Snoogem Tutorial

Found this really cool softy in a chinese craft book I bought yesterday. Tried it this morning, it was pouring and it was a lovely rainy day project that took less than an hour and a half. You have the option to stuff the body with wheat (if you are making a wheat heat bag) and the outer bag with potpourri, or with fibers on the body and stuff the outer bag with the wheat instead (Remember to only heat the outer bag then only insert it into the side pocket of the body). Here, I use rice, since it's my first one.

But first, do download the instructions and the template I drew. (Sorry the instructions are in chinese - but the diagrams are quite useful. The 'Size' is totally up to you)






STEP 1

Fold the material into half and Trace the outline of the template on one side. Embroider hands, eyes, features and flower.









STEP 2

Remember to cut 2 squares for the pouch, as shown in grey on the template.











STEP 3

Pin square 1 to the opening, in front of the embroidery marked on the template. Making sure you have enough material on the left.

Pin square 2 to the exact opposite side of the material.








STEP 4
Sew the individual squares to the opening only as indicated on the template (ref. the chinese instructions). And on the other side of the material.

Reverse the material and meet the pouch squares together. Pin and begin to sew along the outline. Leave an opening at the pouch for filling.


STEP 5
Trim the fabric and snip like crazy on the edges and the corner of the pouch where the bends are. This will decrease bunching on the inside.








STEP 6
Invert. Make sure you do not tug at your embroidery by mistake.











STEP 7
Fill it up with fiber, or if you prefer, wheat (if you intend to make a heat bag : Make sure everything is 100% cotton to avoid a nasty meltdown in the microwave oven.) Concentrate on the ears and the legs of the Snoogem. Do not overstuff, bear in mind the extra pouch you will insert later (filled with wheat or potpourri.)






STEP 8 : SEWING THE OUTER POUCH

Cut 2 squares, slightly smaller than your softy's pouch can accommodate.

Sew around leaving an opening to invert and fill with wheat or potpourri.


STEP 9 : FILLING THE OUTER POUCH
I use rice. The book suggested wheat, red bean or potpourri. Whichever you use make sure that you only heat the body or the outer
pouch that is filled with re-heatable fillers!!! And please, use only the microwave. An oven will burn cute little snoogem to ashes.

So, I suggest 1 minute of heating will be sufficient. Use thongs to insert into the body pocket.



STEP 10 : SNAP-ON buttons

Sew the snap-on buttons as indicated to hold the gap of the pocket. I had a little lace sewn to the sides, just for fun.











Ahhhh, little Snoogem is having a little nap.

I microwaved the outer pouch and inserted it into snoogem's pouch for a test run. Rice isn't a good idea, Snoogem smells like freshly boiled rice. So I guess next time I'll try red bean or wheat (very expensive in Malaysia!). But As the heat radiates inside, Snoogem sure is snuggly and cozy.


Have fun! One request though, please leave a comment or post to me your own Snoogem when
you're done.