Introducing Animal Elements

Introducing the first pattern in my new Animal Elements line.

#1 Ear Pack. Includes 13 different animal ear shapes to make 20+ animals.

What’s included:

Cat Ear, Round (Mouse/Bear) Ear, Triangle (Bat) Ear, Elephant Ear, Fox Ear, Floppy Goat Ear / Domestic Helper Elf / Lil’ Green Mentor, Droopy Dog Ear, Horse Ear, Pyramid Ear / Terrier / Red Panda, Rabbit Ear, Wolf / Dog Ear, Giraffe / Goat Ear, and Insect Antenna / Alien / Giraffe Ossicone (horns).

These ears can be used with baby carrier hoods or with other patterns like hats or hoodie sweatshirts. Most hood types fall into one of the three different styles below with seams in places that lend themselves to different animal features. I have a line of patterns that include hoods with these seam lines. Currently my Free To Grow, MJ/Tula, and Beco Gemini hood patterns are made with these 3 seam / color blocking options to work with these ears.

Pattern Style Options:

2-Piece Easy Hood: This pattern has a center back seam. Great for adding Dino Spikes, Mohawks, Horse Manes, and Ruffles.
3-Piece Contoured Hood: This pattern has two sides and a center piece. Great for color blocking, it looks a bit sporty and is a little more contoured to the head. Seams are the perfect place for close-set ears,like a cats. Double Mohawks or two sets of spikes are also a great look.
4-Piece Hood: The seams run a few inches back from the face edge and along the center line, like the 2-Piece hood. This hood design is great for wide-set ears, like elephants’ and the seam is in the perfect place for a lion mane. The face band can also be used for color blocking or with featured fabric.

How do I choose the hood style I want?

Look at pictures of the animal you want to use as inspiration. Cartoon images of animals are sometimes easier to look at when designing. Pay attention to where elements like ears and manes are and pick the hood with seams in the best location. There are no hard and fast rules for animal ear location. Big cats have lower wider-set ears, and smaller cats have higher-set ears. Rounded ears set high can look like a mouse or bear and rounded ears set low and look like “The Mouse”. Many animal ears are very similar shape. Folding the base of the ear can also create different shapes for different animals. Folding can also make the ears stand up or lay outward. Instructions are also included for “gravity defying” ears and removable ears. The techniques mentioned here can also be used for elements other than ears, like 3D horns, which will be covered in another Animal Element Pack.

When picking fabric, the sky is the limit and the remnant bin can be a treasure trove: Fleece, minky, fake fur, wrap scrap, swim fabric. Ears look cute in both matching quilters cotton, or in very different contrasting fabric. Making the inside and outside of the ear different fabrics is also super cute. Use your creativity to create an animal hood for your little ninja. You can be as creative with this pattern as you desire: it’s really just a starting point for your imagination. The possibilities are endless!

Look for Horns, Spikes, and Manes to be coming out soon as well as Hood patterns for Kinderpack and Lillebaby that have seaming for all the ears.

Join the Fabric Ninja Sewing Circle Group on Facebook for a community of support.
-Alice Smith-Goeke, Fabric Ninja