I made this photo tutorial so you can see how to sew my Bald Eagle Sewing Pattern ~> scroll down for step-by-step photos!
*** PLEASE NOTE – this is ONLY a PHOTO TUTORIAL *** The FULL PATTERN IS NOT included here.
It is NOT A FREE PATTERN!
I have made this photo tutorial so people who have purchased the pattern can SEE how to sew a toy eagle! (I wanted to explain this so you are not disappointed if you have found this page via a search engine and not from the link in my Bald Eagle toy sewing pattern!)
Choose some fabric to sew a Bald Eagle!
I’ve had this star fabric for a while… waiting for the perfect American toy pattern design… so when Bill came along, I teamed it up with some red and white striped fabric and a feathery looking brown fabric which had EAGLE written all over it!
* If you don’t have stars and stripes
DON’T WORRY
~> you can use plain blue and plain red for the wings – or even make a ‘natural-looking eagle with brown wings.
OK, Let’s start with the wings!
STEP 1
Pin and sew the WING TIP PIECES to the WING PIECES, matching the crosses of the pattern markings.
TIP: I like to finger-press these seams open with a fingernail so they lie nice and flat for the next step.
STEP 2
Pin the WING TIP & WING PIECES together in pairs, with right sides facing, on a rectangle of batting. Sew through all 3 layers and remember to leave the straight edge open for turning.
STEP 3
Trim the batting and the seam allowance to approximately 3mm (1/8inch) and turn the wings right sides out. (It is optional to use batting – I like it because it makes the wings less floppy!)
***Do not stuff the wings!***
STEP 4
Pin the wings so that the edges are flat then sew the top stitching lines, as shown in the Wing Sewing Diagram. Sew around the edge of each wing using a 5mm/¼inch seam allowance to create a ‘rim’ around the outsides and stitch across the wings at the seam between the WING TIP PIECES and WING PIECES. This is important because it holds all 3 layers together and gives the wings a nice professional finish!
TIP: I stitch in blue thread on the WING PIECES and in white on the WING TIP PIECES to help ‘hide’ my stitching!
STEP 5
Pin the wings in position on the BODY PIECES using the pattern markings to guide you.
STEP 6
Fold and pin the BODY PIECES at the wing dart and sew the WINGS in place (inside the dart!).
STEP 7
Pin the HEAD PIECES to the BODY PIECES together at the neck seam, making sure the WINGS are out of the way and don’t get caught up in the seam!
STEP 8
Sew the HEAD PIECES and BODY PIECES together. Pin the seams you have just sewn so that they lie downwards and top stitch a line of stitching over the seam so that they are nice and firm.
TIP: Make sure you stitches go through the seam at the back! This is important because it makes the seam nice and firm. I like to use a thread to match the body fabric.
STEP 9
Pin and sew the eagle’s body together down the back, from C on the HEAD PIECES – E on the BODY PIECES. Clip the seams, especially the curved part around the top of the eagle’s head.
TIP: If you want to be extra fussy (like me?) you can sew the HEAD with white thread and change to brown for the BODY PIECES… or keep it simple and use white thread for everything!
STEP 10
Sew the BEAK TOP PIECES to the BEAK BASE PIECES. Sew from A – B, matching the 3 crosses (xxx) of the pattern markings.
STEP 11
Pin the BEAK & BEAK BASE PIECES together and sew them together from C – D, making sure to leave the seam open from D – F. (See the Beak sewing diagram.) This is important so that it will be easier to sew the beak to the HEAD PIECES!
STEP 12
Trim the seam, especially at the tip, so it will turn nicely and turn the beak right sides out. Use a wooden chopstick to turn the seams nicely. Run it, back and forth, along the stitch line inside the beak to make the seams smooth.
TIP: If you don’t have a chopstick, the end of a children’s paintbrush works really great for this too!
STEP 13
Pin the BEAK PIECES to the BODY PIECES matching point C and F. Sew from F – C – F on the other side.
EYES:
STEP 14
If you are using craft/safety eyes fit them now. If you want to embroider eyes, I recommend doing them after the toy is stuffed.
Let’s sew the Eagle’s tail:
STEP 15
Pin and sew the TAIL PIECES together, with right sides facing, on a rectangle of batting, like you did with the wings. Leave the straight edge open for turning.
Trim the seams and turn the TAIL PIECES right sides out and use a chopstick to turn the seam smoothly.*** Do not stuff the tail!***
STEP 16
Pin the TAIL so that the edges are flat and sew around the edge using a 5mm/¼inch seam allowance. Using the Tail sewing diagram to guide you, sew the top stitching lines on the TAIL PIECES.
STEP 17
Pin and sew the TAIL to the BODY PIECES, matching point M and E.
STEP 18
Sew the LEG PIECES together in pairs. Sew from G – H and J – K. (N.B.* DON’T FORGET to leave a gap for stuffing them later!)
STEP 19
Sew the TOES PIECES to the HEEL PIECES.
STEP 20
Pin and sew them to the LEG PIECES matching points H and K. (Sew right around without a gap.)
STEP 21
Clip the seams then turn the feet right sides out. Use a wooden chopstick to make sure the seams are turned nicely, especially the ‘toes’.
Pin the LEG PIECES closed at the top and then…
STEP 22
…pin them to the BODY PIECES, matching points J and G, so the ‘toes’ face to the front (where the beak is!).
STEP 23
Pin and sew the GUSSET PIECES to the BODY PIECES with the legs sandwiched in between, matching the dots of the pattern markings. I found I had to use a LOT of pins to keep the pieces together for sewing this seam – I think it’s because Bill has such big feet!
STEP 24
Sew across the top of the legs a few times.
TIP: I also like to sew across the top of the legs with a zig-zag stitch to make them even more secure! Pin the Eagle along the centre edge of the GUSSET PIECES, matching the 3 dots of the pattern markings. Leave the TAIL sticking out the back. Sew from D on the beak down the front of the HEAD PIECES, BODY PIECES and GUSSET PIECES to L on the BODY PIECES. Leave a gap open on the GUSSET PIECES for turning and stuffing.
STEP 25
Fold the BODY PIECES at M so you can pin the body closed at the tail. Pin point L to E. (The tail, legs and wings will all be inside the body of your Eagle.)
Sew the BODY PIECES closed at the tail. Sew from M – L/E – M on the other side.
STEP 26
Turn the eagle right sides out through the stuffing gap on the GUSSET. Stuff the beak very well, then stuff the head area and then the neck. Stuff the tail end next, followed by the rest of the body. Stuff the legs firmly.
STEP 27
Sew the stuffing gaps closed with a ladder stitch using a double strand of machine sewing thread.
Using the pattern markings to guide you, sew a long stitch using black embroidery cotton to create the nostril’s on your eagle’s beak.
Your Eagle
is ready to LOVE!!!!
Come join the fun on Facebook!
I LOVE to see how your Funky Friends toys turn out!
When you’ve made your own Bald Eagle toys you can come show them off ~>
Post a photo on my Funky Friends Factory Facebook page for me to see and YOU could win a FREE PATTERN! 
Till next time, Happy Sewing, Pauline
