When stuffing your animal remember that you want to show off its shape, but don’t want to make it too firm and hard. Much of the appeal with this collection comes from the drape of the body, which is created through a combination of the luxury yarn and light-handed stuffing. Once you have crocheted the pieces and pushed the stuffing into them, you will need to roll and manipulate the pieces in your hands to spread the stuffing evenly and ensure the best shape.
All the bodies are stuffed. With the long-necked animals, be aware that you will need to make the bodies slightly firmer to ensure they hold their heads up straight.
All the heads are stuffed at the point at which the number of stitches drops to 6, as instructed in the section on Standard Forms. The instructions for stuffing any other pieces such as horns will be detailed in the individual patterns.
The ears are not stuffed; see Adding Face Details for advice on positioning them.
What gives Edward’s Menagerie its unique appeal is the stuffing method of padding out the animals’ feet but leaving their legs hollow and flat. In order for the animals to sit up on your mantlepiece, nursery shelf or dashboard you need to splay the legs so the animals balance forwards onto their tummies.
The instructions for stuffing the tails are detailed in the individual patterns. They are all attached in the same location on the body.
1. Sew on the head with two stitches between the top of the body and under the head. Then oversew around these stitches in a small circle between the two parts to secure.
2. Sew the front legs to the top of the body.
3. Sew the back legs to the bottom of the body in a splayed position.
4. Sew on the ears and add any facial details.
5. Sew the tail into position.
6. Add any further details such as fleece or mane if required.
