Giraffe Baby Rattle

I have seen a lot of these soft rattles around lately, and thought I should try and figure out how to make them, since they make a perfect little baby presents, and boy are there a lot of babies due this summer!

I think it turned out kinda cute, although he has a bump in his nose, I guess I didn't sew straight there. Maybe he looks more like a reindeer than a giraffe. But baby won't notice :)

Anyway, this one is for a friend that just had a baby boy, hope the baby will enjoy it!


What you will need

• Scraps of cotton fabric, in fun colors
• Scraps of brown knit fabric
• Empty tube, like from M&M candies (see photo). It should have about a 1" diameter, and be around 7 inches long
• Pillow stuffing and some batting
• Rice
• Fabric markers
• Giraffe Pattern (download here)

Here is a picture of the M&M tube I used. If you do not have a tube, you could just make one. You want to use something that will sound though, cardboard is probably not loud enough....would have to be more like a flexible plastic.

Cutting

Cut two pattern pieces out of your cotton fabric

Cut 4 ears and 4 horns out of your brown knit fabric

Sewing

Sew together the two ears and the two horns, right sides together. Leave the bottoms open. Use the smallest seam allowance you can! Flip to right sides, you might need to use a tweezers to help you. The reason i used knit fabric is that it is easier to flip, because it stretches. Stuff with pillow stuffing, not too full, just to make them a bit puffy.

Now draw your face onto both sides of your giraffe. Use the pattern as a guide.

Pin your horns and ears to one giraffe side. you want to put the horns in front of the ears. Lay the two horns over each other and the two ears over each other.

Now pin the other giraffe part to this one, right sides together, and sew along the entire giraffe, leaving the bottom open. Sew slowly when you get to the horns/ears.

Now flip the entire giraffe the the right sides, again you might need to use a tweezers.

Now stuff the head with pillow stuffing.

Fill your tube with rice, about 1/4 full. Tape both ends securely, I used packing tape. Make sure there is not way for the rice to come out.

Now wrap your tube in batting, about two layers.

You might want to tape it a bit across the top, so that it doesn't push down when you put it into the giraffe.

Push your rattle into the giraffe, until the top reaches the stuffed head.

Sew together the bottom, I hand stitched it.

There you go, a giraffe rattle!