How to sew a whale shark teddy

Summer sewing that makes a splash? Make this adorable whale shark teddy using fat quarters, a few simple tools and this fantastic FREE tutorial by Lesley Foster from The Craft Cotton Company! Looking for more whale inspiration? Check out our 24 wonderful whale patterns!

They might be little large to have a real one in the house, but you can easily fit this super cute whale shark into any room.

Materials

Blue fabric (we've used Blue Essential Fat Quarters by The Craft Cotton Company)
A small piece of pink fabric (we've used Pink Essential trends fat quarters range by The Craft Cotton Company)
Thread
Pins
Ruler
Pencil
Paper
Scissors
Toy stuffing
Black wool

Make step-by-step

Draw out an outline for a whale shark onto paper. This outline can be as big or as small as you want you final whale shark to be. You will also need to draw out two side fins, two different sized back fins (one large and one small) and an oval mouth.

Next cut out the paper templates and cut the body template in half lengthways.

Using the blue fabrics cut out the body pieces (4 for the body: 2 upper and 2 lower, 2 for each fin: one upper and one lower) leaving a 0.5cm seam allowance. Use the pink fabric for the oval mouth.

Take the 2 fabric pieces that make up one of the side fins and place right sides together and sew around leaving the bottom edge unsewn. Turn out the right way and repeat for the other fin.

Take the 2 fabrics pieces which make up the largest back fin place right sides together sew around the sides leaving the bottom edge unsewn. Turn out the right way and repeat for the smaller back fin.

Take one of the two upper body pieces and place right side up, take the two back fins and place so that the raw edges of the fins align with the raw edges of the body piece, place the other body piece right side down on top and sew down the side to join.

To create the ridge detail fold one side of the body in half and pin, next sew down just slightly from the top of the folded edge, repeat again on the same side by creating another fold between the middle of the body and the newly made ridge. Repeat on the other side of the body.

Take the two lower body pieces, place right sides together and sew down the side to join. Place the upper body piece in top of the lower body piece and trim down the lower body piece. Sew around to join leaving the top mouth edge unsewn.

Take the pink mouth oval and fold in half long ways and place on top of the sewn together body pieces, cut down to size so it fits the mouth area.

Place right sides together with the joined body pieces and sew to secure leaving a 6cm gap for turning. Turn out the right way, place in the toy stuffing and sew the gap closed.

Using the black wool sew on two eyes.

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