raccoon week: eye mask

today's project is perfect for a long winter's nap: a raccoon eye mask by Jane of buzzmills!!

Raccoons are the new foxes, which were the new owls...haven't you heard?! 

Thanks so much Rachael for letting me join in on all of the raccoon fun.  There have been so many great ideas so far.  I mean, seriously, I can't wait to try all of them! Today I am adding something to help you sleep.

 

Don't be robbed of your sleep anymore!  Make yourself a raccoon eye mask and get your beauty rest.  (And if you find that you were, for some reason burglarized, stop on by my blog for another raccoon to help you with that too!)

Here's what you'll need:  felt, 1/4" elastic, small piece of fabric for the back.

You will also need a larger template for the eye mask.  I made a new version of the template for the eye mask based off of Rachael's original.

Once you have printed out the new template, cut out your pieces of felt place them where you want them...

With or without eyelashes.  If you choose to use the eyelashes be sure to have a good amount of the bottom of the eyelash underneath the eye so that the eyelash is sewn on when you sew the eye.  Then pin.

Sew around all of the edges, carefully lifting the eyelashes out of the way as you go.

Once you have the front of your mask complete you will need to cut out another piece of felt and one piece of fabric for the back.  I used an organic cotton for my backing.  Make sure that it is something soft, as it will be sitting directly against your eyes.

Cut the felt and fabric out using the template, but make each about a 1/4" larger than the template.

Sew the felt and fabric together with right sides facing using a 1/4" seam allowance.  Leave about 2" open on the side for turning. 

Turn the back right side out, pin the opening closed and then pin the back to the front of the eye mask.  Make sure the fabric side is facing out.

Pin a 15" piece of 1/4" elastic to the sides and then carefully sew around the entire mask. 

Voila!  Raccoon eye mask!

I promise, it does fit an adult!  These kiddos were just having too much fun with it...and it's pretty hard to take a picture of yourself, by yourself while wearing an eye mask...I couldn't see a thing!

Anywho...I hope you enjoy and get some sleep!  Thanks again for having me Rachael.  And don't forget to stop by my blog, buzzmills...for some more raccoon fun! are you in love with raccoons yet?

well, i'm ready for a nap now, how about you? thanks, Jane, for sharing this adorable project!!

if you make a raccoon eye mask from this tutorial, please share pics in the imagine gnats flickr group. pattern and tutorial are for personal use only.

happy stitching!