Over on my Instagram @sewyeah (where I do most of my business these days!!) I am running a Photo a Day challenge entitled ADVENT ALPHABET, where everyday I am offering a christmas themed prompt to inspire my followers to showcase their festive preparations. (It’s fun you should come and join us!!)

Today is day 5: E IS FOR ELF and I’ve created this jolly little chap. I figured he would be good to entertain at the dinner table when we’re all sitting up waiting for the grub! As you can see instead of legs he’s got someones fingers – who knew knuckles make great elf knees!

Here’s everything you need to know if you want to have a go at making him

You will need

Felt in a variety of colours, matching embroidery threads, needle, scissors, small bells or buttons for decoration, toy stuffing, bondaweb or fabric glue, air erasable pen. 

TIPS:

• Use an overstitch to sew all the pieces together and a straight stitch when stitching decoration.

• I have taken time to change the colour of my thread to match the felt colour. This isn’t necessary and you could just sew in one colour all the time, but I think it looks nicer with different coloured threads. 

• To make my stitches finer and smaller I like to separate my embroidery threads out so I use just two of the normal six threads.

* Cut out all template pieces as directed. I have provided them at 100% and the booties and shorts fitted my fingers – before cutting the felt check they fit yours and adjust accordingly

To make his body

1. First fix the stripes to the jumper pieces. You can do this bey either using Bondaweb (a heat fusible webbing) or fabric glue.
2. Sew each hand to each sleeve piece.
3. Take one pair of arms and hands and place together stripes outer. Begin sewing the arms together from the shoulder down. 
4. Sew around the hand and before you start sewing up the underarm stuff the hand with a small amount of toy stuffing. 
5. Sew up the underarm, keep stuffing the arm as you sew – as the arms are quite narrow this is easier than trying to stuff when you have finished sewing. Repeat with the second arm. 
6. Take the two trouser pieces. On the front piece sew a decorative line vertical line as shown on the template. Place the front and back pieces together and sew together where indicated by the horizontal line.  Then sew around both the inner and outer leg holes.
7. Take one of the jumper pieces and pin to the front of the trousers. Stitch together. Then repeat at the back.
8. Place the front and back pieces of the body together and Sew up one side. When you reach the line marked on the template insert one of the arms. Pin in place and then sew through all layers of jumper and arm to secure. 
9. Repeat on the other side. Leave an opening at the top and then firmly stuff.

To make his head

1. Place the front hair piece onto the face piece then draw two eyes and a mouth on with tailors chalk or an air erasable pen. Embroider the features.
   
2. Sew the hair in place using a straight stitch to fix to the face. (Make sure when positioning the front hair and face that they match the shape of the back hair piece when lain all together) Sew some extra decorative hair lines if you wish.
3. Line the back of the head up with the front and sew together from one side of where the hair and face join to the other. Then stuff.
4. Line the back of his head up with the jumper opening and then sew together. Flip over and sew his face to the front of the jumper. You may want to add or remove stuffing as you close the hole depending on how many chins it looks like he has! 
5. Take the two ear pieces and pinch at the bottom and sew a couple of stitch to hold the shape. Then sew in place. 

To make his clothes

1. Cut the jacket shape from one piece of felt. Carefully fold and press the collar piece in place. Dress the Elf and sew a bell to secure the jacket closed. 
2. Cut the two hat pieces. Sew the main hat piece into a cone shape. Add a couple of bells to the top. Keeping the piece of thread you sewed the bells on with attached, sew one big stitch halfway down the hat and pull tight to make the hat fold over. Sew a couple of stitches to secure and then sew on the brim. 

To make the shoes

1. Line up point B on the sole with point A on the bootie back. Sew together. Work your way around the bootie to the front on one side until you get to the point of the sole. 
2. Fold the other half of the top of the bootie around the sole until the two curls of the bootie line up then sew the two curl pieces together. 
3. When you reach approximately half way up the bootie stop sewing and then sew back down the same seam till you reach the tip of the curl again.
4. Then finally sew to join the other half of the sole and bootie. 
5. Decorate with a bell on each bootie tip. 

Visit my instagram to see him dance!!..

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