The Sewing Lesson that Nobody Asked For – How to Make a Platypus

Cause why not?

Here’s our printable platypus pattern. Make sure the pattern prints to a full 8.5×11.

First, cut your pieces from your fabric and place the body pieces right sides together.

Whip stitch around the outer edge leaving the top of the head open. (The head is the wider end). Then, flip it right sides out. Use a pin or a needle to pull out the four leg points so they stick out nicely.

Now, on to the bill. We used embroidery floss to create the nostrils, although you can draw them on as well. Place them together and whip stitch around the entire bill, leaving the bottom open.

Then, stuff both the body and the bill. Don’t stuff the tail too tightly, because we will make some cross hatch stitches through the whole tail at the end.

Now we want to attach the bill to the head. Put the head of the body into the open part of the bill, and whip stitch the bill to the body. Stitch across the top and then across the bottom, back to where you began.

Using a thick thread like embroidery floss, make straight parallel lines through the tail, and then do the same facing the other direction to create a cross hatch look.

Now let’s add in the feet! One by one, twist the bottom part of the foot. Using a pencil, line it up with one of the points and push it into the body so that the bottom of the foot is sucked into the point. Then stitch it in place.

Mini Turtle Pin Cushion (or stuffie!) Tutorial

Everyone needs a turtle pin cushion, right? So let’s make one! Here’s our printable pattern and tutorial! 🙂

First, start by cutting out all of your pieces. And there’s a lot! Then, we’ll sew the shell first. Take the middle of the shell and one of the side pieces, and right side them together, lining up the top of the side piece with one edge of the top piece. Then, whip stitch it together and repeat that step with all 5 of the side pieces.

Next, sew each side of the side pieces together to close the entire top of the shell.

Now that we’ve got the top done, time to sew the legs, head, and tail. Simply whip stitch all the way around leaving the bottoms open, flip right sides out and add a bit of stuffing.

Now it’s time to pin them into the shell. It is important to note that the turtle head and tail can be flat or sideways depending on how you insert them. The green turtle has a sideways head and tail, and the orange turtle has a flat head and tail.

Inset them all facing inward to the right side of the shell, and pin them in place, like so:

Simply flip the tail and the head sideways if you prefer the orange turtle.

Next we want to prep the bottom of the shell. Take one piece of the bottom, and fold in the flat edge according to the seam allowance on the pattern. Pin that down, and line up that half right sides together with the top of the shell, closing the legs inside.

Whip stitch around the outer edge making sure you are sewing far enough in to capture the legs, tail and head! Then, line up the second piece (no need to fold the flat edge this time) and sew that down as well. The flat edge of the second piece should just cover the fold of the first piece.

Time to flip! Once you’ve got it right sided out, fill it with some stuffing. Then, tuck in the edge of the unfolded side and stitch the hole shut.

The last thing to do is add your eyes! Either draw them on, or glue on some googlies! Cutest turtle ever? We think so!