I really don't like sewing, but every now and then, I come across a project that I just can't resist. Every time we go to a certain kids' play area, Liam plays with a stuffed frog with a mouth that zips open. A little internet research revealed that it's a
discontinued item from IKEA that originally retailed for less than $10, but some enterprising individuals are auctioning USED for around $30. So I decided to create my own pattern and make some for the boys for Valentine's Day. While I was at it, I made a third, but this one with a princess hat, as a birthday present for a friend's daughter. All three are different combinations of skin color and mouth color. I used plush fabric that's often used for baby blankets -- including bumpy skin for the back (instead of the custom printed plush used in the IKEA product) and for the princess mouth, because I couldn't find smooth pink fabric.
I drew out my pattern on paper stolen from the boys' art easel, guesstimating how the finished product would look, adding darts to shape the frog's face and butt. The eyes are made from felt.
The princess hat, was just a half circle of gold fabric with really stiff interfacing inside, stitched up one side, with a circle of pink tulle tucked in at one end.
The tongue is sewn over the original zipper pull and I used bee buttons inside the mouths, instead of the embroidered fly in the original version.
Rowan's frog with a bobbled scarf:
Liam's frog with a "ziggy-zaggy" scarf, as per his request:
Each boy also got a little box of chocolates decorated with one of his favorite animals, conveniently zipped into the frog's mouth.
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