Spot Dog - The Sweater Friend Tutorial

The story of Spot Dog (and how to make your own).

A while ago I made my first sweater friends.  Lumpy Bunny & mickey mouse.  E took one, WP took the other.  WD thought that he, too deserved a sweater friend.  Since I wasn't completely happy with how the first ones turned out, this was my chance to redeem my sweater sewing abilities.

I started with an old black cashmere sweater that had accidentally made it in the wash too many times.  I washed and dried it on hot once more for good measure.

 Draw out your pattern.  I just free-handed it.

 Cut it out.

 Pin onto your fabric/sweater and cut.

 Remember that you need a front and back for both the body and the head.  Plan accordingly. (I didn't)

 Cut out your face pieces.  I used: flannel, felt and a small piece of pink cashmere.  All scraps I had lying around.

 The tongue I sewed double.

 Baste your face pieces on.

 I used a satin stitch on the edges.  If you're using something that doesn't ravel, you can skip this step.  I just liked the finished look.

Pin right sides together and sew, leaving a space to turn and stuff.  If you look by the right ear, you see two sets of double pins.  That's how I mark my stop and start places.

 Turn right side out - stuff - and slip stitch the opening.

 The body: Pin right sides together.  Stitch, leaving an opening to turn and stuff.

 This is the body right side out.  At this point I stuffed the arms and legs and then sewed across where they met the body.  (see green arrows below) I wanted them to be stuffed, but floppy, and this seemed like a good way to do it.  I was pleased with how it turned out. 

 Stuff the rest of the body.  Stitch the stuffing hole closed and sew on the head.  I did this part by hand.  The fluffy sweater hides all the stitching, and I wanted his head to be floppy, too.  I also added a tail.  Just cut out a tail shape, sewed it, stuffed it and attached it to his rear. (see bottom picture)

At this point I thought I was done.  WD said "it isn't really how I wanted it.  I wanted white spots."
Grrrrr.
So I cut some white spots out of felt.  Pinned them around, with WD's approval.  And hand stitched them on with embroidery floss.