Very Hungry Caterpillar Felt Board

1,109 Replies

I’ve been quiet here on the blog while working on a large sewing project, though I’ve been posting regular updates on the Facebook page. I took a break from quiet book sewing to make a birthday present for one of Jax’s friends who was turning 2 years old. His friend adores all of Eric Carle’s books and was planning a Very Hungry Caterpillar themed party.

I’ve been itching to try my hand at making a felt version of all the pretty food featured in that book, and I was excited to finally have the perfect reason to! I knew they would appreciate a handmade gift, so two weeks before the party, I started tackling the project.

The felt items were made using only s felt from my scrap bags (I sort all my felt scraps by color and store them in freezer bags) with the exception of the black background felt. I would have preferred to have a white background like the book, but I was purchasing  felt board to save time and money, and white wasn’t an option. (You could make your own felt board by covering a blank art canvas with flannel fabric.) I purchased this black felt board. It comes in green and purple, but I wanted to easily match the background to a felt color, so I chose black. The colors really pop on it!

Because so much detail went into each piece, they were all heavy and wouldn’t stick to the board without the help of Velcro. I used Snag-Free Velcro so they wouldn’t snag each other when tucked away together in their pocket. Each item was sew to a base piece of black felt, trimmed to size, then backed with another piece of black felt with some Velcro sewn to it. I sewed to backings on by hand with a back stitch, only going through the two black layers of felt so the stitches wouldn’t show on the front.

The Pattern
I’m afraid that I can’t post a pattern for this project here on my blog because I want to respect Eric Carle’s copyright. He does have a coloring sheet you could enlarge and use to make your own set. However, I have a PDF of all the sketches I did for my set, and I’d be happy to send it on to any of you lovely friends who would like to have it for your personal use. Please leave a comment below using the blog’s comment form (not the Facebook comment form – I don’t get notified of those!) In the email field, include the address you’d like me to send the PDF link to. I’ll do my best to send you an email within a day or two with the link.

Here is a quick run-down of how I made each item:

Fruits 1 – 5: For the sets of fruits the caterpillar starts out eating, I used rectangles of black felt as the background of each group instead of having tiny, separate fruits and numbers that would get lost. I sewed the fruits down to the background using back stitch and 2 strands of floss. For the stems, I used all 6 strands of floss: I made a knot in the end of my floss and came up from the back. I tied another knot flush against the felt to hold it in place, then made a knot at the end of the stem and cut of the rest. For some of the stems I went back down into the felt after the top knot to hold them in a certain position. Leaves were sewn down with a line of back stitch along the vein. For the strawberry tops, I made an x-shaped stitch in the center before doing the stem. The numbers are sewn on with back stitch down the center. I stitched little circles and open circles on the oranges to make the navels. I sewed all the rectangles to backing pieces with Velcro using the sewing machine to save time.

     

[img src=”http://www.imagineourlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/oranges.jpg” w=”600″ h=”200″]

The Very Hungry Caterpillar: I tackled this guy first, as he is the star of the show. The caterpillar and the butterfly were the only ones I used yellow felt as the background for sewing down all the details (I still used black for the back side with the Velcro.) I cut his segments out of various colors of green and blue. The color variations are more subtle in the book, but I was working with what I had. Each segment is back stitched down. You may need to trim them up to get them just right – different felt stretches different amounts – especially with little, tiny pieces. for the feet and antennae, I used 3 layers of felt to make them stiff and blanket stitched round the edges.

The fuzzy fringe along the caterpillar’s back was the most annoying part of the whole project, but I didn’t want to leave it out! I made each little fringe the same way I did the fruit stems, but without the knot at the end: knot the floss, go through the back of the caterpillar (the yellow piece only), make another knot, then cut off and repeat. I alternated red and aqua blue, then went back and spread out the strands and gave him a “hair cut” so they were all even. To finish him off, I sandwiched the feet and antennae between the front piece and the black back piece with Velcro and sewed them together.

Leaf: I back stitched around the outside and down the center vein, then made a stem and sewed on the backing.

The Beautiful Butterfly: I took liberties when translating the butterfly from the book to a felt design, so you could certainly “wing it”! In fact, I only used my computer sketch for the basic shape, and ended up cutting out most of the pieces by hand. (I later drew them on the computer, so they are included in my PDF sketches.) Everything is back stitched down except the tiny felt circles – I have French knots in the center of those.  I added two layers of yellow to his skinny body to add strength before sewing on the head. His face is satin stitched on and his legs and antennae are done the way I made the fruit stems. His arms are long stitches I added at the end. When he was all decorated,  I cut out a backing of black felt to match, added Velcro and back stitched it on, only going through the yellow layer.

All the junk food items are sewn down to black felt then trimmed to size. The backs are all done the same: I cut out black felt to fit the finished item, sewed on Velcro, then back stitched it to the front, only going through the two black layers.

Chocolate Cake: I sewed the top and layer on, plus some dark brown back stitch to show the corner of the cake. I made light brown stitches to add texture to the top and then sewed the cherry on.

Ice Cream: I back stitched a grid design on the cone, then sewed around the edge of the ice cream scoop.

Pickle: After sewing it down, I made lines of little dashed stitches to add the bumpy texture then added a stem.

Cheese: I sewed a strip of dark yellow down the side to match the book, then sewed around the edges, I didn’t bother to cut out the holes in the cheese in the black felt.

Salami: After sewing down the body of the salami and the pink ends, I sewed down little scraps and made white stitches to match the book. I stitched a bit of brown thread to the “tied” end and tied it in a knot.

Lollipop: I sewed down the middle of a long strip of brown felt to make the stick. I took a long strip of yellow with a point at one end and sewed it down to the blue circle (starting with the tapered end in the center) in a spiral, then sewed down the exposed edges of the blue circle.

Pie Slice: The pie crust is sewn down around the edges, except for the extra crust along the top-back of the slice. I made a basting stitch that I pulled tight to give it a little ruffle. The pie filling is sewn down with scrap circles in pinks and reds to make the cherries.

Sausage: The sausage is simply sewn down around the edges with little brown ties added on to each end like the salami.

Cupcake: I cut out the top of the cupcake liner using pinking shears to give it a zigzag. I sewed down the cupcake, then sewed down the cupcake liner using vertical lines of back stitch.

Watermelon Slice: The watermelon is sewn down around the edges. The seeds I cut by hand (very hard to do because they are so tiny. Use sharp, micro-tip scissors!) the sewn down with a few stitches running vertically down the middle.

   

Because this felt set is a gift and I went with a 12″ x 12″ travel size felt board, I wanted to sew a quick case for it. I had limited time – just a few hours on on Saturday – so I don’t have many photos to the process, but I’ll do my best to explain it.

I made the case so it could be zipped shut for travel or storage, opened flat or hung from a door knob at toddler height for play time. I used Eric Carle fabric in Very Hungry Caterpillar white/green and Grouchy Ladybug Grass green/lime. I already had a 36″ white separating zipper and clear vinyl. I purchased a pack of fusible fleece.

The finished size of the case when unfolded is 14″ wide by 28″ high (with the 12″ square felt board.) I cut rectangles out of both fabrics and the fusible fleece that were 15″ x 29″. I ironed the fusible fleece to the back of the green liner fabric according to the instructions. I cut a 14″ x 7″ rectangle of vinyl for the pocket. I sewed ribbon over the sharp upper edge of the vinyl, but it would be easiest to just use some bias tape. (I didn’t have any on hand.) I sewed the pocket down to the liner/fleece piece with a regular stitch followed by a zigzag to cover the sharp edges. I also divided it into a 4.5″ pocket and left the rest a large pocket for the book and bigger pieces.

 

I cut strips of the green fabric and lined them with the fusible fleece before making them into 1″ wide straps. There are a zillion ways to make straps. I started with a 2″ width, ironed .5″ edges in on each side, folded it in half and pressed, then sewed down each side and the ends.

For the felt board, I sewed down two 11″ strips of black elastic. (See the photo at the top for an example.) I folded the ends of mine under (towards the center of the case) and sewed them with a zigzag on the machine. It is probably easiest if you sew the elastic on by hand after finishing the zipper so you don’t have to deal with the elastic folding your fabric in.

The zipper is the hardest part to explain – especially without photos. You may need to search around for zipper tutorials before tackling it. I drew some sketches of the steps I took. I used a zipper foot when sewing the zipper on.

Here is the finished case when closed!

 

I hope you enjoyed reading about this project! I had so much fun doing it, and I was very proud to hand it off to its new owner. If you create a felt board case or Very Hungry Caterpillar felt set of your own, let me know! I’d love to see it…

1,109 thoughts on “Very Hungry Caterpillar Felt Board”

    1. Michelle

      Wow! This is amazing. Please can you send me the pdf as I am looking to make a storysack for my daughter.

      Reply ↓
      1. Deb

        I saw your post and don’t know where to leave a msg. so i can get the pattern. could you help me?

        Reply ↓
  2. Marianne

    Hi there, this is an amazing project – would you please send me a copy of your PDF instructions/pattern. I would really appreciate it! Thank you!

    Reply ↓
  3. Sherry

    Hi! This is lovely!! I HOPE I can make this without it taking a bazillion years, but I want to try! Could you please send me the pdf. Thank you!

    Reply ↓
  4. Tammy

    I’d LOVE to have a copy of your pattern for this!!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being so generous with your time and talent 🙂

    Reply ↓
  6. Pam Rhoads

    Could you please send me a copy of your pdf for this projection? It would be perfect for my grandchildren.

    Thank you so much,
    Pam

    Reply ↓
  7. Alison

    this is wonderful! i have already made a quick quilt out of the eric carle fabrics, now i want to make up felties – and yours is by far the best I’ve seen! so creative! please send a pdf – thanks so much!!!

    Reply ↓
  8. Gerianne Harrington

    Please send me the pdf of the very hungry caterpillar. My grandchildren love this book. Besides I love the detail you put in your work. Thank you so much.

    Reply ↓
  10. Jennifer

    Would love to get the pdf file for this. My brother is expecting his first child in sept andmI’m having a ball making things for my new niece or nephew. Currently working on 5 little monkies jumping but may have to start this one next 🙂 thanks! Love your site!

    Reply ↓
  11. Amy

    I would love to have this pattern to try to make a page/board/activity kit of some kind for my girls. I hope you’re still sending it out! Thank you 🙂

    Reply ↓
  12. Erika van Zyl

    I absolutely love your work. I am making quiet books for my great nephew and my great nieces (that makes me a ‘great’ aunt). Please email the patterns to me – I would really appreciate it.

    Reply ↓
  14. nicole

    my goodness, your work is beautiful! I love looking on your website!
    i’m going to try and tackle the hungry caterpillar. Can you pdf me your pattern, please?
    thanks!
    nicole

    Reply ↓
  16. Nora

    Hello! I just found this site and am really excited to see your creations! We have a unit coming up at school and I would love to have the PDF to make these for my students. Thank you so much!

    Reply ↓
  17. Sarah Haley

    Hello, I’m new to your blog and absolutely love the things you have made. I was asked to make a Dora doll for friend, googled some doll patterns and was really excited to come across your site. I also have a toddler (Jackson!) who kept stealing the half-constructed Dora so now one is underway for him, too. Add to that three more dolls but we won’t go into that, they are terribly addictive! I purchased a copy of the Wee Wonderfuls kit and constructed my dolls but I am yet to dress them and cut their hair to shape. The hair on your two dolls is so much nicer than the original pattern, so thanks very much for sharing. My little man also loves the VHC and I’d love to make him his own felt board so if you were able to pop through your PDF, that would be awesome. Thanks so much for sharing your ideas.

    Reply ↓
  18. Carolina

    This is amazing!! I love Eric Carle and I was looking to make something for my daughter. This is the best project by far that I found! Could you please send me a copy of your PDF? Thank you very much!

    Reply ↓
  19. Kelly

    Absolutely love your hungry caterpillar. Please send me the pdf. Thanks. This will be so awesome for my grandkids!

    Reply ↓
  21. Rebecca

    Hi There,

    This set is simply amazing! My kindergarten class loves this book and I would like to make a set of the felt foods and caterpillar for them to do retellings of the story with. Would you please send me the pattern if its not too much trouble?

    Thank you so much !

    -Rebecca

    Reply ↓
  23. Diane Still

    You are amazing! I am a long retired teacher and a new grandmother. I can’t wait for our granddaughter to be old enough for a quiet book (she’s only 3 mos. now). Please send me the PDF for The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I look forward to reading your web page and getting great ideas. Keep up the wonderful and very helpful work.
    Diane

    Reply ↓
  24. Kim

    Love this. If you are willing to sending me the PDF of the very hungry caterpillar I would really appreciate it. Thank you.

    Reply ↓
  25. Karen

    Hi Stephanie,

    I’m so impressed, both with your work and with YOU! How in the world do you DO it all?! Jax is a very fortunate little guy. 🙂

    Would you mind sending me the pattern? My first grandchild is due in August, and what took you 2 weeks will likely take me two years…so I’d better get moving! 😀

    Thank you SO MUCH!

    Karen

    Reply ↓
  27. katie

    This is absolutely amazing, much like all your creations. If you don’t mind, I would love to have this pattern so I can make my daughter one- she loves The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Thanks so much!!!

    Reply ↓
  30. Kara S.

    This would be so perfect for my daughter! (She’s a little still, only just turned 1, but maybe for summer?). I would love if you would send me the pattern pieces please. Did you sew one strip of velcro to the back of the pieces, or did you try to create a full velcro back sewing multiple strips? I’ve never seen that type of board before, so clever! You did a wonderful job with this–truly beautiful! So, so talented! Really, including the hanging bag? Brilliant! Your recipient is very lucky!!! 🙂

    Reply ↓
  31. Luz

    This is so nice and well put together. This will be a perfect addition to what I am trying to get together for homeschooling our son. Could you please send me the PDF pattern? Thank you so much for sharing.

    Reply ↓
  32. Brittany

    I love this. You’re work is wonderful. I would appreciate it if you could send me the PDF.
    Thank you very much,
    Brittany

    Reply ↓
  33. Crystal

    I just found your blog and I am loving everything on it. I am about to check out your esty site next :). Could you please send the PDF of the Very Hungry Caterpiller I would greatly appreciate it!
    ~Crystal~

    Reply ↓
  36. sophias

    LOVE LOVE what you did! would LOVE to make my son the same thing! can i also have the pdf pattern please?? thanks so much!!!!

    Reply ↓
  37. Marta Black

    If you could send me the PDF I would love it. Thank you for your all your work and creativity 🙂

    Reply ↓
  40. Jenny R.

    I would love to have the pattern as pdf, if you still send Emails for this.
    Blessings
    Jenny

    Reply ↓
  42. vicki chaffin

    I would love the PDF if you could send it. i would really like to make this for my grandkids. Thank-you!

    Reply ↓
  43. Tara Kidd

    Hello. This is such a cute idea! I am trying to make a set for my daughter because this is her favorite book and I stumbled across your website. Are you still sending the pdf? I would love a copy if you get a chance. Thanks!

    Reply ↓
  45. ginger

    Love The Hungry Caterpillar felt board!! Please send me a pattern copy. I’m looking through my scraps bag now!

    Reply ↓
  46. Liz

    I am in awe of your creativity and generosity sharing your ideas with others. Can’t say thank you enough. I would love to make this for my grandchildren. Would you please send me the PDF pattern please. Thank you.

    Reply ↓
  47. Amy Workman

    Hi Stephanie! If you’re still doing this, I would love a copy if the PDF. I’m going to make a sweet version of this for my sons birthday. Thanks so much. 🙂

    Reply ↓
  48. brigitte

    What a great idea !
    I’m planning to offer the hungry caterpillar book to my 2 years old grandson, with a bag. I already have the fabric; but this felt board would be a big plus .!!Could you please send me the PDF.
    Thank you so much ! Merci beaucoup

    Reply ↓
  49. Kathy Davis

    Beautiful Work. I would love your PDF files for this. I just bought the materials to make a felt board today. And have already made an Itsy Bitsy Spider set, and matching socks set. I am excited about creating more for my just turned 2 year old granddaughter, Nellie. Thanks so much, Kathy

    Reply ↓

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