Stuffed Patchwork Chicken

Stuffed Patchwork Chicken (3D Fabric Scrap Hen)

This classic project is a fantastic way to use your fabric scraps (retalhos) to create a charming, freestanding hen, often used as a doorstop, kitchen decoration, or pin cushion.

1. Materials Needed

• Scraps for the Body: Assorted cotton fabric pieces in different colours and prints (florals, stripes, dots, checks) for a true patchwork look. You can use a single large scrap or piece smaller scraps together to form the main body fabric.
• Scraps/Felt for Details:
  • Comb: Red or dark pink felt or fabric scrap (doubled).
  • Wattles (Papos/Barbelas): Red felt or fabric scrap.
  • Beak: Yellow or orange felt or fabric scrap.
• Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill (like Poly-fil) to fill the body.
• Weight (Optional): If using it as a doorstop, you’ll need sand, rice, or beans, placed inside a small plastic bag or inner fabric pouch to prevent it from shifting or damaging the fabric.
• Other: Needle, thread, scissors, pins, and a sewing machine.

2. Step-by-Step Instructions (3D Construction)

a) Prepare the Pattern and Scraps

1. Get the Pattern: Search online for “Free Stuffed Chicken Fabric Pattern” or draw a large teardrop or pear shape with a flat base. This will be the main body piece.
2. Main Body: Cut two pieces of the main body pattern, ensuring the right sides of the fabric are touching when you sew.
   • Tip for Patchwork: If your scraps are too small, sew them together first (in strips or squares) to create two larger panels, and then cut your pattern pieces from those panels.
3. Details: Cut the smaller pieces (comb, wattles, and beak) from your chosen felt or fabric scraps.

b) Assemble the Details

1. Comb and Wattles: Fold the comb and wattles (if using fabric, sew the edges and turn them right-side out first). Pin these to the right side of one of the body pieces, placing them at the head/neck area.
   • Crucial Step: The part of the comb/wattle that will stick out should be pointed inward toward the center of the body piece. This way, when you turn the hen right-side out, they will pop out correctly.
2. Beak: Fold the beak fabric into a triangle shape and pin it below the comb, also on the right side of the fabric.

c) Sew and Stuff

1. Sew the Body: Place the second body piece (right side facing down) on top of the first piece, sandwiching the details (comb, wattles, beak) between the layers. Pin all the way around.
2. Sew: Sew around the entire shape using your seam allowance, leaving an opening at the flat base or along the bottom edge.
3. Turn: Clip the excess fabric at the curves (make small snips without cutting the seam line) and turn the hen right-side out through the opening.

d) Fill and Finish

1. Insert Weight (Doorstop): If you are adding weight, insert the sealed bag of sand or rice into the base of the chicken first.
2. Stuff: Fill the rest of the hen firmly with polyester fiberfill, making sure the head and tail are well-stuffed to hold their shape.
3. Close: Hand-sew the opening closed using an invisible (ladder) stitch.

e) Eyes and Wings

1. Eyes: Use small black beads, buttons, or embroider an eye using a simple French Knot or a few straight stitches with black thread.
2. Wings (Optional): Cut two small teardrop or oval scraps for the wings. Sew them together, turn them right-side out, and stitch them onto the sides of the chicken body by hand or machine.

Your beautiful patchwork scrap hen is now complete, ready to add a rustic charm to any room!

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