Christmas Elf on the Shelf Tutorial

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Christmas Elf on the Shelf Pattern

DIY Christmas Elf : I know it’s a bit early, but I’ve started thinking about Christmas. I love this time of year, it’s just a massive excuse for a big fat craft fest. Making decorations and gifts is my favourite part of Christmas, so I like to start early and drag it out as long as I can. I love getting out all the decorations that the kids and I have made over the years and every year I like to add to the collection. My first new Christmas decoration is this adorable ‘Christmas Elf on the Shelf’; he’ll look really cute on the mantle and would make a great gift.
 
Full tutorial and free pdf Elf pattern are included in this post.
 

 

 
This Elf is actually a Christmas pimp of some cute softies I’ve been making for friends for years from old t-shirts. All it took to make the transformation to Elf, was a careful choice of fabric colour, some Elf like ears, a green felt hat and collar. The body of these cuddly toys is stuffed with lentils which makes them weighted so they sit well and can be used as a door stop.
 
This post contains amazon affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to see my disclosure policy.
 
 

What you need to make an Elf on the Shelf

• Green stripy jersey fabric approximately 1 fat quarter. If you happen to have an old green stripy t-shirt this would do. I often use old t-shirts to make these softies.
• Template downloadable here : Elf Pattern
• Cream or a neutral coloured jersey fabric, no more than 1 fat quarter. Again an old t-shirt would do.
• Green felt aprox. 1 fat quarter.
• 2 extra large coconut shell buttons. These are easily bought online and come in various colours.
• Small amount of fibre to stuff the head and ears. Lentils, green or red or split peas to stuff the body.
• Needle and thread
• Optional small silver bell

How to make your Christmas Elf

Part 1: The head

• With the Elf Pattern cut out 6 head pieces and 4 ear pieces with the cream fabirc.
• Using a very small seam allowance of about 5mm sew the head pieces together, like the segments of an orange. Leave a gap at the top for stuffing. You should end up with something that looks like a deflated ball. Stuff firmly with the fibre stuffing and close.
• Next sew the ear pieces together so that you have 2 ears. Stuff these lightly and then sew a stitch a swirl in the middle of the ear to give it definition.
• Sew the ears to the stuffed head
• Make a hat out of the green felt; cut a triangle wide enough to go round the head, fold in half, stitch and turn inside out. If you have one you can stitch a silver bell to the top of the hat.
• Finally stitch your oversized buttons to the face to make eyes.

Part 2: The Body

• Using the Elf Pattern cut out 2 body pieces and 4 arm pieces in your green stripy fabric.
• Again using a small seam allowance, sew the arm pieces right sides together, leaving a gap at the top. Turn the arms right sides out.
• Stitch the body pieces right sides together, leaving a gap at the shoulders for the arms and a gap at the top for stuffing. Don’t turn out just yet.
• Stuff the arms with lentils. Place the stuffed arms inside body and stitch round the shoulders to attach them.
• Using the hole in the top of the body turn your elf right sides out.
• Stuff the body with lentils, make sure you fill the legs, and then stitch to close
• Now stitch your head to the body.

 
 

 
As you can see to make my softie more Elf like I added a felt collar. This was made simply by drawing round a bowl on some green felt. Cutting out this felt circle and cutting a zigzag pattern into. Then cut a slit into the felt collar so that it can be slipped round the neck of your Elf.
 

 
You must admit this Christmas Elf on the shelf looks really sweet on the mantle.
 
Instead of using lentils in the past I have used wheat to stuff these Elves. Wheat can be heated in the microwave so the Elves can be used as hot buddies for warming.
 

 
Finally do you have any good elf jokes? I would love to hear them.
 
You might want to checkout my other Christmas decorations.
Upcycled Funky felt garland
Giant Christmas Felt Letters
Upcycled Shuttlecock Angels
 





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