Bert the Brown Mouse

This is how to make Bert the brown mouse. He is cute little fella, with matching ears and tail! There are endless variations you could do with different felt and contrasting colours. Im thinking the next one I make will be Red and White: "Father Christ-Mouse". Hahaha.

To make Bert, you will need:
Felt 10cm by 20cm
contrast felt for a nose3cm by 1.5 cm
patterned fabric to line his ears
15cm of cord or a ribbon for a tail
2 small sequins or beads for his eyes
Stuffing
Thread
Medium weight card
Baking Paper

Firstly a pattern needs to be made, using the baking paper. THis consists maily of 2 semi circles, the larger one being the body, and the smaller one being the head. THere needs to be a cutout in the body piece to allow for the head to be sewn in.There is also a complete circle for the base, the circumference of which is the same as the length of the long curved edge of the body piece. Also there are 2 egg shapes for the ears and a very small semi circle for a nose.

Once these are cut out, pin them to your chosen felt, and cut out the pieces in felt.

Ok this bit is a bit fiddley, as we are sewing circles.
Head to body: Pin right sides together, oversew head to body, matching the sides. Then join the straight edges of the head.so u end up with a cone for the head.

Body: With the head still inside out, Join the centre back seam to the bottom, leaving an opening in nthe very bottom for the tail. (but make sure you put a catching thread in at the very bottom corner.)

Over sew round lower edge of bdy, leaving about 5cm free at the front (you will need this bit for stuffing) Turn the mouse round the right way, and push the nose in to shape etc. Cut a piece of card the same shape as your base, but a bit smaller. Insert this through the gap you have left and glue to the base felt.

With your stuffing, fill the mouse up.When he is nice and full, over sew the gap between the body and the base.

Glue the nose felt in to a cone shape and then glue to the tip on the head. Cut your cord and tie a knot in each end. Push this through the small gap you left earlier and sew in place.

Glue each ear to the wrong side of the lining fabric. When these are dry, trim the fbric level with the felt.put a dob of glue near the pointy end of the egg shape and pinch to make an ear shape. When these are dry, pin and sew in place. Stitch on sequins for some eyes. Voila- Bert the mouse!