• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • DIY Projects
    • Homemade Bath and Body
    • Sewing
    • Flower Crafts/Decor
    • Thrift Store/Vintage
  • Gardening
    • Flower Gardens
    • Container Gardening
    • Houseplants
    • Indoor Gardening
    • Landscaping
    • DIY Garden Art
  • Decorate
    • Room Makeovers
    • Spring Decor
    • Summer Decor
    • Fall Decor
    • Winter Decor
    • Home Decor Projects
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Dessert
    • Salad Recipes
    • Soups and Stews
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Appetizers and Snacks
    • Healthy Recipes
  • Holidays
    • Valentine's Day
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
Hearth and Vine
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About Hearth and Vine
  • DIY Projects
    • ...Flower/Gardening Crafts
    • ... Bath and Body
    • ...Sewing/Fabric Crafts
    • ...Thrift Store/Upcycle
  • Gardening
    • ...Flower Gardens
    • ...Container Gardening
    • ...Indoor Gardening
    • ...DIY Garden Art
  • Decorate
    • ...Home Decor Projects
    • ...Spring Decor
    • ...Summer Decor
    • ...Fall Decor
    • ...Winter Decor
    • ...Room Makeovers
  • Recipes
    • ...Appetizers and Snacks
    • ...Dinner Recipes
    • ...Side Dish Recipes
    • ...Salad Recipes
    • ...Dessert
    • ...Drinks
  • Holidays
    • ...Valentine's Day
    • ...Easter
    • ...Mother's Day
    • ...Halloween
    • ...Thanksgiving
    • ...Christmas
  • Subscribe
  • Instagram
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » DIY Projects

    How to Make Fabric Owls - Free Pattern Template

    September 24, 2018 by Patti Estep 6 Comments

    Jump to How-to Card
    A family of fabric owls.
    Two images. Top is a trio of fabric owls and the bottom is the owl pattern.

    Learn how to make these adorable fabric owls with leftover scraps from your sewing projects, and a free printable pattern.

    Three fabric owls

    There's something about owls and the fall that make the cutest decorations. I made this trio one afternoon and they turned out great. Here's how you can make some for your own home.

    This post contains some affiliate links (that means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, there’s no additional cost to you, but I will earn a very small commission. )) i.e. as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

    Newsletter Signup
    Join Our Newsletter List!

    Be the first to receive new posts and get access to our Subscribers Only Page.

    How to Make Fabric Owls 

    Supplies

    • Template - see below
    • Patterned fabric and colored felt
    • Fabric glue
    • Embroidery thread
    • Buttons
    • Fiberfill
    • Crushed walnut shells
    • Owl Body template
    • owl body parts pattern

    Here is my template that you can use to create the owls. You can find the free full page PDF version here. 

    Sewing on body parts

    Creating the Owl's Body

    First, pick out some coordinating fabrics and felt.

    I used quilt batting for this one's belly and all of the white eyes.

    Sew the owl parts to the right side of one of the body pieces. 

    I used the sewing machine to sew the belly to the body with a zigzag stitch. However, you could hand stitch the pieces onto the body. Or, use fabric glue. In fact, I used fabric glue for the beak.

    The eyes were held into place with a little 7/16 inch black button.

    Embroidered eyes on owl

    For added dimension and whimsy I used some embroidery floss to sew around the inner eye with a contrasting color.

    Owl body pieces right sides together

    Once the body parts are on you can match up the two body pieces, with the right sides together. Sew all along the outside edge, leaving the bottom open for turning.

    Turn right side out and prepare to fill the cavity.

    Crushed walnut shells

    Filling The Fabric Owls

    To fill the owl use something like fiberfill or this crushed walnut shell material. I got the idea for this material from my sister's daughter-in-law. She had some new velvet pumpkins that were heavy and I wondered what was in them.

    After some research, I found that the crushed walnut shells are used for pincushions. It makes the owls sturdy and helps them stand up straight.

    You could use sand but some suggested that it's a little too messy. If I had some sand on hand I would have probably used it though.

    Once I used birdseed for some snowmen but that was a mistake because we stored them in the attic and something, I don't even want to think about what got into them.

    Sew opening closed

    Fill the owl's body until it is totally full. It takes a bit of patience and practice. I might even suggest filling the ears with fiberfill first. 

    Finish by hand stitching the opening closed.

    Middle size fabric owl

    Make this size owl from the template.

    Large fabric owl

    To make one a little larger simply extend your cutting lines beyond the template about 1/2 - 1 inch. I did this for the body and the belly but left the eyes the same.

    Small fabric owl

    The same goes for making this smaller owl.

    Just trace the template but cut inside the lines.

    On this one, I used the small eye template for the larger eyes and then cut smaller ones, along with the body and belly.

    Fabric Owl Family

    Trio of fabric owls

    This little family of fabric owls is perched on our mantel to help us celebrate all things fall. They will be there through Thanksgiving.

    Fall mantel with fabric owls.

    Here they are on my mantel with this fun dried flower garland DIY. 

    Patti signature

    More Felt Crafts

    • Nature Inspired Owl Wreath
    • DIY Felt Succulent Planter
    • Handmade Felt Pincushion

    Click Here to Save to Pinterest!

    Two fabric owls sitting on a table.
    Three fabric owls
    Print
    5 from 1 vote

    How to Make Fabric Owls - Free Pattern Template

    Use leftover fabric scraps from your sewing projects, and a free printable pattern to make this adorable fabric owl.
    Prep Time30 minutes mins
    Active Time30 minutes mins
    Total Time1 hour hr
    Course: DIY Projects
    Yield: 1 Owl
    Author: Patti Estep
    Cost: $10

    Equipment

    • sewing machine

    Materials

    • Template
    • Patterned fabric and colored felt
    • Fabric glue
    • Embroidery thread
    • Buttons
    • Fiberfill
    • Crushed walnut shells

    Instructions

    • Pick out some coordinating fabrics and felt.
    • Use quilt batting for the owl's belly and all of the white eyes.
    • Sew the owl parts to the right side of one of the body pieces. 
    • Use the sewing machine to sew the belly to the body with a zigzag stitch.
    • You could hand stitch the pieces onto the body, or use fabric glue.
    • Use fabric glue for the beak.
    • Secure the eyes with a little button.
    • Sew around the inner eye with a contrasting color.
    • Match up the two body pieces, with the right sides together.
    • Sew all along the outside edge, leaving the bottom open for turning.
    • Turn right side out and prepare to fill the cavity.  
    • Fill the owl with fiberfill or crushed walnut shell material.
    • Fill the owl's body until it is totally full. 
    • Finish by hand stitching the opening closed.
    « Squash Blossom Pasta - When You Have So Many to Harvest
    Make a Dried Flower Garland to Beautify Your Home »

    About Patti Estep

    Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. PAULI STERN

      June 05, 2021 at 12:10 pm

      Hi, these are adorable! How much of the crushed walnut shells did you use for the standard-sized owl? Thanks.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        June 06, 2021 at 7:14 am

        Pauli, I think it was about 2 cups, maybe a little more. 

        Reply
    2. Robyn

      September 24, 2018 at 1:59 pm

      These are so very cute!! I love Owls, thanks for the pattern, you did a great job!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        September 24, 2018 at 2:09 pm

        Thank you for such a kind comment Robyn. I hope you have as much fun making them as I did.

        Reply
    3. Carole West

      September 24, 2018 at 8:51 am

      These are so cute and clever. When I was a kid my sister made stuffed frogs with those google eyes. Anyways they always filled them with sand. So the one with the pink eyes is my favorite, great way to spice up fall with a different color. LOVE!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        September 24, 2018 at 9:09 am

        Thanks Carole. Frogs would be cute too. Might have to keep them in mind for the future.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Follow Me

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Patti profile pic

    Hi! I'm Patti

    Join me to create lots of fun DIY projects including crafts, gardening, home decor and tasty recipes.

    more about me

    Popular Posts

    Blue jean crossover bag

    DIY Crossbody Bag from Jeans

    tabletop water gardens

    How to Make an Indoor Water Garden

    Echievera planter

    What to do With a Stretched Succulent

    Fabric bowl covers in 3 prints

    How to Make Fabric Bowl Covers

    Long blooming perennials including yarrow, geraniums, black-eyed susan, daisy, coneflower, coreopsis, and russian sage.

    10+ Long Blooming Perennials

    Chicken black bean tortilla casserole

    Chicken Black Bean Casserole Recipe

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About
    Privacy Policy
    Disclosure Policy

    Sign Up Here!
    for our
    newsletter &
    special offers

    • Shop
    • Web Stories

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. i.e. as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Hearth and Vine