CRICUT TODDLER ROOM ZEBRA PILLOW

Instructions

Reference the downloadable project sheet for project pattern diagrams.

Introduction

Looking for a custom pillow for your little one's bed or to add cute decor to your house? Follow this step-by-step tutorial to make your own DIY zebra cushion. Make this zebra pillow for a gift or to delight your own kid. Personalise with an iron-on name too!

Images, Fonts, and Cricut Access Features Used in this Project:

Zebra image: #M5098AEE

Square image: #M369896

Circle image: #M369879

Preparation

1. Design - Open design space link https://design.cricut.com/landing/project-detail/6874656331111032c7fcc0a9 and click 'customise' this will open design on 'canvas' tab, so you can resize according to your measurements or tastes. Add any other elements as you wish. When you are happy with your design, click 'make' on top tool bar and follow prompts to connect your Cricut smart cutting machine.
   Note: You will need to use a Cricut Maker for this project.

Cut

1. Select 'On Mat' and carefully place your felt on the Cricut cutting mat and follow prompts to load into cutting machine. Click 'browse all materials' and choose the best fit for your choice from the list. Select tool (either fine point blade or rotary blade) and then follow prompts to load mat and cut each layer of material. For the face piece, you will be prompted to use the fabric marker. Load the fabric marker into Clamp A and the fine point blade or rotary blade into clamp B as instructed.
2. When it's finished, unload the mat and carefully remove the material. Repeat the process for cuts 2,3 and 4, carefully removing the fabric from the cutting mat after each cut finalises and placing new fabric for the next round.

Assemble

1. Placement - If using heat and bond, match up black material pieces for the front of zebra with the heat and bond pieces, and place the white head on Cricut heat mat. Carefully place each of the black stripes and head piece, eyes and ears where you want them.
2. Press - On the design space 'Home' tab on the left side tool bar look for 3 squiggly lines Click on this it will take you to the Cricut heat guide. Select your Easypress model, heat transfer material, and base material. This will provide you with precise instructions for best heat press results. Follow these instructions, place your felt and Heat 'n' Bond on Cricut heat mat, align the design (backing up), when you are happy with the placement, press to apply design!
3. To make the tassels, start by wrapping yarn around a guide until you have a thick bunch. Slide the loops of yarn off of the guide and cut the ends so you have a bunch of yarn pieces that are all the same length. Take one of the pieces and place it beneath the centre-point of the all the others. Cut a 12" length of yarn and slide a wooden bead onto the centre of it. Place the bead just below the centre tie beneath the yarn bunch.
4. Close the underlying tie so it wraps the bunched yarn up and around the bead, and tie tight in a secure knot. Flip the top half of the yarn bunch down over the bead. It should start looking like a tassel at this point. Loop a second tie around the entire bunch, just below the bead, and tie tight in a secure knot. Wrap the free ends of the tie around the neck of the tassel several times and tie securely.
5. Trim off the ragged ends at the bottom of the tassel so it is even. Use the trailing ties that the bead is attached to attach the tassel to the zebra's mane. Repeat with the remaining tassels to finish the zebra's mane.
6. Tie - Tie the yarn on the inside of the zebra felt to secure the pom-pom to the back of the Zebra head, making sure the thread used to secure the pom-pom is on the inside when both front and back pieces are assembled.
7. Thread - Using a sewing needle, thread two pieces of yarn of the pom-pom through the back piece of the zebra pillow that you have just heat-pressed.
8. Put the two sides of the zebra pillow right sides together, and sew around the edges, leaving a generous turning hole open at the bottom. Skip over the ears, backstitching at their bottom corners to reinforce. Turn the zebra right side out. Pull the ears up through the skipped space at their base. Hand stitch the openings at the base of the ears shut. Stuff the pillow, and hand stitch the turning hole shut, using a whip stitch.
9. Stuff and flip! - Once this is done, push the material through the large hole so that the zebra markings are now on the outside. Stuff the pillow and sew up the bottom and ear edges.
10. Enjoy cuddles with your adorable zebra pillow!