Instructions

1. Using blue transfer paper, transfer the owl design to the tan felt and the raccoon design to the brown felt. Center the designs so that you have at least 1" (2.5 cm) of fabric all the way around them. Don’t cut these out yet.
2. Stitch the outline of each animal on the marked felt, using the specified floss color and the split stitch. You don’t need to use a hoop with craft felt.
3. Photocopy or trace the appliqué shapes that are marked on the owl and raccoon designs. Transfer the owl shape and raccoon belly to the cream felt, and the raccoon tail, and eye shapes to the dark brown felt. Cut out the appliqué shapes.
4. Pin the appliqué shapes in place on each animal. Using the matching sewing thread and needle, hand-stitch around the edges—through both the appliqué and animal shape layers—with straight stitches. Keep the stitches small so you’ll barely see them when you’re finished.
5. Embroider the shapes following the color, stitch, and lines on the designs and appliqués , as shown in the photos below.
    
   
    
   
6. Line up the second pieces of tan and brown felt with the corresponding embroidered fronts and pin them together. Leaving a 1" (2.5 cm) border of fabric beyond the stitched outlines, cut out each animal shape through both layers of the felt.
7. Remove the pins, flip over each piece, and line them up again so that the stitched front faces inward (wrong side out.) Pin the pieces together.
8. Sew around the outside of each animal with sewing thread, 1⁄2" (1.3 cm) from the edges, through all of the felt layers. Leave a 2" to 3" (5.1 to 7.6 cm) long opening at the bottom.
9. Carefully snip notches 1⁄2" (1.3 cm) apart around the edges—up to but not through the stitching. The curved areas need to be trimmed the most: Make the snips even closer together at these locations. Snip off the extra felt from any pointed areas, such as the ears. Trimming the fabric beyond the stitching will help the seamline look smooth.
10. Turn each animal right side out through the opening.
11. Stuff both of the animals. Make sure that you push enough polyester fiberfill into the tight corners. A pointed tool such as a knitting needle or pencil can help you do this. When an animal is full, fold in the edges around the opening and close it using the hidden stitch. To hang your animals on the wall, stitch a small loop of floss to the back of each one.