Dive into an easy sewing project this Easter and make a quacky doorstop or bookend. Using a bag of stones and any scrap material you can scrounge up (think about all those undonatable clothes!), your sitting duck will bring fun and colour to your nest!
We’ve got all the steps down below for you to follow, plus a free duck doorstop pattern for you to download and print out.
Gather your supplies
- Scrap fabric in contrasting prints
- 50 x 60cm interfacing (medium weight)
- 2kg mini pebbles
- 2 small buttons
- Cushion fill (handful)
- Scotchgard upholstery spray (optional)
You’ll also need
- Tape measure
- Craft scissors
- Iron and ironing board
- Stock card
- Pencil
- Fabric scissors
- Sewing machine
- Pinking shears (optional)
- Knitting needle
- Funnel
- Sewing needle
How to sew a duck doorstop
Step 1
For the body, cut a 50 x 50cm square of interfacing, then lay it sticky side up on the ironing board. Lay fabric on top of the interfacing, right side up. Use a hot iron to bond fabrics. Fold fabric in half with interfacing face out, then iron a crease along fold.
Step 2
For the beak and feet, repeat Step 1 with 10 x 50cm of contrasting scrap fabric and interfacing. Fold fabric in half lengthways and iron the fold.
Step 3
Print pattern (on page 184) onto thick paper or card. Cut out all pattern components. Lay patterns onto folded fabrics and trace around pattern. Draw a 2cm seam allowance around the traced shape and mark up attachment points for the eyes, beak and feet. Cut out fabric along the seam allowance line.
Step 4
With right sides of fabric facing, machine stitch the body together, leaving a gap between A-B. Backstitch on both ends. Repeat for beak and feet.
Step 5
For a neat finish (and no puckering), use pinking shears to trim seams to 5mm from stitches. Turn pieces right-side out. Use the end of a knitting needle to poke open corners. Iron all components flat.
Step 6
Set machine to a slow speed for precision, then sew a topstitch 5mm around the edge of both feet. Backstitch on both ends. Repeat for beak.
Step 7
For feet detail, fold feet in half (vertically) and iron flat. Starting from bottom of foot, Sew 5mm in from fold along length of foot. Backstitch at both ends.
Step 8
Trim thread ends on all components.
Step 9
With a hot glue gun, apply a dab of glue to the marked beak position. Glue the beak in place so it’s straight and symmetrical. Repeat to attach the feet in position.
Step 10
Stuff the head and neck with cushion fill until firm. Insert a funnel into hole then fill with 2 1/2 cups of mini pebbles.
Step 11
For an invisible seam, use a needle and thread to hand sew the opening with a ladder stitch.
Step 12
Attach buttons to eye positions with a needle and thread. Sew through the centre of the head for symmetrical eyes.
