Froggie Hooded Towel

You will need the following pattern pieces from pattern sheet [B]. Trace the pieces onto tracing paper and cut them out. A 1/2 in (1cm) seam allowance is included in all pattern pieces. Use a 1/2 in (1cm) seam allowance throughout the pattern, unless otherwise stated.
 
- 17 Hood piece cut 3 in towelling
- 18 Eyes cut 2 in white felt
- 19 Pupils cut 2 in black felt
- 20 Cheeks cut 2 in red felt
- 21 Crown cut 2 in yellow felt
- Main towel 40 x 40in (1 x 1m).
- Cut 1 in towelling

Take one of the hood pieces and lay the felt features onto the face. Stitch the eyes and cheeks around the edges. Work a red line for the smiley mouth in chain stitch. (For more tips on how to applique, see Step 7.)

Pin the two pieces of crown together. With a 1/4 in (6mm) seam allowance, machine-stitch around all edges, leaving the bottom edge open. Stuff firmly with toy stuffing.

With right sides facing, pin the frog face to one of the blank face pieces, right sides together. Machine-stitch along the lower straight edge. Turn right side out and topstitch along this edge. With right sides facing, pin the top layers of the hood together with the third blank face piece, sandwiching the crown at the top of the head.

Stitch around the top of the face, crown and eyes leaving the lower straight edge open. Turn right-side out. Centre the hood along one edge of the towel body and pin in place. Machine-stitch the seam.

Attach the bias binding by folding in half lengthways and pinning around all the square edges of the towel. Begin and end at the centre point of the hood seam. Mitre each corner and tack everything in place. Machine-stitch the binding around all edges.

Appliqué
 
1. Trace the template onto card or stiff paper. Cut a square of your chosen fabric big enough to accommodate your template. Cut a square of double-sided fusible interlining the same size as the fabric. Lay the square on the wrong side of the appliqué fabric, adhesive side down and press with an iron to bond.
 
2. Place the template onto the paper-backed side of the interfacing and draw around it with a pencil. Carefully cut out the motif and peel away the paper backing. Place the motif, adhesive side down, onto the main fabric and press to bond.
 
3. Adjust the zigzag setting on your sewing machine to narrow and test it on an off-cut of main fabric. Work a line of narrow zigzag stitch around the outer edge of the template.

Excerpted with permission from "Home Sewn Nursery: Toys, Clothes and Furnishings for a Beautiful Baby's Room" by Tina Barrett and published by Taunton Press. Images via Chris Gloag.