Trio of Vintage Style Elves - Free sewing patterns

Everyone loves a mischievous Christmas elf and now you can make your own to adorn your mantelpiece. They are stitched from a range of cotton and linen fabrics with simple appliqué in a red and cream palette. The hats can be finished in several ways and the bottoms are weighted with dry rice to help them stand.

Essentials

Fabric, assorted red and white prints, scraps: cotton; linen
Thread, sewing: red; cream; white; navy Ribbon, assorted
Buttons, hearts
Bells
Stuffing, toy
Rice, dry
Glue, acid-free stick

Dimensions List

7cm x 22cm

Make an elf

Download the elf template. Use it to cut two main pieces in red fabric. Next, cut out one oval face shape in cream fabric and use an acid-free glue stick to attach it to one of the elf bodies. Leave to dry.
Cut out two elf shoes in green and attach in the same way. Stitch the face and shoe details in navy thread and iron on the reverse. Cut a piece of ribbon long enough to sit diagonally across the bottom of the hat so it slightly overlaps the face and stitch in place.
Pin the two body pieces right sides together, allowing for a 5mm seam allowance throughout. Start at the bottom left and stitch around to the bottom right, leaving the base open for stuffing. Carefully snip into all the curves and turn right side out.
Lightly stuff the hat and stitch across the ribbon to seal it off, then firmly stuff the main body, leaving 2cm to fill with rice. Hand stitch to close the opening. Either leave the hat as it is or fold it slightly and secure with hand stitching. Add a button or bell to the point and sew a selection of buttons to the main body.
Cut out four arms from coordinating fabric, remembering to turn the template over for two. Pin each pair right sides together and leave a small opening for turning on one of the straight edges. Stitch then snip the curves and turn right side out.
Fill the hand section with a small amount of rice. Sew closed, then stitch to the main body. Tie or fold a length of ribbon as a scarf so it covers the tops of the arms and secure with a few small stitches all the way around to finish.