The Zen of Quilting: and other thoughts of a post-grad English major: Current Pattern

Secret Service Elf

This is the Secret Service Elf,

Who does good deeds, no credit to himself.

He finds those that need a hand

To make a bed or wash a pan.

If this elf was left for you

You must find something else to do.

When you find a service to be done

Leave the elf and share the fun!

Naughty or Nice? This elf gives you a chance to be nice this Christmas season to the people in your family and household.

Requirements:

· 1/4 yard black felt

· 1/8 yard skin toned felt

· 1/8 yard green felt

· Fat Eight green striped fabric

· Back embroidery thread

· 2-3 buttons (optional)

· Stuffing

· Dried beans or lentils

Cutting:

From black felt

· 2 body pieces

· 4 shoe pieces

· 2 hat pieces

· 1 sunglasses piece

· 2 – 2 ½” x 7” strips for arms

· 1 – 3” x 9” for skirt

From skin toned felt

· 2 head pieces

· 4 hand pieces

· 2 ear pieces

From green felt

· 1 hat accent

· 2-3 button pieces (If not using buttons)

From striped fabric

· 2 bottom pieces

· 2 – 2 ½” x 7” strips green striped fabric for legs

Construction (use ¼” seams unless otherwise stated):

Legs and arms:

With right sides together, fold strips in half length wise. Stitch down open side.

Turn right side out and iron.

Place two shoe pieces together and stitch around leaving bottom open. Clip indents to stitch line, turn right side out. Repeat with other shoe pieces and with hand piece. Stuff shoes with either beans or poly fluff to give it added dimension.

Insert end of leg piece into shoe and stich in place.

Insert hand into end of arm piece folding slightly at thumb to make it fit and add dimension to the hand. Stitch in place.

Bottom:

Place legs on the right side of one of the bottom pieces at the bottom of the curve matching raw edges. Pin in place. (Make sure toes are pointing out)

Place second bottom piece on top with right side down and pin. Stitch around curve.

Turn right side out.

Body and head:

Use embroidery thread to stich a face on one of the head pieces.

Stich on buttons (or felt button pieces) to one of the body pieces.

Stitch head pieces to body pieces (Make sure the pieces with the face and the buttons are stitched together)

Place ears facing in on the head piece and pin in place. Place arms on the body piece facing in with thumbs up and pin in place.

Lay second body/head piece on top face down. Stitch around sides with black tread leaving 2-3 inches open to turn around later. With skin toned thread stitch around head. (Make sure arms and ears are tucked out of the seam line.)