How to Make a Sarubobo Plush & Applique Frame
Today Mai from Mairuru shows you how to make a traditional Japanese figure with a great framing process too. You can learn more about Mai in her introduction (she stitches everything by hand!).
From Mai: My friend gave me an idea to make a frame with my Sarubobo plushes. So I’d like to write here the process of making a frame.
To make it you need:
- a frame
- fabrics
- batting (of the size of the frame)
- adhesive interlining(to make the applique)
- embroidery thread(if you want to embroidery)
- stuffing (for plush)
Sarubobo is a Japanese amulet, a baby monkey plush.
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I used this frame. At first, I sized it and sketched. I’ll put two sarubobo plush on it, and I applique the fruits. |
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I copied the design in another piece of paper, and cut the pattern of fruits. |
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Then cut the adhesive interlining as the patterns. Please note that you should put the pattern of the wrong side upper, not to make it reverse.Iron them on the fabrics.Cut as the pattern line. |
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If you want to make something like the watermelon, please put 5mm allowance for the joint side, like the picture (the under side of the red, and the upper side of the green). |
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Then sew the pieces of watermelon together. I marked the center of the pattern and put a pin on the mark. |
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Open the allowance… |
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…And iron it. |
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Then, sew the fruits on the back fabric. I put a low profile batting on it to give warm impression. |
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Sew the batting too.
Sew the edge line using blind stitch. |
Then, make sarubobo plushes:
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For this tiny frame, I make the pattern like the picture. For the head, 2.8 cm diameter circle, and for the body, 3 cm x 3.5 cm rectangle(includes allowances).I wrote how to make sarubobo plush here. Please check the link to see the detail. |
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This piece becomes the body. |
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Each corner becomes the leg or the hand. |
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Fold the piece in bias making a hand, and sew the edge line. |
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Don’t cut the thread and sew to the other side. |
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You made two hands now. |
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Do the same thing on the other side. |
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Turn it out. I use the needle to pull the corners of hands and legs.Then put the stuffing with thin stick (I used hair pin), and close the center space. |
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You made the body. |
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Then, make the head with the circle piece. Sew the edge line. |
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Put the stuffing on the center and pull the string. Make a ball. This is a head. |
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Put the head on the body and sew them together. |
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I made two sarubobo. |
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Put it on the fruit, and sew the four corner of their hands and legs. |
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At last I hand embroidered the seeds of the watermelon. |
I made also the one climbing an apple tree.
For this frame, I used the fusible web to put applique, so I didn’t sew it. It’s easier than using adhesive interlining, but the applique fabric becomes hard to embroidery. So I prefer using adhesive interlining.
Thank you for reading such a long article.
Enjoy sewing!
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I’ve just recently discovered Mai’s blog and her amazing work, and I’m already a huge fan. I used to hand piece queen sized quilts by hand and everyone looked at me like I was insane. I feel like Mai is a woman after my own heart! Thanks so much for sharing this with us.
Wow! So tiny! Awesome.
That is beautiful!@
This looks great, and I’m sure if I were to hang this on my wall I would get lots of interesting comments, It’s so unusual and fun!-you have such a sweet and lovely blog here, I am envious!
x
Waou.., it is so cute
we do not have these sarubobo here in france, I have to check what it means exactely…
have a good day
Cute, cute, cute! I love the stories, they tell. Great work!
I have just discovered Mai’s blog.. and this is just fantastic what she has been doing by hand !!
I love her Sarubobo plush … with leftover fabric, they should be a thrill to sew !
Thanks a lot
Stéphanie from France
This is a beautiful way to use the traditional Sarubobo dolls. I even went to read the history and meaning of these dolls. All very interesting. Thank you for sharing this part of Japanese culture; I found it extremely interesting. Although the article mentioned Tobibobo also, and I cannot seem to find any information on those dolls.
I didn’t know it was so easy to sew sarubobo
It’s adorable!
It seems like a lot of work, but it is so cute. I have never seen anything like it. Very neat.
Those are so sweet! I’ve been trying to come up with a project to use some scraps of my fave fabrics, and I think this is it. You might even be able to do this as a take-with-you-to-work on project…I’ll try it and see.
Great idea to applique!! Thanks for the same
i always wondered how those little guys hugging chinese pin cushions are made. thanks for the tutorial. I think I’m going to be making a lot of these!
these are so cute!
This looks tricky, but I think I’ll give it a try. I am always up for trying new things.
So cute!
this is so cute, i love japanese crafts!! obsessed actually
That’s so neat!
Oh my, what cute little things!
I love that! What a great idea!
I am so impressed! Thank you for giving me another fantastic blog to read!
This is so great! Thanks for finding such talented artists and sharing their tutorials!
This is a great tutorial, will try it soon!
So tiny and delicate! You have patient hands.
Oh, they are so cute! Too many ideas, too little time!
The tree would look so great in a kid’s room!
How adorable is that! And, I’m amazed that she does it all by hand. I just don’t have the patience!
adorable! i especially love the one climbing the apple tree
may have to try this out for a baby gift – would be so cute decorating a nursery!
Your sewing is magnificent and a work of fine art!!! .
That is so cute!
Oh my goodness, I didn’t realize how tiny they were. So talented.
These are so sweet and whimsical!
These are so creative and adorable. Thanks for showing us how to make it.
So very cute! Wow.
So sweet! I am on this project for some kiddos that go to a Japanese immersion school. This will top the felt sushi from last year!
I love the one climbing the tree! I have seen her blog before and admire her patience to sew by hand!
wow…very nice
Mai is amazing. i wish I had time to try all of her nifty designs!!
These are adorable! Putting this on my project list to decorate the baby’s room!
Another beautiful creation Mai! I love your wall art (and everything else you do). Thank you for sharing.
These Sarubobo are so cute and so tiny!! That’s amazing!
I love all of Mai’s beautiful work! Thanks so much for the tutorial!
Adorable! And impressive how small the pieces are…
This is beautiful! Some friends of ours love all things Japanese after teaching there for a couple years, so I think I will have to be making this in the near future!
I’m a huge fan of Mai’s and love how generously she shares how to do things. This would be so cute in a kitchen or child’s room.
these are so cute! and her blog is so charming!
how cute. i have never seen little guys like this. thanks for the show and tell us all how to do it.
I have never seen anything like that before! I think those would go great in a nursery or for a child’s room. Thanks for the tutorial!
Wow! These are so neat!
I always wonder what those cute little guys were. Thanks for sharing this is darling.
absolutely adorable! i wonder if i could make add little triangles (ears) and a curly tail to turn those dolls into pug dogs.
I love the creativity of this project…It would be adorable with a crescent moon… to hang in a child’s room!
Cute Idea…
Very cute. A set of these would make a fantastic baby gift.
So pretty!
Amazing talent!! Thanks so much for sharing with us!
I am totally impressed with your work.
What a wonderful little piece and tutorial.
I like the idea and would be fun for gifts for my friends.
Debbie
I love all kind of japanese… things.
wow, it’s so beautiful !
i will try it soon
thank you so much for sharing
So very cute! I’ve never seen anything like it!
Your projects are always so creative, thanks for sharing them with us.
Amazing talent!
Thank you very much everyone! I’m happy to have made this post.
I wanted to share the pleasure of hand sewing with you! It’s easy to begin and not so hard.
I love Mai’s creations and blog and have been trying to think of how she makes the tiny people. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Mai does such fine work. Keep it up. Your site is going in my favorites file.
So adorably cute!
thanks alot for the tutorial!
i am going to be useing this one!
the sarubobo plushies look so cute!
How cute! I’ve never seen this technique done before.
These are really nice art. Easy to make and a great artistic espression for the home.
Adorable, simple, lovely to look at. Thanks for sharing your instructions.
I love this, Mai has such cute ideas and the fact she hand sews everything is amazing
Wonderful! The Sarubobo are so simple and yet they look so delightful. I love the framed picture and I’m going to try this soon.
Wonderful! The Sarubobo are so simple and yet they look so delightful. I love the framed picture and I’m going to try this soon.
I love anything sewn by hand. They are so cute and neat.
I instantly fell in love with your project. Cannot wait to make something similar for the new grandbaby, due this spring, to be born at Yokosuka base. I too love Japanese crafts. Other than TOMATO, any suggestions of shopping for fabric, when I get back to Tokyo?
adorei!!!!!!!!!!!que mimoso !!!!!!!!!!!!
vou fazer e dar para minhas amigas.
parabens é muito lindo!!!!!!!
kharin – poa – rs – brasil
I agree it is very well done. Glad you found it useful.