How to Make a Turtle Rattle

Do you need something special for a baby shower? Are you looking for something whimsical? Then this little felt turtle rattle may be just the thing you have been looking for. It is simple to make, stitched completely by hand and can be completed in a few short hours. This is a fun project that would also be a great teaching project for a group of young girls. Gather the supplies and introduce this activity at your daughter's next sleepover.

Things You'll Need

• Compass
• Quarter
• Freezer paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Iron
• Straight pins
• Lime green felt craft sheet
• Yellow felt craft sheet
• Green embroidery floss
• Embroidery needle
• Cat play ball
• Stuffing
• Ruler
• 1/4" wide Yellow picot ribbon

Instructions

1. Draw a 6 inch, 4 inch and 2 1/2 inch circle on the paper side of the freezer paper. Trace around the quarter 14 times on the paper. Trace six quarter shapes away from the rest, but do not cut any of the circles out. Place the freezer paper with the six quarter shapes on the yellow felt, with the wax side down. Iron over the paper to adhere the paper to the felt. Place the remaining paper onto the lime green felt. Cut and rearrange to fit on the felt sheet. Iron over the paper to adhere. Cut each of the circles out. Peel the paper from the felt and discard. If making several turtle rattles, the freezer paper circles can be re-ironed several times.

2. Stitch a running stitch around the edge of the 6 inch felt circle using the embroidery floss and needle. Gather the stitches up to form a pouch. Fill the pouch with stuffing. Place the cat play ball in the center of the stuffing and gather the pouch up tighter and finish off with a knot. The pouch does not need to be completely closed.

3. Place two green quarter shapes together and whip stitch the edges together using the green embroidery floss. Repeat with the remaining green quarter shapes to make a total of four turtle feet. Place the 2 1/2 inch circle over the gathered side of the pouch. Slip an edge of each turtle foot under the 2 1/2 circle, spaced evenly around the circle. Pin all the layers together. Whip stitch around the 2 1/2 inch circle through all the layers.

4. Stitch a running stitch around the edge of the 4 inch felt circle using the embroidery floss and needle. Gather the stitches up to form a pouch. Fill the pouch with stuffing and gather the pouch closed. This is the turtle's head. Do not finish off. Place the gathered side of the head on the side of the turtle shell between two turtle feet, and stitch the head to the body. Finish off with a knot.

5. Randomly space the yellow quarter shapes on the large turtle shell and pin. Whip stitch the edges of the circles to the turtle shell. Cut an 18 inch length of 1/4 inch yellow ribbon. Tie the ribbon in a bow around the turtle's neck. Trim the ends of the bow at an angle to prevent fraying.

6. Straight stitch a one-inch smile on the front of the turtle head with the embroidery floss. Make two French knot eyes on each side of the head. To make a French knot, pull the floss through to the outside of the felt. Wrap the floss around the tip of the needle three times and reinsert the needle into the same place the floss came out of and pull up firmly. Finish off the floss in an inconspicuous spot.

References

• Cyndee Kromminga, Craft and Interior Designer; Kro Crafts; Winfield, Kansas