The 30mm oval comical eye is used in my Classic Stick Horse design. Feel free to use it on other designs as well! Perhaps you prefer a fabric eye to a plastic one for softness, added safety or simply because you like it better. Maybe you’re on a time crunch and the arrival of some plastic safety eyes ordered online will take too long. Whatever your reason…I’ve got you covered! Here you will find the tutorial on how to applique 30mm oval comical eyes. The free templates are available to download by clicking the button at the bottom of this page.
What you will need:
- Fabric Scraps for Eyes
- Iron-on Adhesive (I use Heat N Bond Light) or Spray Adhesive
- Thread
- Iron (for Iron-on Adhesive)
- Light to Medium Interfacing (stabilizer)
If you need a tutorial on how to applique, you can find that here.
Step 1: Trace the eye template pieces onto Heat n’ Bond Light (skip this step if using an adhesive spray). The backing and the eye shine pieces are optional. I will be showing you the eye with both these options.
Step 2: Iron the adhesive to the wrong side of the fabric you’d like to use for each layer of the eye. (if using the adhesive spray, spray each piece just before placing it on the fabric it will be sewn to)
Step 3: Place the eye backing on the fabric first (if using the backing, if not, start with the Iris). Iron this in place to activate the iron-on adhesive or use spray adhesive to temporarily secure this eye layer.
Step 4: To help make sure the eyes are placed evenly on each head side, place the corresponding eye layer on top of the one you just secured to the fabric with the adhesive side facing up.
Step 5: Place the opposite head side piece right sides together with the head side piece to which you have already secured the eye layer. Carefully line up the head sides and place the head side without an eye layer directly over the head side with the eye layer, right sides together. This will ensure that the eye layers are lined up to each other as well as correctly placed on both head sides. Iron over the wrong side of the fabric on the top head side piece over where the eye layer is placed to activate the adhesive and temporarily secure it in place. (alternatively, mark the placement and spray the back of the eye layer with spray on adhesive and temporarily secure in place). This procedure will be repeated with each layer. Be sure to iron after each layer to activate the adhesive as you go.
Step 6: Following the procedure above, place the eye white layer on the eye backing layer.
Step 7: Following the procedure above, place the pupil layer on the bottom half of the eye white layer. Line up the curved edges.
Step 8: Following the procedure above, place the eye shine layer on the pupil layer as desired (optional).
Step 9: Place a light to medium interfacing/stabilizer on the wrong side of the fabric to support the eye area during applique. Applique each layer using a matching thread, or thread color you prefer.
You can add eyelids and/or eyelashes as well! The project I demonstrated this eye applique on is my Classic Stick Horse.
Here’s a great image to pin! Pin now and save this project for later.