Birthday Craft Ideas - Bear Pillow

This cute and unusual pillow is quick to make in bargello stitch.

Size: 9 1/2" wide x 12" tall. Materials: 12" x 15" piece mono (single-mesh) needlepoint canvas with 10 meshes per inch 12" x 15 piece yellow stretch knit for backing acrylic knitting worsted, 2 ounces yellow (color Y), 10 yards each gold (G), and brown (B), 3 yards orange (O), 1 yard each rust (R) and white (W) Dacron polyester for stuffing tapestry needle To prepare the canvas, fold masking tape over edges to prevent raveling. Use two strands of yarn for bargello and satin stitches, one strand for all other stitches. Cut yarn in 10" lengths. Begin working in the satin stitch in direction of markings for eyes, nose, and inner ears. Work a white French knot in each eye. Following bargello-stitch pattern, work lion's head and body. To stitch mane, with color G and tapestry needle sew 1 1/2" yarn loops around lion's head. Eyelashes: With B make three 1/2" loops as for mane over each eye. Clip loops. Tail: Cut eighteen 8" strands Y and make braid. Cut thirty 6" strands G. Hold together and tie around center to make fat tassel. Sew to one end of braid.	Click for large pattern image
To finish your lion pillow, lock needlepoint and trim canvas, leaving 1/2" seam allowance all around stitching. Cut backing piece to same shape as canvas. With right sides facing, stitch needlepoint and backing together, leaving lower edge open. Turn and stuff. Insert end of tail in opening, catching tail in stitching.

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