Have you heard of World Giraffe Day? Celebrated on June 21st because that is (often) the longest day of the year, this event celebrates this fascinating animal and provides awareness and support for giraffe in the wild. Today I am sharing this easy Giraffe sewing pattern and giraffe coloring page so you can prepare to celebrate in style with your kids!
Easy Giraffe Sewing Pattern and Giraffe Coloring Page
Felt stuffies are wonderful first sewing sewing projects for kids! Needles slide through felt very easily and felt does not unravel, so kids can focus on making small enough stitches that are close enough together – no small task for beginners! I put together an easy giraffe sewing pattern, and Johnny was able to sew and stuff his giraffe in a single afternoon!
We decided to make giraffes after reading Giraffes Can’t Dance (affiliate link) together – a very fun book, if you haven’t read it! This project actually started off as a simple coloring page, but Lily wanted to sew, not color, so we made some changes to create this easy felt stuffie pattern (click on the image below to download):
Johnny finished his in a few hours. He chose to leave off all decorations, sewing only undecorated felt. He can always add a face and spots if he chooses to later, either using felt or fabric markers. He sewed and stuffed the giraffe all on his own, and then after he was finished I reinforced the stitching in a few areas.
This simple project makes a great child-made gift! If you use white felt, your child has a blank canvas to decorate however they like with fabric markers!
Lily started hers, but hasn’t finished yet. She seems to agree with Johnny that this giraffe should be monochrome. Tiny stitches require a lot of concentration!
Emma wasn’t in the mood to sew at all, but she made a very colorful giraffe using my original coloring page:
Johnny also decorated a giraffe. I love that he stayed pretty traditional for most of the giraffe, but then added whimsical feet, ears, and horns.
How will your kids color their giraffes? Print out a page, and see where they decide to go with it!
How do your kids like to spend a quiet afternoon?
More Fun Giraffe Themed Fun for Kids
Celebrate World Giraffe Day on June 21st this year. I have joined bloggers from around the world in this quirky blog hop to give you some ideas of interesting crafts and activities for children of all ages.
- Witty Hoots shares A Giraffe Round Up
- The Jenny Evolution shares Books Featuring Giraffes
- Peakle Pie shares How to Make a Giraffe Pencil Holder
- Lara Bee UK shares Giraffe Number Sequencing Busy Bag
- Something 2 Offer shares Free Giraffe Coloring Pages
- PreSchool POWOL Packets shares a Giraffe Science Experiment
- Kids Minds shares Giraffe Science and Math Measurement
- Learning Through Play shares Giraffe Hand Print Art
Lana says
This is absolutely lovely that you sharing this with other parents! As an art teacher for many years, I love to incorporate the sewing projects with my elementary students! Sometimes boys can be resistant to try it…but all of them later said me a big thank you for teaching us how to sew!
MaryAnne says
Sewing is a wonderful life skill to learn!
Ticia Adventures in Mommydom says
It always amuses me how my kids choose to color and create projects. Sometimes they go really well, and then those other times…..
Natalie PlanetSmartyPants says
I am impressed that Johnny was able to sew up his giraffe on his own. This is a lot of concentration and fine motor work. It looks lovely!
Deceptively Educational says
Sewing is so rewarding for kids and such a great way to practice fine motor skills. Your giraffe is positively adorable. I love this project!
boymamateachermama says
Looks like great fun and good fine motor practice!
almostunschoolers says
I absolutely love this! I printed off a few of the sheets for coloring (and perhaps a softie or two) – I think I’ll leave them on the printer, and see what happens :)
Elisa | blissfulE says
I too am impressed with Johnny’s sewing! Such perseverance and attention to detail! Great work! The coloured giraffes look fantastic, too.
Mommy Crusader says
This is such a great idea! My boys were both asking me to teach them how to sew. Thanks so much for showing me a wonderful way to teach them. I love this post!
Pragmatic Mom says
The giraffes look great! How patiently your kids all worked on theirs! I think all kids enjoy learning how to sew!
MaryAnne says
I agree! It’s really empowering to turn a piece of fabric into a multi-dimensional object.
Ann says
Love the book and the printable MaryAnne! If you had fabric crayons you could combine your coloring page with the sewing project!
MaryAnne says
Great idea!
Jenelle says
Oh how fun!! Niobe may enjoy this. Now I can purchase that felt I have been eyeing at Micheal’s. Thanks Mamasmiles!
MaryAnne says
Felt is such a fun material! I have some more projects coming up that use felt :)
Veens says
I absolutely love that your boy sews! I want to introduce sewing here too :) And Emma’s Giraffe has to be my favorite!
MaryAnne says
I love her giraffe too :)
I think most boys would enjoy sewing, given the chance. Sharp objects and then a power tool when they move onto sewing machines – what’s not to love?
Nina says
I love this! I’m a fan of the book, too. What age did your kids start sewing?
jeannine: waddleeahchaa says
Your giraffes are lovely! Sewing is such a wonderful activity to stimulate the brain and develop motor skills. Nice to see another boy sewing. MacGyver is crazy about sewing and makes his own animal patterns. He’s on a quest to make life like fish. I must say his flat flounder is awesome.
MaryAnne says
I would love to see his flat flounder!
Helen from Witty Hoots says
Thanks for joining in with the World Giraffe Day Quirky Blog Hop. What a great idea for sewing and colouring in as well.
pragmaticmom says
I love your sewing projects!
MaryAnne says
Thanks! The kids and I really enjoy sewing.