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
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
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
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
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
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…
This is just FAB….my little girl loves this book….would love a copy of your PDF so I can start making on for her for Christmas…x
Can i please have a copy of the .pdf files for my kids.
Thank You
Hi. This is absolutely beautiful. Can I please have a copy of the PDF? I would love to make this for my son who will be reading this book soon. Thanks!!
I would love the pdf file. Im making quiet books for my nieces and nephews.
Stephanie, I’ve been admiring your creativity for months. My two year old granddaughter adores this book. Is it possible to still get your PDF for it?
I just found your site and LOVE the “Hungry Caterpillar” flannel board set. I am going to be teaching kindergarten in the fall so I have been looking for fun ideas to use. Could you please send me your PDF – I would like to try making this set for my class. Thank you!
I would love the pattern. It’s beautifully done!
I’m a new Grandmother and YOU have created a monster!!
I would love the PDF! You are a marvel!
This is great! I appreciate If you could please send me a pdf, I would love to start this project myself.
Many thanks
This is amazing! Please send me the PDF, I would love to make it for my daughter 🙂
I lovee this I am an ECE student and I think this will be great for my placement! If you could please send me your PDF file to me that would be so help full !!!
Hi. This is absolutely beautiful. Can I please have a copy of the PDF? I would love to make this for my Grandson……….. Thanks!!
Could I get a PDF copy please. My Grandson will love this.
This is so beautiful! You are so talented! I would love to make this for my kiddos. Are you still sharing the pdf file for personal use? Thank you!
Your work is fantastic and an inspiration. Please send the Very Hungry Caterpillar PDF. Thank you!
This is beautiful. I would love to see the PDF you have to make this book. Thanks for sharing you creative ideas!!!
I would LOVE the pattern for this…you are amazing! We are doing a caterpillar unit and my daughter would love this!
I love this pattern (and all of your quiet book patterns for that matter). It would be wonderful if you’d sent me the PDF you used for this. Thank you!!
I would love to start my felt board story collection with this one. Can you please send me the PDF? Thank you, and what an amazing piece you created there!!
Hi,
This is an amazing book, and I had also though of using it as a interactive thing like this but yours is very well presented mine would never have come out that well :)could I please have a copy of the PDF.
Thanks Alyssa
What an amazing creation! I’d like the PDF files, please so I can incorporate this into a quiet book for my son. Thanks for sharing!
I love this project and would love to attempt it for my daughter. Would you please send me the pdf of the sketches you used? TIA!
We are the Polish and love your site. My son is 1.5 years and loves The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Please PDF file. Greetings.
This is so adorable! Could you please send me the pattern? Thanks!
This is incredible! May I please have a copy of the pdf? My nieces and nephews will love this! You are so talented! This is the best Very Hungry Caterpillar sewing project I have seen in a long time. Thank you for sharing.
Could I please get the PDF file for this wonderful project? My daughter loves this book. Thank you!
Would love the pdf to make this for my little girl…. She is Hungry caterpillar mad!!
What a fabulous project! I’d love a copy of the pattern, so I can make it for my son.
Many thanks 🙂
Hi, soon we’ll be working with my kids with Very Hungry Caterpillar so if you could send me the pattern, I’d be SO grateful!
I would love a copy of the PDF pleAse! I came across your blog today and am going to hobby lobby tomorrow to buy stuff to make this! I had a question though, is there certain types of felt to use that work better than others for quiet books. Also, I’m a new sewer, do you do all your work by machine, some of it is so small I didn’t know if I could use sewing glue instead for some parts?
I love this , can you please send me the pattern. I love all your pages and plan on making them for my grandson.. now to find the time.. LOL
Hi Stephanie,
Please could you send me a copy of this awesome PDF file. I am currently busy sewing the continent project, but would love to make this set as well.
Thank you so much for sharing so kindly your wonderful creativity.
Love it. This is one of the best VHC crafts I’ve seen! I’d love the PDF as well! Please and thank you!
Hi I really love your work and would love to make this for my son. He just started kinder this Monday and for his show and tell week I would love for him to take something so amazing like this 🙂 I would love to get the PDF for the very hungry caterpillar. thank you so much for your time
This is wonderful!! I would love a copy of your PDF. 🙂 Thank you!
Hello,
I would really love a copy of the PDF Please, I love all of your work you are such an inspiration.
Thank you so very Much x x
Camille
I would LOVE to have a copy of the Very Hungry Caterpillar felt pieces. I’m in awe of all the projects you accomplish! I have started the 5 little monkies quiet book and am anxious to finish it for my grand daughter. Thank you so much for all your inspiration.
Could you please send me a copy of the PDF file. I’m currently working on à quietbook for my niece with some of your wonderful patterns.
I’m so in love with this project I would love a copy of the PDF file I’m wanting to make one for my niece for her birthday. Thanks heaps 🙂
I just found ur site and absolutely love it. I would love to have a pdf file for this so I can make it for my youngest. your work is amazing!
I would love a copy of the PDF file. What you did was just amazing!
I would love the PDF for this so I could make one for my son. He loves the Hungry Caterpillar and you work is incredible! Thanks!
Hello, would love a copy of your PDF so I can start making on for her for Christmas for my daughter. I love it! Thanks…
I would love to pass me the pdf to start sewing for Christmas for my daughter, I love it! Sorry for my English but I’m Spanish and I love your page!
You do such beautiful work! I have been pinning so many of your projects tonight. Would you mind sending the pdf sketches my way. Thanks!
Hi,
This is really lovely, I would love to make this for my daughter! Could you send me the PDF for this? Thanks!!!!
I know I’m a little behind here, but is it still possible to get a copy of the PDF for this? Thanks!
Kerry
I would love to get this PDF. It was my favorite story as a kid.
Could you send me the pattern please?
I would love a copy of the PDF please. I would love to make this for my baby girl.
Love your blog and web site. I too, love to work with felt. I am working on felt doves for my Christmas tree and last year I made a mantel scarf with felt Turned out great. When I get my Christmas stuff down from the attic I will post a pic. Please sent me a pdf for the Very Hungry Caterpillar.