I want to find as many options for creative, screen-free playtime activities for my kids as possible. Along those lines, I like to emphasize nature and outdoor engagement with them. However, there are times when outdoor play isn’t an option, for example rainy days or cold days. That’s why I like the idea of indoor play camping play for rainy days.
Now to the task at hand, I have this length of corduroy fabric in my fabric stash that my wife got a while ago. There’s been a small amount that’s been leftover since she made some clothes with it. After spending some time thinking of things I could do with it, I realized that the texture of the corduroy looks a lot like tree bark. So then I thought, “Why not make some plush fire logs for pretend play around an indoor campfire?”
Sewing a Campfire Log for Indoor Camping Play
Basically, this process is pretty simple. It just involves making the outside corduroy log and capping that with two circular ends.
Level: Beginner (The hardest part is sewing the circular caps on the ends. But don’t be discouraged. This can be easily accomplished by taking it slow and methodically).
What You Will Need to Sew the Play Campfire Log
- 1/4 yard brown corduroy fabric
- 1/4 yard cream or light brown fleece fabric. Or flannel fabric. I will point out that because fleece is more stretchy than flannel, it can be more forgiving in terms of pulling while sewing.
- Polyfill stuffing
- Needle and thread
For the pieces you will cut one rectangle and two circle pieces per log. The size of the square will be: 10.5” x 12”
If you are calculating your own dimensions, the height of the square (the shorter side) is 1/2” less than the circumference of the circle
Steps to Make the Play Campfire Log
- Start by printing out the pattern here, taping up and tracing out the pattern in the fabric.
For note, if you want to change the size of the log start by changing the size of the circles at the ends. Use the method for measuring out side panels outlined in the scrap bag tutorial here.
- Next sew the square piece with right sides together lengthwise with a 1/4” seam allowance.
3. When you finish that step, with right sides facing (RSF),pin then sew one of the circular end pieces to one of the open ends. Sew with a 1/4″ seam allowance here as well.
Generally, it helps when pinning/clipping to begin by pinning at two opposite ends of the circle and working your way around.
A Note About Sewing The Circle Pieces On
Be sure to keep the two sides flat and keep the sides from getting tucked under. Otherwise you’ll finish sewing and see that one of the sides is skewed and you’ll have to pull out your seam ripper to fix it. Take this nice and slow.
At this point, if you need to adjust, manually move the needle into the fabric by turning the wheel, lift up the presser foot and move the fabric into the correct flat position. With the needle in you can move it around without losing your needle position in the stitch. As always don’t forget to lock your stitch at the beginning and end of the stitch. You will not be leaving an opening on this side. Sew all the way around.
4. Now, do the same for the other end. But leave about a 2” opening.
Finishing It Up
5. Once you finish this stitch, pull the other end of the log out through the hole and turn right side out.
6. After that, stuff the log with the polyfill. In terms of how much to stuff, the stuffing in plush toys tends to compress over time. So the more you can stuff up front the better. If you feel like it’s getting too full, keep going.
7. Finally, sew the opening shut with a ladder stitch. Sewing a ladder stitch is a very common stitch for sewing shut openings for plush toys like this.
I’ve found these instructions on sewing a ladder stitch to be very comprehensive. This is a similar process to sewing the opening closed on the play fabric dice project as well.
And that’s all there is. Make a bunch of these. Pull out the play tent and stack them up. If you want, you can draw out some fire shapes from construction paper and stack those inside the logs. Make some s’mores, real or pretend and tell some campfire stories.
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