Cutting:
1 Using the straight edge of a table as a guide, lay the selvedge of the towelling along this edge. With the tailors' chalk, ruler and tape measure, mark and cut-out a 90cm square.
2 From the leftover towelling cut a 30cm square. Fold the towelling on the diagonal and cut along the fold. One of these triangles will be used to form the hood.
3 Using a bread & butter plate as a template, round each corner of the 90cm square and the top of the hood.
4 Cut two ears from the coloured fabric and two from the towelling (see pattern). The bear and mouse ears also have interfacing to help them stand up.
Machining:
5 Join the bias-binding together, if necessary, to form one length. Fold and iron the binding along the entire length, so that one side is just a little narrower. This makes sewing a lot easier and gives a better finish later on.
6 Ears: Pin the right sides together, including the interfacing if required. Machine around the curved shape, leaving the straight edge unstitched to turn through. Use the foot width of the machine as the seam allowance guide. Clip the edges, turn through and iron flat.
7 For both the mouse and bear ears, fold the raw edge in 1 cm and machine or hand-sew together. The rabbit ears are machined flat across the raw edge while attaching the bias-binding (see step 11).
8 Hood: Stitch along the bias cut to prevent stretching. Starting with the narrower side of the bias-binding, pin the bias edge along the diagonal edge of the hood and using the first bias crease-line as a machine guide, machine together.
9 Fold the wider side of the bias trim around the raw edge and pin just over the previously stitched line. Machine the bias binding flat. Tip: Use the thread colour of the bias binding on the top of the sewing machine and the matching colour of the towelling on the bobbin. This gives an invisible finish.
10 Pin the hood onto a corner of the towel so that the finished edge is diagonally across the corner. Then stitch the hood on the corner. Attach the bias-binding around the towel in the same method used previously. If you are making the rabbit you will need to insert the ears while attaching the bias (see below).
11 Ears: The rabbit ears are attached while sewing the bias. Complete the first stage of the bias then position the rabbit ears 5cm either side of the hood corner (10 cm apart). Complete sewing on the bias.
The bear and mouse ears are hand sewn on the back of the hood, after final completion of the bias trim, as these are too thick for machining and could cause the machine needle to break. Position the bear ears 6cm either side of the corner (12 cm apart) and the mouse ears 4cm either side (8cm apart). While attaching the ears make a fold on the straight edge to create more shape.
Diagram 1
Enlarge diagram so that the straight line between points a&b on rabbit ear measures 10cm.
Diagram 2 — Hood
Diagram 3 — Tuck in ear
Diagrams 4 & 5 — Attach ears
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