rat plush

a free sewing pattern by

 rat plush 2 free sewing tutorial

rat plush
Whether you think rats are adorable or excit-
ingly scary, this pattern is sure to make some-
difficulty:
thing you'll love! The instructions here go over
making a sweet little rodent with a chubby
body, curvy tail, and belly-down pose. The hardest part of this plush is definitely the
For some extra fun, you have your choice neck, as it needs to be aligned right so the
of a sweet appliqued face or a sinister one, body can lie flat. Try to baste the head with
complete with scar and bitten ear! big stitches first before sewing it properly with
neat and tight stitches.
makes:
skills used:
One plush: about 3" tall, 4" wide, and 8" long
(not including ears and tail) • Fusible web applique
• Basting
• Darts
• Ladder stitch
• Sewing curves

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// ©2018 Choly Knight // Items made
sewn using this pattern may be sold. Credit to “Choly Knight” or “Sew Desu Ne?” is appreciated.
You may not reproduce, share, freely distribute, or sell this pattern as your own in digital or printed form.
 rat plush 3 free sewing tutorial

materials & tools:

• ¼ yd. of fabric for main body
• ⅛ yd. or 17" x 4" of inner ear fabric
• 3” x 3” piece of black applique fabric for eyes
• optional: 2" x 2" piece of accent applique
fabric for eye
• optional: 2" x 2" piece of pink applique fabric
for nose and/or scar
• 1" x 1" piece of white applique fabric for eye
shines
• 5" x 5” piece of light or heavy duty fusible web
• sewing thread to match main fabric and
applique fabrics
• poly-fil stuffing
• basic sewing tools (sewing machine, scissors,
iron, needles, pins, fabric marker, seam ripper)

suggested fabrics:
Plush, stretchy fabrics such as fleece or minky
faux fur are suggested. The variations of fleece and minky
mentioned to the left would work well, but really
any plushy fabric with a bit of stretch on the cross-
minky wise grain would be well-suited.
Stretch fabrics like fleece or minky will create
a more squat, round shape when stuffed.
Non-stretchy fabrics, like felt or cotton, won’t
cuddle fleece stretch when stuffed so the resulting plush will look
elongated as shown.

micro fleece minky vs. felt

anti-pill fleece

fleece

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| www.cholyknight.com |
// ©2018 Choly Knight // Items sewn using this pattern may be sold. Credit to “Choly Knight” or “Sew Desu Ne?” is appreciated.
You may not reproduce, share, freely distribute, or sell this pattern as your own in digital or printed form.
 rat plush 4 free sewing tutorial

printing the pattern:

To print the pattern, set your computer to print pages 14-16. If you’re unfamiliar with printing
and assembling a .pdf pattern, read the steps below.

At the print dialog box, check the box that says

print at “Actual Size” or 100%. Any other selection
(such as “Fit to page”) will distort the pattern so it’s
slightly larger or smaller and we don’t want that.

Print the pages needed for the file. You might have
one or more. Either way, be sure you have the
full collection by noting the page numbers in the
corner.

You can trace the patterns onto a different paper,

or you can also just cut them straight from the
printer paper. They might be a little hard to pin
through, so you might want to use your longest
pins. But you could also use pattern weights or
trace the outlines onto the fabric with a washable
marker and cut them out from there.

3
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// ©2018 Choly Knight // Items sewn using this pattern may be sold. Credit to “Choly Knight” or “Sew Desu Ne?” is appreciated.
You may not reproduce, share, freely distribute, or sell this pattern as your own in digital or printed form.
 rat plush 5 free sewing tutorial

cutting the fabric:

1 2 3 4
Place pattern on the fabric, Pin the pattern in place, use Using the paper as a For all fur fabrics, shake the
and make sure the stretch pattern weights, or trace the template, cut out the fabric. excess fuzz away.
line matches the stretch outline of the pattern with a Cut the required amount
of the fabric. The nap line washable marker. according to the pattern.
should go in the direction of
the fur.

cutting layout:
STRE TCH
main fabric

¼ yd.; 9” long
E
A C C F
NAP

E
B B
28” wide

STRE TCH
inner ear fabric
⅛ yd.

D D B B
NAP

17” wide

before you begin:

• Briefly read the project instructions so you know what to expect.
• If desired, mark the cut fabric pieces with the markings and symbols from the pattern. Or wait
until the applicable step before transferring.
• Note that the seam allowance used is ¼” throughout the project.
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// ©2018 Choly Knight // Items sewn using this pattern may be sold. Credit to “Choly Knight” or “Sew Desu Ne?” is appreciated.
You may not reproduce, share, freely distribute, or sell this pattern as your own in digital or printed form.
 rat plush 6 free sewing tutorial

hold applique
trace onto while pulling
paper side paper away

fuse to

1. prepare the face applique

applique fabrics

a. Take your fusible web and trace all of your applique pieces onto the smooth (paper) side.
for a sweet face you should have: two lashed eyes, one nose, and two eye shines.
for a scary face you should have: one eyelid, one eye, one eye shine, one eye slit, one scar, and
one nose
b. Fuse the bumpy (adhesive) side onto the wrong side of your coordinating applique fabric colors.
c. Cut out the eye(s) and arrange it on the head front (A) piece. Set your paper pattern on top of the
fabric piece (right sides up). Align the eye piece on top where the placement markings are. Then
carefully pull the paper pattern away while holding the applique piece in place.

fuse eyes add smaller

first pieces next sweet face
version:

2. fuse the applique

a. Fuse the eyes in place with your iron (use a press cloth -- such as a scrap piece of cotton -- if you’re
using a polyester or fur fabric like minky).
b. Next, move onto the other smaller pieces, like the nose and eye shines. Fuse them much the same
way as you did the eyes, using the paper pattern and photos as a guide.
If you used heavy duty fusible web, you can keep the pieces fused without sewing, or you can sew
them in place a number of ways. I’ve used a zigzag stitch here.
→→ Refer to the next step for some other applique options.

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// ©2018 Choly Knight // Items sewn using this pattern may be sold. Credit to “Choly Knight” or “Sew Desu Ne?” is appreciated.
You may not reproduce, share, freely distribute, or sell this pattern as your own in digital or printed form.
 rat plush 7 free sewing tutorial

4
2
straight stitch; applique 3
great for felt whipstitch 1

2a. other applique options

Other good options for applique include a straight stitch, which involves sewing around the edge of the
applique pieces with a straight stitch using matching thread -- about 1/8” in from the edge.
You can also applique by hand; I prefer a whipstitch. Thread a hand-sewing needle with some matching
thread and knot it. Bring the thread up from the back of the project; about 1/8” in from the edge of the
applique shape. Bring it down perpendicular from the curve, just outside of the applique shape. This
completes one stitch.
For the next stitch, bring the needle back up about 1/8” away from the previous stitch and 1/8” in from
the edge just as in the first stitch. Once again, bring it down just outside the applique shape. Continue
this way until you’ve sewn around the shape.

blend
seam
into fold
darts:
A wedge-shaped gap
found in a pattern. When
sewn in fabric, it creates a tuck
in the fabric and develops a 3D
shape. The diagonal sides of
the wedge are the legs; these
are matched up and sewn
to the point of the dart.

3. sew the darts

a. Locate the open wedges found on the top and bottom of the head front (A) piece -- these are the
darts. To sew them, start by folding the front piece in half along the point of the dart and match up the
slanted lines that make the wedge shape.
b. Sew the darts by starting at the opening and moving down to the point.
c. When sewing the point, try to blend the seam in with the fold so it makes a smooth transition and a
rounder finished plush.

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| www.cholyknight.com |
// ©2018 Choly Knight // Items sewn using this pattern may be sold. Credit to “Choly Knight” or “Sew Desu Ne?” is appreciated.
You may not reproduce, share, freely distribute, or sell this pattern as your own in digital or printed form.
 rat plush 8 free sewing tutorial

match up inner
ear fabric with
body fabric leave open for
turning

4. sew the ears

a. Grab your ear pieces (B). Take one from inner ear fabric and one from
body fabric. Line them up with right sides facing and raw edges matching
up. basting:
A form of temporary
b. Sew them together along the long curved edge. Leave the straight edge sewing meant to hold pieces
free for turning right side out. in place. A long stitch length is
often used for this reason. The
c. Repeat this with the remaining ear pieces and turn them right side out for finished result is not meant
two finished ears total. to be seen and sometimes
is even removed later
(depending on your
a. If you haven't already, locate
the fold line for the ear on
5. baste the ears project).

the paper pattern. Use it as

a guide to fold the ear with
inner ear fabrics facing.
b. Baste the ear along the open
edge to hold the fold in place.
Repeat with the other ear so mirrored pair
you have a mirrored pair. fold with inner

a. b.
ear fabrics facing
c. If you haven't already, locate
the ear placement lines
found on the head front (A)
paper pattern. Transfer them inner ear folds point to
fabric faces center
over to the right side of the down
fabric.
Place the open end of the ear
within these placement lines.
The folds of the ears should
be pointing toward the center.
d. Baste the ears to the head
front within the seam
allowances to hold them in
place for future steps.
c. d.

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| www.cholyknight.com |
// ©2018 Choly Knight // Items sewn using this pattern may be sold. Credit to “Choly Knight” or “Sew Desu Ne?” is appreciated.
You may not reproduce, share, freely distribute, or sell this pattern as your own in digital or printed form.
 rat plush 9 free sewing tutorial

leave
open for
turning

6. sew the head back

a. Grab your two head back pieces (C). Align them together with right sides facing and edges matching
up.
b. If you haven't already, locate the opening for turning markings found on the paper pattern. Transfer
them over to the wrong side of the fabric. Sew along this edge of the head back pieces only, but be
sure to leave the opening for turning that you marked.
c. Open up your head back piece.

line up darts sew around

to back seam perimeter

7. sew the head

a. Grab the head front piece you have so far. Align it with the head back with right sides facing. Be
sure the top of the back pieces (marked with a circle symbol) are aligned with the top of the front
piece. The back seam should also match up with the top and bottom dart on the front.
b. Sew around the perimeter of the head completely.
c. Turn the head right side out through the opening you left in the back.

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| www.cholyknight.com |
// ©2018 Choly Knight // Items sewn using this pattern may be sold. Credit to “Choly Knight” or “Sew Desu Ne?” is appreciated.
You may not reproduce, share, freely distribute, or sell this pattern as your own in digital or printed form.
 rat plush 10 free sewing tutorial

stuff face first a. Stuff the head firmly with

fill rest of head stuffing. Focus most of it on
firmly
the nose area until it fills out
and has no wrinkles in the
fabric.
b. After the nose looks full, fill
the rest of the head.

8. stuff the head

leave open for

turning
clip tight
curves

9. sew the tail

a. Grab your tail pieces (D). Align them with right sides facing and raw edges matching up.
b. Sew the tail pieces together along the curved edge. Leave the short straight edge free for turning right
side out.
c. Before turning, clip the seam allowance at the tight curves along the shape. This will help increase the
flexibility of the shape when it's turned later.

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| www.cholyknight.com |
// ©2018 Choly Knight // Items sewn using this pattern may be sold. Credit to “Choly Knight” or “Sew Desu Ne?” is appreciated.
You may not reproduce, share, freely distribute, or sell this pattern as your own in digital or printed form.
 rat plush 11 free sewing tutorial

insert push
straw to stuff if
fabric into desired
the end straw

10. turn and stuff the tail

a. To turn the tail right side out, you could use hemostats. But if you don't have them, a straw also
works. Insert the straw into the tail until it reaches the end.
b. Take a chopstick or similar blunt tool and push the tip of the tail into the straw. Continue pushing as
the straw comes out and the tail will begin to turn right side out. Keep going all the way until the tail is
completely turned.
c. The tail doesn't absolutely need stuffing, but if you like the look of it, stuff the tail at this time.
Hemostats make the job much easier.

tail points sandwich tail sew back

upward between back pieces pieces together

11. baste the tail

a. Grab your back pieces (E). If you haven't already, locate the tail placement lines located on the paper
pattern for the back. Transfer them over to the right side of the fabric.
Align the open end of the tail within the placement lines. Be sure the tip is curling up as shown. Baste
the tail to the back within the seam allowance at this point.
b. Grab your remaining back piece and align it over the first, lining up the edge that you've just attached
the tail to.
c. Sew the back pieces together along this edge only. The tail should be successfully sandwiched in
between.

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| www.cholyknight.com |
// ©2018 Choly Knight // Items sewn using this pattern may be sold. Credit to “Choly Knight” or “Sew Desu Ne?” is appreciated.
You may not reproduce, share, freely distribute, or sell this pattern as your own in digital or printed form.
 rat plush 12 free sewing tutorial

leave open for

align back to turning
belly

12. sew the belly

a. Grab your belly piece (F). Open up your back (E) pieces from the previous step. Align the open back
pieces over the belly, matching up the small arms and legs and the spaces in between.
b. Sew the back to the belly around the arms, legs, and tail end. Leave the neck at the top free for turning
the body right side out. For best results, be sure to pivot at the spots between the arms, legs, and
neck.
c. Clip the seam allowances at the corners you've just sewn to increase flexibility when the body is
turned next. Turn the whole body right side out.

stuff arms and

legs first stuff rest
of body align head
over body

13. stuff the body

a. Stuff the body by starting with the front legs and back legs. Make sure they are full before moving on.
b. Finally, move onto filling the rest of the body with stuffing. Once complete there should be no wrinkles
in the fabric.
c. Align the opening in the head over the opening in the neck. The neck opening is larger than the head
opening, so arrange them so the neck opening covers the head opening.

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| www.cholyknight.com |
// ©2018 Choly Knight // Items sewn using this pattern may be sold. Credit to “Choly Knight” or “Sew Desu Ne?” is appreciated.
You may not reproduce, share, freely distribute, or sell this pattern as your own in digital or printed form.
 rat plush 13 free sewing tutorial

stitch head
opening to
back seam
2 1

4
3 seam allowance
(folded inside)

stitch
around
head
14. attach the head opening

a. Thread a hand-sewing needle and knot it at the end. Insert the needle from the inside of the neck
opening and out. This will leave the knot inside the plush.
Continue from here doing a ladder stitch. Start by taking a 1/8” stitch into the back seam of the neck
and another into the top edge of the head opening.
b. Continue working around the head toward the front. To make things easier, take big basting stitches
just to be sure you have the placement right.
Keep stitching around the neck until you reach where you started. Check to be sure you're happy with
the placement.
Then go around again with tinier, neater stitches for extra strength.

When you’re finished, stitch a knot into the end of the seam. Then
insert the needle near the finished knot and out of the plush about 1-2” congrats!
away. this completes
Pull the thread through and hold it taut while snipping the thread. The
excess thread should sink back inside the plush -- all hidden! your plush! Now
give it a big
hug!

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| www.cholyknight.com |
// ©2018 Choly Knight // Items sewn using this pattern may be sold. Credit to “Choly Knight” or “Sew Desu Ne?” is appreciated.
You may not reproduce, share, freely distribute, or sell this pattern as your own in digital or printed form.
 pg. 1/3

ta
il p
lac
Rat em
en
Plush
t

NAP
P A T T E R N
www.cholyknight.com
BACK (E)
Cut 2 from body fabric
STRETCH ¼” seam allowance

ear pl
ent m

a
lace

ceme
ear p

nt
NAP

applique
placement

STRETCH HEAD FRONT (A)

Cut 1 from body fabric
¼” seam allowance
 pg. 2/3

¼” seam allowance
Cut 2 from inner ear fabric
NAP Cut 2 from body fabric

fold line
EAR (B1)

NAP
fold line
STRETCH

BITTEN EAR (B2)

Cut 2 from body fabric
STRETCH Cut 2 from inner ear fabric
¼” seam allowance

STRETCH
NAP

Rat Plush
P A T T E R N
www.cholyknight.com
BELLY (F)
Cut 1 from body fabric
¼” seam allowance
 pg. 3/3

t
oin
p
top
¼” sea
Cut 2 fr m allowance
om
TAILaccent fabric
(D)

TCH
E R
ST

P
NAP

NA
STRETCH

HEAD BACK SWEET EYES

(C) applique
Cut 2 from body trace & cut
fabric 1 each of black
¼” seam allowance
g
nin
tur
for
ing
en
op

NOSE
applique
trace & cut
1 of pink or
black
EYE SHINE
applique
trace & cut
1-2 of white

ANGRY EYE
applique
EYE SLIT trace & cut
applique 1 of accent
trace & cut color
1 of black

EYE SCAR
applique
trace & cut EYE LID
1 of pink applique
trace & cut
1 of black