Saturday 15 January 2011

Jellyfish

Just before Christmas a colleague of mine gave birth to a baby boy, and I made her a brightly coloured hanging jellyfish. I didn't manage to get a decent photo of it, but it was similar to the one I designed for the sealife mobile below...

I suppose really a jellyfish is rather an odd baby gift, but I thought he might like to watch the ribbons floating above him! Herbie was most taken with it anyway, so I agreed to make another just for him, and with his help too - and then I thought I could do a little tutorial on here.

Difficulty rating is 1 - is really is easy peasy lemon squeezy!

First, choose 2 contrasting/matching fabrics. Ours HAD to be orange!

Next draw round a small bowl and with right sides of the fabric facing each other, machine or handstitch on the pencil line, leaving a few centimetres at the end. (Ours measured approx 15cm diameter.)

Turn inside out and press.

Fill with polyester stuffing and stitch up the gap.

Next, take a mixture of ribbons, measuring approx 60cm-70cm in length and criss-cross at the half-way point (see above)

Stitch to the underside of your jellyfish. Then stitch a further piece of ribbon to the middle of the top-side and hey presto!!
Your jellyfish is complete! It looks great hanging above a bed or in the window!

And here's a glimpse of my little assistant (he operated the foot-pedal!)

19 comments:

  1. Love it! I need to do some very boring jobs on my sewing machine so will try and make one while it is out. That is, if we get on. My machine and I have a very unstable relationship. Thank you for the lesson! Ax

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  2. He is the cutest assistant ever Kirsty! Hope you're having a good weekend - I'm getting nothing useful done whatsoever, but instead feeling very chilled out - its nice! x

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  3. Thank you so much for sharing that tutorial. As I just posted on my blog, my friend is expecting a baby very soon and I'm hoping to make lots of things once he/she makes an appearance - I might have to add one of these to the list!

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  4. That's so cute - I shall make one for our new grand-daughter :) Thanks!

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  5. Handmade presents are always the most precious!
    Your little helper is the best!

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  6. Fantastic, simple but gorgeous, thanks for sharing.

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  7. Fab tutorial! The thing is though that if I do this with my five year old daughter she will want fish and star fish and mermaids to match! lol

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  8. If this awful weather keeps up we might just be making some of these tomorrow - thank you . Oh and your little helper is soooo cute

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  9. I think that's a gorgeous pressie for a baby! Love your assistant! xxxx

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  10. That does look so easy but is also very effective.
    Just been having a catch up read of your blog - loving those cottages!

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  11. That really looks lovely
    I'm going to make one for my grandson
    Julie xxxxxxxxx

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  12. Hi Kirsty, Just wanted to say thanks for all your well wishes, I really appreciate it. Simone xx

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  13. Gorgeous jellyfish and even more gorgeous Herbie!

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  14. I love it! And a fab tutorial too.
    From your newest follower
    Sam x
    (Found you via Folksy on FB)

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  15. I'm pregnant for the second time and would simply love such a gift for a newborn!!
    Great idea, fab blog

    Aly*

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  16. Just found your blog, it's great. We are going to make some of the jellyfish at our craft group for oap's. Thanks for the tutorial x

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  17. THis is brilliant and very cute. Love it.

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  18. Hi Kirsty, just wanted to let you know I love your jellyfish and used your tutorial to make one of my own. I would like to try helping my 9 year old son make his own, since this seems like the perfect beginner's sewing project.
    Here is mine: http://hetkabinet.blogspot.nl/2014/07/jellyfish.html
    Thanks for the tutorial!

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