Today, I got this sudden urge to try and make a stuffed Russian Blue cat. You know, those gorgeous grey kitties with the striking green eyes? I’ve always loved them, and I thought, why not have a cuddly version that won’t shed all over my black clothes?
So, first things first, I gathered all my materials. I dug out some soft, plush grey fabric from my craft stash. This stuff was perfect – super soft, just like a real cat’s fur. Then, I needed some stuffing. I used the fluffy insides of an old pillow that was way past its prime. For the eyes, I found some shiny green buttons in my grandma’s old sewing kit. They were just the right shade of emerald. I also grabbed some black thread for the nose and mouth, and some pink for the little inner ears.
Next up, I had to figure out the shape. I sketched a simple cat outline on some paper – basically, two big ovals for the body and head, some triangle shapes for the ears, and long, skinny bits for the legs and tail. I’m no artist, but it looked enough like a cat to me. I cut out my paper pattern, pinned it to the grey fabric, and carefully cut around it. I made sure to cut two of each shape so I could sew them together later.
Now came the sewing part. I dusted off my old sewing machine – it’s one of those vintage ones that belonged to my mom. I threaded it with grey thread and started stitching the fabric pieces together, leaving a small opening on the body to stuff it later. Sewing the tiny ears and tail was a bit tricky, but I managed. I used a simple running stitch, it was simple and worked well.
- Sewed the body pieces together.
- Stitched the head pieces, leaving space for turning.
- Sewed the tiny ears and tail. It was not easy but I did it.
- Carefully sewed the legs.
Once everything was sewn, I turned the pieces right side out. This was the fun part – seeing my flat fabric start to look like an actual cat! I then carefully stitched the head onto the body. Next I sewed the legs and tail to the body.
Then, I started stuffing the cat with the pillow fluff. I made sure to stuff it firmly, especially in the head and paws, so it would hold its shape. It was a bit like giving the cat a fluffy little soul, I guess.
After stuffing, I sewed up the opening in the body. Then, I sewed on the green button eyes. I tried to position them so the cat looked alert and curious, just like a real Russian Blue. With the black thread, I carefully embroidered a little triangle nose and a simple, smiling mouth. Finally, I added the pink fabric to the inner ears and stitched them on.
My Stuffed Russian Blue!
And there it was – my very own stuffed Russian Blue cat! It wasn’t perfect, a little lopsided maybe, but I loved it. It’s now sitting proudly on my bookshelf, looking all regal and fluffy. I think I did pretty good for a first try, right? Maybe I’ll try making a whole litter of stuffed animals next!
