Froggy Fun

Sewing this friendly little frog isn't too big a jump -- even for a beginner.4. With dried lentils, loosely fill legs, then body (frog should be filled up but flexible).

By Jo Calvert
Diagrams by Vicky Elsom
Frog-patterned fabric by The Debbie Mumm Collection. Pattern at bottom of post

You'll need:
• 2 pieces of densely woven calico or cotton, each 26 cm (10-1/4 in) square, 1 for top and 1 for bottom
• 2 yellow sew-through buttons, 12 mm in diameter
• 2 black ball buttons, 8 mm in diameter
• matching thread
• dressmaker's marker
• pins
• approx 1 cup (250 mL) of dried lentils or split peas

To make:1. Enlarge pattern photostatically to make a grid of 2.5 cm (1-in) squares.

2. Cut out paper pattern. Lay on wrong side of top fabric; with marker, trace (don't cut). With edges even and right sides together, lay top fabric on bottom fabric. Pin perpendicular to traced line.

3. With small machine stitches and leaving open between notches, stitch top to bottom along line. Repeat if desired to reinforce. Trim seam allowance to 3 mm (1/8 in) and clip at corners and curves. Turn right side out

5. Turn under 3 mm around opening; slipstitch closed.
6. At each dot, hand-stitch 1 yellow button with black button on top.