P.J. Penguin Backpack

Here are the materials that you'll need. Small children like different textures, so I'm using a bath scrunchy for the earmuffs as an interesting tactile contrast to the soft fleece.

Download the template called Penguin Layer Body (http://v5static.ehowcdn.com/media/docs/holiday/winter/penguin_layer_body.pdf) Enlarge and print it using your PC or printer features. I enlarged the template 198% and it still seemed a bit small, so I redrew the cutting line for the head and wings about one inch larger than my enlarged template. Pin and cut four pieces of black fleece around the outside of the template to form the penguin's front and back and the lining.

After cutting the four black body pieces, cut the white center from the paper template. Pin it on the white fleece and cut one piece.

Download, size and print the Penguin Layer Features template. (http://v5static.ehowcdn.com/media/docs/holiday/winter/penguin_layer_features.pdf) Trace, cut and fuse the felt eyes, beak and cheeks to the white body, following the manufacturer's instruction for the iron-on fusible web. TIP: test the iron settings for fusible web with a scrap piece of fleece first. If the iron is too hot, it may partially melt the fleece. To avoid this, I position the facial features on the body, then lay a dishtowel on top before ironing. This protects the felt and fleece from excessive heat while still getting a strong fuse.

Center, pin and stitch white section to one piece of the black body, stitching close to the edge of the white fabric. For added stability when washing, hand-stitch the eyes, beak and cheeks through all layers of the fabric.

To make the front of the penguin's body, pin the finished front section face-down to a second black body section between the two corners where the neck meets the shoulders.

Starting at one neck corner, sew 1/4-inch seam around the head to the other neck corner, backstitching at the beginning and end to secure the seam.

Clip neck corners and curves to the stitching. Turn head right-side out, pressing seam out and flat to give the head its roundness.

Turn the topknot right-side out using a sturdy pin to gently pull the fabric as far out as possible. To form the penguin's back, repeat Steps 6 through 9 using the remaining two black body sections.

Cut woven braid in half to form two straps. On the back (the piece without the face), pin top of each strap to unsewn edge of penguin's shoulder at the neck seam. Pin bottom of each strap to bottom edge of penguin body at the spot you'd like to put the feet, keeping raw edges together. Pin front face-down to back, beginning and ending at each shoulder, being careful to keep the straps to the inside and away from the edges that are being sewn together.

Machine-stitch 1/2-inch seam around body from shoulder to shoulder through all four layers, keeping the needle in the fabric to turn corners and back-stitching repeatedly to secure seams where straps are attached. Trim seams and clip curves and corners close to stitching. Turn body inside out and carefully turn out tips of wings, using sturdy pin as shown in Step 9.

Using the Penguin Layer Features template, cut four feet from gold felt. Sew two pieces together around edges, leaving a 3/4-inch opening. Trim seam close to edge and clip curves. Turn right-side out, fold the rough edges inside and press. Pin foot to lower strap just below the penguin's body. Stitch foot to strap across the top edge, backstitching at ends.

Pin straps up along the back sides of the penguin's head. Sew straps in place, backstitching to secure. Be careful not to catch the front of the head in this stitching!

Sew a large black snap to the inside head back and front just below the penguin's topknot and you're done!