The iconic wall mounted deer head.
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Materials needed:
*Approximately 3/4 yd fabric (denim, twill, canvas, upholstery, pretty much anything sturdy that doesn’t stretch)
*Matching thread
*Doll stuffing (a lot. Like, a 16oz bag of stuffing should be more than enough, but don’t go any smaller, just in case)
*2 sturdy 1″ buttons, preferably wood
*Sewing machine
There is a 3/8″ seam allowance included but not marked on the pattern.
Skill level: Intermediate. Must be able to follow sewing instructions, ease curved edges to fit, hand sew for ladder stitch closure, buttons and antlers.
Print up your sewing pattern.
Once your pattern is printed, lay out your pages so that the numbered dots near the edges of the pages match up with the corresponding numbered dots (1A with 1A, 2B with 2B, etc). It should look like actual sewing pattern pieces when you do that.
Cut your fabric according to the instructions on the pattern pieces, and save a scrap of fabric measuring 2″ x 3″ for the hanging loop.
Press the edges of the hanging loop 1/2″ lengthwise towards the centre.
Press it in half lengthwise again, and top stitch.
Fold it into a loop and baste stitch.
Set aside.
Sew the ears, right sides facing. Trim top point and clip notches around curved edges.
Turn right side out, press.
Fold each ear in half lengthwise, and sew a tuck at base of ear as indicated on pattern piece, 3-4 stitches long. If you forgot to mark the tuck points on your fabric, it’s just a 1/2″ on either side of the centre, and it’s just for cosmetic purposes (ie: if you don’t do the tuck, it won’t affect the layout).
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With right sides facing, sew the antlers, leaving the bottom edge unsewn.
Turn antlers right side out, using a chopstick or a pencil.
Gently stuff the antlers, one small stuffing tuft at a time until the antlers are completely full. It helps to use the eraser end of a pencil for this, because the eraser will add friction and reduce slipping!
Fold down the raw edge of the antler and hand sew shut, using a slip stitch, or ladder stitch.
With right sides facing, baste the ears to the sides of head as indicated on pattern piece, using 1/8″ seam allowance.
With right sides facing, sew the Back piece to the back length of both Sides of Head pieces, remembering to leave a 5″ gap along one of the sides.
It should look like this:
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Pin the Neck Band to one Side of Head piece, matching notches along the way, making sure that there is an excess 1/2″ Neck Band fabric at beginning and end of seam.
Starting at the top of the Side of Head (where the top of the Back piece ends), with right sides facing, sew the Neck Band to the Side of Head (one Side of Head at a time) leaving 3/8″ open at the beginning and end of the seam. This is to prevent sewing over any other seams.
Sew the other Side of Head to the Neck Band, matching notches along the way.
With right sides facing, baste your hanging loop to the top centre of the Neck Band.
Sew the Neck Band closed at the top and bottom seams.
Turn Deer Head right side out using the 5″ gap along the back side.
Going in through that gap, hand sew the antlers to the sides of the head where indicated, using a sturdy button to attach them.
Add a hidden hand sewn tacking to the inner side of the antler, where it meets up with the top of the head seam. This is for sturdiness, to ensure that the antlers won’t flop down or pop a button!
The picture above is of the right side antler, and the picture below is the left side antler, just to clarify.
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Stuff the deer head fully and smoothly, making sure that you fill out all the corners.
Hand sew the back gap shut, using a slip stitch or ladder stitch.
Mount your deer head on a small nail and admire your work!
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Filed under: Doll Making, Pattern Drafting, Selling, Sewing, Sewing Pattern, Tutorial Tagged: animal heads, children's decor, cottage decor, deer head sewing pattern, faux taxidermy, hunting decor, sewing pattern, sewing pattern pdf, stag head, tutorial
