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”

  2. Zoe

    Omg this is fantastic, so going to have to learn to sew, so wish you sold the completed set although the amount of love you must have poured into this I’m sure it would be priceless. Could you send me the pattern please you’ve inspired me to learn to sew. thanks

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  3. mary pekowski

    I love your project. I would love to make them for my grandsons. I would love the PDF patterns. Thank you.

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  4. Jenn W.

    My little guy loves that book and I’d love the pdf if it’s still available! Thank you so much for all of your fun ideas!

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  7. Lori

    Your creativity is amazing. I have enjoyed looking at your quiet books. Thank you for sharing the ideas and patterns. I would like to have the pattern for the Hungry Caterpillar. I am getting a start on making quiet books for great nieces and nephews and grandchildren also.

    Reply ↓
  10. Lisa Menear

    This is beautiful, would love to make this for my children in my class. Please can i have a copy of the PDF! Many thanks

    Reply ↓
  14. Leah

    Love your felt board! My little one would love this. If I could would you please send me your PDF file so that I can make one for my little girl. Thanks!

    Reply ↓
  15. Nancy

    I love your felt caterpillar. If you could please email me your PDF file I will attempt to make it for my grand daughter’s first birthday. Thank you!

    Reply ↓
  17. Elizabeth Sand

    Please email me the PDF pattern for your adorable Hungry Caterpillar project! I love it! And I love you for doing this blog! I have made 14 of your quiet book pages for my little granddaughters and can’t stop! Everyone that asks me, I tell them, “You HAVE to check out “Imagine Our Life”! She’s a quiet book genius!”

    Thank you!!
    Beth Sand

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  18. Louise

    Hi, i’ve found your wonderful page today, and i’ve been wanting to make one of these for my 2 year old for some time,
    This blog as inspired me, to make a start and love all your tutorials and patterns.
    Please would you be able to send me the hungry catapillar templates and instrustions…..
    I’ve also liked your facebook page to keep up to date with all your crafts and techniques you have displayed on this fantastic blog 🙂

    Reply ↓
  19. Faye

    This is just beautiful, one of my favourite books and would love to make it for my brother’s baby. Would be great if you could send me a PDF, Thanks

    Reply ↓
  20. violeta

    Por favor envíeme un correo electrónico el patrón PDF para su proyecto Hungry Caterpillar quiero hacer este trabajo, esta hermoso

    Reply ↓
  21. JP

    Please email the PDF patter of your fantastic Hungry Caterpillar quiet book pages. They are so active and creative. You have a great gift and thanks so much for sharing it with all of us, especially our children.

    Thank you, JP

    Reply ↓
  23. Jessica

    I’m absolutely impressed with your VHC felt pieces!!! Could you please send me a copy of your PDF file for this project too?! I appreciate you offering to share this wonderful activity with us all! 🙂
    Jessica

    Reply ↓
  24. Mary

    This is simply amazing – I was researching travel ideas and came across felt boards and quiet books – I have been missing out.

    I would love the PDF if it is still available – thank you for the inspiration!

    Reply ↓
  25. Megan

    Hello, I would really love the template(s) you made for the caterpillar felt activity. Thank you so much! I really love this and your detailed steps on doing all your projects!

    Reply ↓
  28. Erin H.

    I absolutely ADORE the Very Hungry Caterpillar book. I’d love to have a copy of the pattern! Thanks so much for posting your beautiful project.

    Reply ↓
  29. Lindsey

    You are a superwoman! I LOVE this! I have been trying to make a pattern from the coloring sheet and haven’t been able to make it work, could you send me the pdf for the pieces you used please?

    Reply ↓
  30. Kennedy Anne Prentiss

    What an amazing project and gorgeous presentation! I would greatly appreciate it if you would share the PDF pattern with me so that I can work on making this over the summer for my preschool class. I have been using laminated illustrations for the past few years for our felt board group retelling of this wonderful story. I just discovered your blog today and look forward to checking it out in the future, especially as I will be having my first very own munchkin this September. Thank you & take care!

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  31. Amber Gee

    Thank you for all you do. I would love for you to send me a PDF of your sketches. Thanks again. Amber

    Reply ↓
  32. Jennifer

    This is amazing! I would love to have a copy of the PDF for this so I can make it for my son! Thanks!

    Reply ↓
  34. Jo Simons

    Hey

    This is amazing!! I would love a copy of your PDF if that’s ok- it would be so so helpful for my project :).

    Jo

    Reply ↓
  35. Rhonda Ament

    This is just beautiful. I would love a copy of your PDF as well. I did the hungry caterpillar theme for my daughters first birthday and would love to make this for her. Thank you!

    Reply ↓
  36. Julie

    I am captivated by your imagination and creativity – thank you! I would love to have your sketches for The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Best, Julie

    Reply ↓
  37. Maxi

    I´ve just seen this post and I love it!! This felt board looks like so much fun to play with and I would love to get a copy of your PDF sketches. I´m working as a teacher for children with handicaps and we are working with this book right now. I have a student who can´t see so I was thinking of making a book only for him- with lots of things to feel. This post was a big inspiration. Thank you for sharing your idea!

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  38. Shawn Olson

    Wow,this is so cute!I would love to have this for my KG class.Please send me the PDF. pattern.Thank you so much , your work is beautiful!

    Reply ↓
  39. Angela

    This is fantastic, I’m a new mum and would love to make this for my son… have a bit of time before he’ll be ready to use it so will be a long term project. Pretty please could you send me your pdf. You’re patterns are awesome, I’ve only just stumbled on your site so will definitely be having a look around 🙂

    Reply ↓
  40. Maxine Phillips

    I love your ‘very hungry caterpillar felt board!! Could you please email me the PDF. Thank you. Maxine

    Reply ↓
  41. Pam Farnsworth

    would you please send me a copy of your pdf file. so that I can make this for my grandchildren?

    Thanks,

    Pam

    Reply ↓
  42. Janel

    Could you please send me your sketches? We are using this theme for my son’s birthday party. This would be a great addition to tha party!

    Reply ↓
  43. Kimberley Walker

    Hi Stephanie!
    I love your work. I am just wrapping up on the Dollhouse quiet book. Can you resend me the pattern for this one? I know you sent before but it got deleted by accident before I could save to the desktop.

    Thank you again!
    Kimberley

    Reply ↓
  44. Thu

    I have just started making your patterns. They are so wonderful. You are so artistic and creative! I would love to have a copy of your PDF of the Very Hungry Caterpillar. I also had asked about Easter on FB and loved your Easter Eggs! Thanks you! Thu

    Reply ↓
  45. Kris Rogers

    I am so inspired by your creativity! I would love to have the PDF for this project. Thank you! My granddaughter thanks you, too! Kris

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  46. Kristen

    I am so in love with your set (and your entire blog)!!! You did such a beautiful job! I would love to have your pdf if you are still willing to share. Thank you!

    Reply ↓
  47. Nicole

    Your website is so inspiring, I found it by accident when I was looking for a pattern for little felt monsters I sewed fro my sister baby shower. I would love a PDF of the hungry caterpillar my baby nephew will be getting a fabulous one year birthday gift once I get started. Thank You So Much!

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  49. Stevie

    I LOVE you quiet book pages. I would like a PDF for the hungry caterpillar felt board. thanks

    Reply ↓
  50. Erin Lee

    Wow! This is amazing! I’d love a PDF file of this pattern if it’s still available. My little one would love it!

    Reply ↓

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