Written by Cuddle® Ambassador Laura Severson
Hi, I’m Laura Severson, a Shannon Fabrics Cuddle® Ambassador and owner of Chase + Charlie! As we get closer to the holiday season, I have a quick, easy project that you can make as a gift. This was a perfect project for a beginner, and is absolutely adorable!
Recommended fabrics and notions for making a Cuddle® 3 Stuffed Snowman
Optional supplies for working with Cuddle®
How to make a stuffed snowman using Cuddle® fabrics
I started by using a pattern I found from Easily Made Designs. This pattern had several different options for stuffies, but I thought the snowman was the best!
Step 1. Print and Cut Pattern Pieces
The pattern comes with pieces the size to make a small stuffie. I wanted to make both a large and a small one, so after I printed the pattern pieces, I made an enlarged copy at 150%. The pattern pieces can be copied/enlarged on your home printer.
Step 2. Cut Out Fabric Pieces
After enlarging and cutting out the pattern pieces, I placed them on the back side of my fabrics and traced around them. First, make sure the nap of your fabric is going the correct direction. Then, place your pattern piece on the fabric and trace around it with a felt tipped marker dark enough that you can see it. After I cut my pieces, I used my handheld vacuum to pick up stray fibers and keep my workstation clean.
The first step in sewing the snowman is to sew the nose and attach it to the body. To make the nose, place the two nose pieces right sides together and stitch around two of the three sides, leaving the bottom open. Trim around the edge and flip it inside out. Then, using a slip stitch, hand sew it to the opening of the body for the nose. Use pins to ensure the seams of the nose are on the top and bottom.
Step 4. Sew Arms and Stitch to Body
I made a slight modification in this pattern and I stitched the arms to the body instead of hand stitching them to the body after it was finished. So, take two arm pieces and lay them right sides together. Sew around three of the four sides, leaving one side open. Also make sure you leave a small opening for you to stuff them after you have attached them to the body. I placed them just below the neck of the snowman and pinned them down. I basted them to the body piece of the snowman.
Step 5. Stitch the Body
Next, I placed the back body piece on top of the front body piece, right sides together. I pinned around the outside of the body and sewed, leaving an opening at the bottom for turning. When you are done stitching around the outside, flip it right side out.
Step 6. Make the Santa Hat
Next, I made the accessories for the snowman, starting with the hat. Start by taking the hat brim pieces and fold them in half lengthwise, wrong sides together. Pin them and stitch them together along the long raw edge. Next, take one of the hat brim pieces and stitch it to the hat body pieces. Make sure when they are attached and unfolded, that the nap of the fabric will be going the same direction. Repeat that with the other hat pieces. Then, pin the two completed hat pieces right sides together and stitch around two of the three sides, leaving the bottom open for turning.
Step 7. Make the Scarf
There are a few different ways you can make the scarf. I personally liked making the scarf with fringe after I made a scarf as the pattern instructed. However you choose to have yours finished, you will fold the fabric piece in half lengthwise and stitch it together. For the smaller snowman, I did this wrong sides together. I stitched along the edge of the fabric, leaving an area at each end that I would cut fringe. I did not top stitch it. For the larger snowman, I folded it right sides together, then I flipped it right side out and top stitched along both sides. You can see the difference in the pictures at the end of this step.
Stitch along the edge, leaving room at each end for fringe:
Cut your fringe on each end:
Finished scarf:
Larger snowman –top stitched
Smaller snowman – not top stitched
Step 8. Add Eyes (If Using Safety Eyes)
Depending on what size you make your snowman, this will be different. For the smaller snowman I used black embroidery floss for the eyes, smile, and buttons. For the larger snowman I used safety eyes, black buttons, and black embroidery floss for the smile.
If you use safety eyes, mark where you would like them on the head of your snowman. Then, use a sharp pair of scissors to make a small cut for the eyes. Since you haven’t stuffed the snowman yet, you should be able to get the back on the safety eye after it is inserted from the front.
Step 9. Stuff the Snowman and Close Openings
Stuff the snowman with stuffing, as well as the arms. Close the openings with a blind or ladder stitch by hand.
Step 10. Add Embellishments
For the buttons on the large snowman, I stitched them on by hand where I wanted them to be with coordinating black thread. Have fun with this – you can use black buttons or different colored one, different sizes, etc!
For the small snowman, I used hand embroidery with embroidery floss for the smile, eyes, and buttons. I found these websites helpful in learning different basic hand embroidery stitches and techniques: Sublime Stitching and The Spruce Crafts.
For the smile on both snowmen, I used an embroidery backstitch for a half smile. You may want to lightly draw on the face where you want the smile so you can follow it when you stitch.
For the backstitch you will enter the fabric at point 1 and come up at point 2. You will then enter at point 3 and come up at point 4. Repeat this process until you get to the end of the smile.
For the eyes and buttons, I used an embroidery satin stitch. You may want to lightly draw on the face and body where you want these to be.
For the satin stitch, I entered at point 1 and came out at point 2. Then I entered next to point 1 at point 3 and came up next to point 2 at point 4. I did this until I got the size of circle I desired.
I pinned the hat to the snowman where I wanted it and then I used a ladder/blind stitch to attach it. I liked the look of the top of the hat bending forward, so I tacked that down by hand at the tip of the hat.
Last, I added the scarf! I tied it around the neck and then tacked it down.
All Done!
That’s it, you’re done! What a simple pattern that doesn’t take long! And now you’ve got the cutest stuffed snowman you can keep or give as a gift!