannot get the PDF pattern to load. I just get a page full of jargon. Can you email it to me please?
I’m sorry you’re having difficulty, Lori. Do you have Adobe Reader installed? I’m happy to email you the pattern templates, but you’ll need that program in order to open the PDF.
Happy Birthday and thanks for all your great patterns and ideas!
I would like to get this patterner please.
There is a link to download the templates in the post.
olá meu nome é Veronica, moro em Ceará,Brazil. Eu amo artesanato.Adorei o seu sapinho.Vou fazer com certeza.beijos
https://sewtales.wordpress.com/2016/10/26/frog/
Thanx for the inspiration!
Thank you for the free pattern of this frog I am going to make it out of cotton material instead of felt hope it will work out the same.
I think that will work, Donna, but it might be harder to turn right side out if the cotton you choose is not stretchy.
Thanks for this, it is so cute. I am a grandmother in my late sixties and I haven’t yet mastered blogs and such like but would like to attempt making some of your easier patterns. They look such fun.
So sweet, thanks for the pattern ! Have a good day
Thank you for the free pattern : Ferdinand the Frog.
I will be making him for my new grandson for Valentine’s Day
Just finished Ferdinand today. Just in time for Valentines Day! Great pattern and instructions. He is the cutest ever!! Thanks for sharing.
Oh yay! That’s great to hear. Thank you, Gayla.
I am Sewing Freddy The Foster Frog with the pattern of Ferdinand the frog and I would love you to email me the instructions and the pattern for the nonprofit…these frogs will be given to foster children to adopt.