This Chubby Angel
pattern and tutorial website was inspired by
Proverbs 31:13, which is a Bible verse describing some
of the qualities of a Virtuous Woman.
"She seeketh wool, and flax,
and worketh willingly with her hands."
Chubby Angel
Materials you will need:
|
Sewing Machine
Pins
Scissors
½ yard Flesh-tone Fabric
¾ yard White Fabric |
¾ yard Ribbon
Thread
Polyfil
Hand Sewing Needle
50 yds. Yarn
2 buttons |
Print the Pattern
Please read all directions before
you begin your project. Prewash your fabric
before cutting out the Chubby Angel Pattern as most
fabrics will shrink when washed. The Chubby Angel
pattern fits on three pieces of standard or A4 copy paper. Note: The sewing
instructions for the Chubby Angel are not included on the pattern itself.
Download the free
Chubby Angel Pattern
here.
Cutting the Fabric
This pattern allows
for one half inch seams. The seam allowance is already
figured into the pattern, so there is no need to
adjust the pattern or add any seam
allowance to it. Lay out your pattern with the arrows
along the straight grain of fabric. Cut out as many
pieces as the pattern piece indicates and transfer all
markings to your fabric using a disappearing marker,
transfer paper, or another method if you prefer.
Tip: If you
have a pattern that you use often, try cutting it out
of a strong quality paper towel. The paper towel is
easily pinned through onto your fabric and doesn't rip
like paper does when pinned through repeatedly for
multiple uses.
Note: The Chubby Angel pictured in
this tutorial is made from a simple white sheet. The flesh colored
fabric is the same fabric, tea dyed. See
instructions in right
column. If you intend to make your Chubby Angel as a gift, felt is a
nice selection for your fabric.
Sewing the Chubby Angel
When sewing your Chubby Angel, use one half inch seams unless
otherwise specified. Lock all seams at the beginning
and at the end of each seam.
Feet: With right sides together, stitch front
foot to back foot, leaving open where indicated on
pattern piece. Clip the curves of the seam allowance
after sewing.
Turn right side out.
Stuff with Polyfil and baste the opening closed by
hand or machine. Repeat with other foot. Baste
feet to the right side of the bottom matching points
A and points B. The feet will be inside with the
seam allowance edges even when you sew the bottom to
the body pieces.
Body: With right sides together,
stitch the body front to the body back at both sides
from point C to point D.
Gathering: Do not lock stitching at
the beginning or end of your gathering stitches.
Leave tails of thread approximately 5 inches long at
the beginning and at the end of your gathering
stitches. Starting at the center back, and using
the longest stitch on your machine, stitch ⅛ inch from
the bottom edge all the way around the body front and
body back. Repeat ⅛ inch from the top (or neck) edge.
Attaching Body to Bottom: With right
sides together, pin the body to the bottom at 4
points: matching point C
on bottom with side seam on each side and matching
center front of body with center front of bottom and
matching center back of body with center back of
bottom. Wrap the
tail of the beginning of your gathering thread around
your index finger and hold it taut while sliding the
fabric with your free hand along the thread to gather
between your pins. Gather half of the circle
holding one tail, drop that thread, then wrap the tail
on the other end around your finger and gather the
remaining half of the circle. Note: Be
sure that if you use the top thread tail at the
beginning to wrap around your finger that you use the
top thread tail at the end as well. When you
have the entire circle evenly gathered all around,
pin between your original 4 pins all the way around.
Beginning at center back, stitch body to bottom.
Turn right side
out through neck opening and remove feet basting.
Arms: With right sides together, sew arm front
to arm back, leaving open where indicated on pattern
piece. Clip the curves of the seam allowance
after sewing. Clip seam allowance close inside thumb
area.
Turn right side out. Stuff with Polyfil and stitch the
opening closed by hand using a ladder stitch.
Repeat with other arm.
Attach hands together in front of body at point F in a
praying position with needle and strong thread.
Attach each arm to body at point E on side seams with
needle and strong thread, making sure thumbs are
pointing upward in front of body.
Wings: With
right sides together, stitch one wings piece to the
other, leaving open where indicated on pattern piece.
Clip the curves of the seam allowance after sewing.
Turn right side out. Top stitch each dotted line
starting at the edge of the wing and stitch up to the
end of the line, then with your needle down in the
fabric, lift your presser foot and pivot the wing 180°
then stitch back down over the first stitching to the
edge of the wing. Tie off the ends of the threads and
draw them through with a needle to the inside of the
wing and cut. Stuff wings with Polyfil, making sure to stuff in
between the top stitched lines and stitch the
opening closed by hand using a ladder stitch.
Attach wings to center back, matching at points G and
H with needle and strong thread. You can use buttons
instead of leaving the stitching show, or attach a
couple of little ribbons tied in bows to hide the
stitching.
Face: This Chubby Angel's face was done
with an appliqué technique. It's a little fussy to do
since the pieces are so small. You can always use
buttons for eyes and fabric paint or Copic markers for
the mouth, or any other technique or design you wish
for your doll's face. Finish the face before sewing
the head front to the head back.
Head: With right sides together, stitch head
front to head back, leaving open where indicated on
pattern piece. Clip the curves of the seam allowance
after sewing.
Turn right side out.
Stuff the head with Polyfil and baste the opening
closed by hand or machine.
Hair: See
instructions
for curly yarn doll hair in the column to the right.
Cut the tails off each end of the yarn where it was
tucked under.
Lay each length of curled yarn next to a ruler and
adjust it to a length of 12".
Cut each length into three equal 4" lengths.
Do this to 15 of
them. Starting about one half inch above the
neck and about one half inch in front
of
the side seam of the head, tack each strand of curly
yarn at its center point in a line around about every
one half inch to the other side seam. Start the next row about
one half inch above the last row and position each strand of
curly yarn in between the ones in the row below, so
that you will be tacking your strands in a pattern
like polka dots.
As you get close to the top
of the head, make your lengths of yarn shorter for
bangs. Fill in any spots that may seem too bare. Style
the hair any way you like. This angel has her hair up in a pony
tail.
Stuff body with Polyfil, then using your fingers, form
an opening in the center of the neck opening of the
body and push the neck down into it. Gather the neck
opening of the body to fit snugly around the head,
matching points D on each side. With a needle
and thread, stitch the head to the body all the way
around. Tie a ribbon around the neck.
Now, back to the praying hands of your Chubby Angel
... Tack them together once more at the palms of her
hands to bring them together in more of a praying
pose. You can include a halo for your Chubby Angel,
buttons, ribbons or anything else that you like.
Completed Chubby Angel
... and back view!
If you like this Chubby Angel project or know
someone who would, please pass on a link to this page or feel free
to include a link on your website:
https://www.christianityoasis.com/crafts/chubbyangel.htm
God Bless.
A day hemmed in prayer, seldom unravels.
Lord, grant me that I may see to stitch until my dying day. And when my last short thread is clipped and scissors tucked away – The work that I have done live on, that other folks may see – The pleasure that I have known, Lord, in the skill you gave to me.
While stitching threads with gentle care, I pray this humble little prayer, that with this work the world may see, the beauty in simplicity.
