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Make a Koala Hair Clip

January 26, 2015 By Lauren at Molly and Mama 11 Comments

In honour of our national day, Australia Day, I’ve created a gorgeous little felt koala. My daughter wanted a hair clip to match her ‘Katie Koala‘ appliqué t-shirt. So I whipped up this cute little clip and thought I’d share how I put it together!

The finished koala only measures 6cm (or 2.5″) across and fits neatly on a 48mm ribbon-lined alligator clip. She’s made from wool felt. If you haven’t already guessed it, I’m obsessed with this medium! You can see more tips for using wool felt HERE.

YOU WILL NEED

  • wool felt scraps in your chosen colours. I selected taupe, brown and pale pink.
  • matching embroidery floss
  • embroidery needle
  • fine embroidery scissors with sharp blades
  • an optional mini bow (or similar) for embellishment
  • a 48mm alligator style hair clip
  • 12cm of coordinating grosgrain ribbon (10mm wide)
  • a hot glue gun
  • a heat erasable pen (like a frixion pen)
  • a print out of the template from HERE

LETS GET STARTED

Download and save the koala template so that you can use it anytime. You can find a copy of it HERE. It’s pretty basic but it does the job :-). (This project is for personal use only. Thanks for understanding).

Cut out your template pieces using small embroidery scissors. As most of the pieces are too small to pin to the felt, I just held the paper template in place while cutting. You’ll need two head pieces, two ears, two ear inners and a nose.

Felt pieces to make a tiny Kylie Koala

Use whip stitch to join the pink ear inners to the ears so that it’s easier to attach them to the head later. I used a single strand of bright thread to help you see this step. Be sure you sew a left ear and a right ear. Trim the excess thread away.

Whip stitch Kylie Koala's ears

Now let’s create Kylie’s face. Thread your embroidery needle with a single strand of brown embroidery floss. Position the nose piece on one piece of the face felt. While holding it in place, carefully whip stitch the nose in place. I started stitching at the base of the nose, where my embroidery will begin.

Next, we’ll embroider the facial features using back stitch. For more tips on Back Stitch head over to this tutorial HERE. This image is a great refresher too!

How to Back Stitch by Molly and Mama

Thread your needle with two strands of pink embroidery floss (or whichever colour you choose). Using the template as a guide, you can stitch the mouth design on freehand. Or you can use a heat erasable pen to mark your outline first. Start at the base of the nose and make one straight stitch down, then you can branch off on either side to stitch the smile.

Kylie Koala face embroidery

Now it’s time to stitch the eyes. Use the same method we used for the mouth. You can see above where I marked my eye outline with the pen to help. Start each eye at the end closest to the nose, then stitch out. Add the eye lashes last.

When putting it all together, lay your other head piece on a flat surface. Lay the ears down next so that they slightly overlap inside the head piece (and you can’t see your whip stitching). Place your embroidered face piece on top.

Pin the layers together carefully through the ears. Thread your needle with two strands of floss to match the koala’s head colour. We’re going to blanket stitch the two head pieces together. Here’s a quick stitch refresher.

Molly and Mama blanket stitch illustration

Begin your stitching below the right ear and then down and around the base up to the other ear. Take some time when stitching though the ears to be sure you catch both layers of the head felt and make sure the ear felt is in between.

Stitch Kylie Koala together

Secure your stitching well when you return to the starting point. Then Kylie Koala is all complete! Here’s how she’ll look from the front and the back.

The front and back view of Kylie Koala

Now all that’s needed is to add a teeny tiny bow. I had one already made up, and I just hot glued it on. But if you’re making this for a little child, then hand stitching will make it more secure.

Kylie Koala tutorial by Molly and Mama

Then we just need to hot glue Kylie to a ribbon covered clip. Covering clips is really straightforward, and I have a great tutorial about it HERE. But this image shows the basics.

Line an Alligator Clip - a beginner's tutorial by Molly and Mama

Once you’ve covered the clip using your glue gun, just add a line of hot glue to the top and carefully attach your koala. If the clip is for your own child, consider which side her hair is parted, and attach Kylie so that she won’t be upside down when worn. My little miss wears her clips on the right of her head, so the alligator opens to the left as pictured above.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this sweet little tutorial. My daughter LOVES this clip! So it’s sure to be a favourite! And she loves her ‘Australia Day’ ensemble too.

The 'Katie Koala' Appliqué Pattern by Molly and Mama

If you’d like to have a go stitching the Katie Koala applique, it’s very easy too. You can pick up the instant download PDF pattern for it HERE. Feel free to share what you make on the Molly and Mama Facebook page.

Happy Australia Day to our local followers, and happy stitching! Lauren x

This post was written by Lauren Wright and appeared first on Molly and Mama http://www.MollyandMama.com.au

Filed Under: Holidays, Tutorials Tagged With: back stitch, blanket stitch, embroidery, felt, free tutorials, hair accessories, hair clip, koala, tutorial

Comments

  1. Onceuponasewingmachine.com says

    January 26, 2015 at 10:36 pm

    The hair clip is darling as is your model!

    Reply
    • Lauren at Molly and Mama says

      January 26, 2015 at 10:40 pm

      Thank you so much! I’m glad you like it.

      Reply
  2. Pinky Nilsen says

    February 11, 2015 at 1:05 pm

    what a cute little treasure. i love the hair clip and top. I will give it a try. so sweet

    Reply
    • Lauren at Molly and Mama says

      February 11, 2015 at 1:18 pm

      Thank you Pinky!

      Reply
  3. Janine Evans - Sarah Lauren says

    February 25, 2015 at 2:10 pm

    It is adorable. Will be sharing with my likers on FB.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Summer Bucket List | wookieelocks says:
    July 3, 2015 at 10:39 am

    […] cards/craft day [pixel bow here or here; koala felt bow here; sewing cards here, here, here, or […]

    Reply
  2. Sew a Felt Koala Bookmark - Molly and Mama says:
    January 23, 2016 at 12:23 pm

    […] may remember the felt koala hair clip tutorial from last year? Well our little koala bookmark uses exactly the same template, and similar […]

    Reply
  3. Make A Hair Clip Holder using an Art Canvas - Molly and Mama says:
    March 9, 2017 at 9:15 am

    […] Or use some felt to create this adorable koala! […]

    Reply
  4. Cute hair accessories for kids says:
    July 28, 2017 at 1:27 pm

    […] Make a koala hair clip from Molly and Mama […]

    Reply
  5. Koala ~ Links | Paper Gifts for Estefany says:
    October 3, 2018 at 3:37 pm

    […] Koala – make a hair clip  (mollyandmama) a super cute idea that could easily be adapted for paper; template free printable […]

    Reply

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Studio For Pretty Stitches
🐝🌸 You’ve seen my pretty floral Serious Se 🐝🌸 You’ve seen my pretty floral Serious Sewist’s Set, but here’s a sweet Liberty Wiltshire version. I love @libertyfabrics tana lawn, especially when it’s paired with linen.

Find out more about this new pattern in the listing details. Tap the photo or head to the shop link in my profile. 

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I’m loving @mabletandesigns new collection ‘B I’m loving @mabletandesigns  new collection ‘Birds & Blooms’ for @pbsfabrics. And hand quilting with @aurifilthread embroidery floss is a dream! Can you guess which of my patterns this will become? 

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🐝🤍 It’s here! Thank you so much to those w 🐝🤍 It’s here! Thank you so much to those who have already purchased the Serious Sewist’s pin cushion and scissor charm pattern set. Tap the photo for a direct link, or head to my profile. 

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I love all of Mable’s designs, this one especially! What should I make? 

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How sweet does Miss Maisie Pin Cushion look sittin How sweet does Miss Maisie Pin Cushion look sitting here on this cute ‘I Spy’ style doll’s quilt?  It’s based on the Rising Sun mini quilt pattern from @blossomheartquilts’ book ‘Mini Masterpieces’. You can see more photos and find links to the book on my latest blog post (there’s a link in my profile). 

Miss Maisie is part of the Miss Molly And Friends Pin Cushion Pattern in my store. Tap the photo for a link. She’s quick to stitch, lots of fun to make and comes with two other friends; Miss Molly and Miss Kitty. 

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🪡✂️💗 Thank you so much for your wonderfu 🪡✂️💗 Thank you so much for your wonderfully positive response to my Serious Sewist’s Set. The pattern is now live! Visit the link in my profile to head to the store 🐝💕.

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💗 Have you started the year with some English p 💗 Have you started the year with some English paper piecing? The weekly #sipteaandepp party is continuing with the lovely Larisa from @stitchingnotes and this year I’m making way for the very talented Irina from @nordiccrafter to become the new co-host. Please go and visit the profiles of these clever creatives to learn all about what 2021 holds for #sipteaandepp. The girls have some exciting plans in place and I know you’re going to love it!

This week’s theme is all about Introductions, where you’re encouraged to share a few random facts about yourself. So here’s a little about me. 

🤍 Before starting this wonderful journey into sewing, I was a primary school teacher

🤍My first degree was a bachelor of Behavioural Science / Psychology

🤍 I’ve been crafty for as long as I remember but I also love art, illustration, gardening and baking

🤍 I’m not a traditional tea drinker (which was a little strange as the co-host of #sipteaandepp 😂 

🤍 I’m inspired mostly by colour and nature. I’m drawn to anything muted, delicate, pastel, pretty, dainty and floral. Yet nothing in my home or wardrobe would give you that impression! 

With so many new followers joining me in the new year, I’d love to know more about you. And if you have any questions for me, feel free to ask! Lauren 💗
🌸💚 I’ve had lots of requests for informati 🌸💚 I’ve had lots of requests for information about pattern releases and more. The best way to stay in the loop is to sign up for the fortnightly newsletter. That way you’ll also get the new release discount code. And you’ll even get this embroidery design as a FREE PATTERN! 

It’s just a friendly space where I share previews of my current projects, a tutorial or pattern, and some of your makes for added inspiration. I’d be thrilled to have you join me. I’m also working on the next free pattern, which gives you a taste for what my projects are all about - beginner techniques with beautiful finishes, so everyone can experience sewing success! 

Head to my profile for the sign up link. There’s a new felt freebie coming soon 💗

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This scissor fob is part of the Serious Sewist’s Pin Cushion Set. Find it in the store or tap the photo for a direct link 🥰

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