The 42mm eye size is used in my Cartoon Stick Horse and Dragon Ride-on Toy. You can also use it on whatever project you’d like. 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 42mm 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: 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 4: 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 5: Follow the procedure above and place the eye white layer on the eye backing layer.
Step 6: Follow the procedure above and place the pupil on the eye white layer. You’ll notice that for this eye the pupils are canted toward the outer edge of head side. You can place them how you’d like, but to achieve the look shown make sure you cant the pupils a little and make sure the eyes are mirrored to each other.
Step 7: Follow the procedure above and place the eye shine layer on the pupil layer as desired.
Step 8: 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.
The project I demonstrated this eye applique on is my Cartoon Stick Horse. These eyes are also used on my Classic Dragon Ride-on Toy.
Here’s a great image to pin! Pin this now and save this project for later.
