Bean Bag Mouse

Items Needed:

Thick muslin or plain colored fabric
Thick patterned fabric (I used scrap upholstry fabric)
plastic pellets or dried rice/beans

Click HERE for mouse pattern.

Instructions:

1. Cut one body from patterned fabric and one body from plain fabric. Cut 2 ears from patterned fabric and two ears from plain fabric. Cut tail from patterned fabric, about an 8 inch by 1.5 inch rectangle.

2. Line ears wrong sides out and sew together along the curved edges. Leave straight edge open. Clip curves to prevent bunching and turn right side out. Set ears aside.

3. To sew the tail, bring both long edges to the center, iron in crease, and fold in half. Sew tail and set aside.

4. Line up the body pieces, right sides facing in. Pin in place. Sew along the edges, about a 1/4 inch in, leaving the butt end open between the legs(this is where the tail will go).

5. Clip curves and points to prevent bunching.

6. Turn right sides out and fill with plastic pellets or dried rice/beans. Fill lightly and not too tight. The mouse is supposed to be floppy.

7. Turn in the edges of opening, insert tail, and pin into place. Sew butt end shut. Make sure the tail is secure. The kids will swing the mouse by this, take my word.

8. And now the part I absolutely detest: The ears. What I do is sew one ear on and then try my damnedest to sew the second ear onto the head as aligned to the first as I can get. The ears are often not symmetrical but none of the kids have yet to complain. :-)

9. Button eyes are optional.

I'm currently getting ready to sew the ears onto my fifth mouse. These have become a big hit in the family, even with the grownups. My kids play with them for hours at a time.

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