seeing shadows...

We're just around the corner from a major holiday. OK, yes, Valentine's Day...but before that, Groundhog Day. For those of us in cold climates, the arrival of a small furry creature can be key. I'm still a few days early, but I wanted to give you time to be making something fun for this amazing weather prediction holiday.



What's inside this sweet little groundhog? My iPod Touch!



You can make one too...you'll just need felt (brown and black or gray) and embroidery floss. You'll also need some basic tools: paper, pencil, scissors, needle, pins.

The first step is to make a pattern. To do this trace around your iPod, or phone. Around that, add a little bit of space. The amount depends on the thickness of your phone/iPod. I added about 1/4", which was more than I needed. Draw some ears...they can be very simple. This will be for cutting the front and back out of brown.

Use that first pattern to make another piece that is exactly the same at the top, but is 1" longer, and squared off at the bottom. This will be for the shadow flap in black or gray.



Cut out your pieces.



Stitch a face to the front. I sketched an idea first, but just stitched freehand.

Layer your pieces as follows: Shadow, Back, iPod/Phone, Front.

Make sure the ears line up. Wrap the bottom of the shadow around so that it overlaps with the front. Now you know how to place it, and you may want to pin it with the flap on the back side of the front piece.



Stitch across the bottom with a running stitch through the shadow and the front piece.



Pin the front and back together, and continue stitching around the whole groundhog until you get back to where you started stitching the shadow/front.





You're done! Slide your iPod/phone in place and wait to see if we'll have an early spring!

NOTE: I have not attached a closure to mine. The felt sticks to itself enough for my use. But you could add a button or snap to the back very easily.