Taurus The Bull

The Bull believes in quality, and plenty of it.

Posted by Andrews McMeel

About

April 21–May 21
Ruled by: Venus
Element: Earth
Colors: pink & pale blue
Gemstone: Emerald

The Bull believes in quality, and plenty of it. So use top-notch materials and your best stitches, or your Bull may charge, tear the needle from your incompetent hand, and finish the job himself.

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You Will Need (22 things)

  • 6-in. (15-cm) square of sage green Felt
  • 4-in. (10-cm) square of pink Felt
  • 2-in. (5-cm) square of cream Felt
  • Tiny scrap of flesh pink Felt
  • Embroidery Floss in cream, pink, and sage green
  • 2 turquoise Eyelets , ? in. (3 mm) diameter
  • 1 bronze metallic Ring from a toggle fastening, 5?8 in. (15 mm) diameter
  • 2 miniature black Paper Fasteners
  • 1-ft. (30-cm) length of light blue Organza Ribbon , 1?8 in. (3 mm) wide
  • 1 small flower-shaped mother-of-pearl Button
  • Tiny quantity of loose polyester Stuffing
  • Scissors
  • Pencil(s) and tracing paper
  • Nonpermanent Fabric Marker
  • Eyelet Pliers
  • Metal Snips
  • Round Needle Nose Pliers
  • Awl
  • Pin(s)
  • Embroidery Needle
  • Rubber Cement
  • Matchstick or tweezers

Steps (8 steps, 50 minutes)

  1. 1

    Cut out all the felt pieces as marked, either photocopying or scanning the templates, or using tracing paper to make templates, as described on page 4. Use the eyelet pliers to set the two turquoise eyelets in the face piece. Snip out the hoop of the bronze toggle fastening with the metal snips, fold the face in half between the eyelets, and insert the ring through the eyelets. Use the pliers to flatten and close the ring at the back of the felt to make a D shape.

  2. 2

    Make two small holes in the face with the awl, push a paper fastener through each hole, and open the arms out on the other side of the felt to hold in place. Pin the face piece in position on one of the body pieces, thread an embroidery needle with one strand of cream floss, and stitch in place with a small overhand stitch.

  3. 3

    Take two of the horn pieces and lay three stripes of organza ribbon across each, pinning them in place, then turning the ends to the back of the felt and gluing them down.

  4. 4

    Sew the ribbon-striped horns on the front of the face, using an embroidery needle, one strand of pink floss, and a small overhand stitch. Use rubber cement to glue the tail on the front of the body, wrapping the end around to the back of the felt and gluing in place.

  5. 5

    Glue the other two horn pieces in place on the second body piece.

  6. 6

    Thread an embroidery needle with one strand of pink floss and then sew the horns together with a small overhand stitch. Stuff the horns through the open, unstitched body with wisps of the stuffing.

  7. 7

    Thread an embroidery needle with one strand of sage green thread and sew the body pieces together, starting with a small running stitch between the horns (leaving the little crest unstitched) and then completing one side and around the legs. Leave the other side open and stuff the body with wisps of the stuffing, using a matchstick or tweezers to help you. When the body is evenly padded, sew the gap closed.

  8. 8

    Thread an embroidery needle with two strands of pink floss and sew the flowershaped mother-of-pearl button onto the right-hand side of the head, positioning it rakishly just above the eye. Rethread the needle with two strands of cream floss and sew four little lines on the hooves, checking the photograph of the finished feltie to get the positioning right.