TO MAKE YOUR ROXLEY                                                                      BACK to Simplethings page

Pattern Templates: Click on images and print off each one to fit A4 page.
         

Print these pages
Materials:
BODY & HEAD: Dark brown faux suede it has a good one-way stretch and doesn't fray that easily. But, if you want to be really accurate, the eyes will also be slightly different sizes, and the body will be a bluish-blackish-grey, (according to Corin Hardy, the video director).
EYES & MOUTH: white fabric, with metallic blue embroidery floss (all six strands) for the pupils. 
HEART: bright orange baroque satin, which gives a shiny 'light' effect.  It is delicate though!  The embroidery on the heart can be done by basting/tacking small pieces of yellow material on with gold-coloured embroidery floss. Acrylic paint can be added for further details to the face and heart.

Instructions
Start by cutting out each of the body &  head templates on doubled fabric. Or you can transfer the pattern onto the wrong side of the fabric, sew around it and then cut it out leaving a ¼” seam allowance all around.  If you sew by hand, take the two body pieces and pin them right sides together, sewing around the shape. Leave openings for turning and stuffing as indicated on the pattern template. Do the same for the head. make a small slit through one layer at the back of the head for turning and stuffing. Sew blanket stitch around the edge to prevent fraying.

Clip the curves to make it easier to turn, and then turn the body inside out to stuff. 
Using General purpose turning tools makes this job a dream! Fold over and tack/baste the edges of the opening to prevent fraying whilst you stuff the creature.
Stuff the arms and legs as firmly as desired. Stuffing forks makes this job much easier. Stitch the opening closed.

Next, cut out two eyes and a mouth from white fabric (it will wash better than felt).  For each eye, lightly pencil on where you want the pupils to go. 
Sew the embroidery thread on with transparent ‘invisible’ thread, twisting the embroidery floss as you go to keep it together, starting where the inner and outer circles meet and making a spiral shape first on the larger circle, then into the inner circle. Or try sparkly Tulip fabric paint.  Then paint the outer edge of the eyes a light blue.  Mark where you want the eyes and mouth to go on the face and baste/tack or glue  them on.

Use a heavier thread such as buttonhole thread to attach the head to the body .  Make a knot and insert the needle in the back of the neck on the body.  Draw the thread through the neck and insert it vertically into and through the back of the head, making a stitch of about an inch.  Then insert the needle back through the neck, near the knot you made to start with, and knot it tightly on the other side.  To make the head more secure and less wobbly, use some of the regular thread and sew around the sides and top of the neck to the head and body.     

Heart: Take a piece of the orange fabic about 2" wide and 7.5" long (5 cm by 19 cm)
Fold it in half with the shiny (if you’re using satin) sides together and stitch the long side and one of the short sides together.  Turn the tube inside out and fold the remaining open side up to sew it together and finish it off.  Then take another piece of thread and make fairly small but loose stitches along the unsewn edge of the fabric, where the fold is, weaving the needle in and out.  When you come to the end of the fabric, pull the thread taut and slide the fabric along it so that it crumples into a c-shape and then eventually a circle.  Tie off and knot the thread to hold the shape, and then baste the short ends together to complete the circle.  Attach the completed circle to the body by stitching through the bottom layer into the body and back again at various points around the heart.

Nearly there now!  To finish the heart, take some red fabric paint and detail the inner and outer edges of the heart with it, along with some of the ‘ruffles’ if you so choose – just see what looks best to you.  Finally, use bits of yellow fabric / embroidery thread to mark out the yellow lines on the heart.   

And then you’re done!  If you do manage to make a Roxley, Ann Wain and I would  love to see photos of him. Have fun!