Imaginative play is just one joy of childhood. These carrots can be stuffed to make a plush toy to encourage the imagination. These carrots can also be filled with small candies or trinket…in the fashion of an Easter Egg. They make fun basket fillers and are quite easy to make, only requiring a small amount of fabric too! Great for Easter baskets, party favors or just a simple treat to ‘feed’ your hobby horse.
While you’re at it…make a fun little Feed Bag too!
What You'll Need
- – Fat quarter cotton fabric for carrot (several will fit on one fat quarter)
- – Fat quarter cotton fabric for leaves (several sets will fit on one fat quarter)
- – Small candies or trinkets (~2.5 oz, such as M&M’s or Reese’s Pieces) for the fillable option
- – ~2oz fiber filling (stuffed option)
- – 1 skein embroidery floss (to tie top of carrot)
- – Notions (such as scissors, thread, etc)
- – Fat quarter burlap (or other desired fabric) for FEED Bag
- – Scrap cotton fabric for FEED letter applique
- – 3″ x 7″ Heat N’ Bond iron-on adhesive (FEED letter applique)
- – 3″ x 7″ interfacing (for FEED letter applique)
- – Grab the free templates at the bottom of this page
Decide if you want shaped (sewn) leaves or rag strip leaves on your carrot. The carrot in the middle below has the shaped top and the two on the sides are rag top.
Rag Top Carrot Instructions
The rag top carrot is the fastest version and the frayed edges give it a fun primitive look.
Step 1: Cut the carrot out of fabric
Step 2: Cut the leaf fabric to a size of 7″ by 6″. On the 7″ side, cut a snip into the fabric at every 1″ interval. Then starting at each snip location, rip the fabric all the way to end until the section is completely removed from the fabric. When finished you should have seven 6″ x 1″ strips of frayed fabric.
Step 3: Arrange one end of the strips of fabric right sides together with the top of the carrot (the wide edge). The strips will overlap/layer, you want to fit them across the top of the carrot about 1/4 inch from each edge.
Step 4: Sew across the top of the carrot with about a 1/4 inch seam allowance to secure the strips to the carrot fabric.
Step 5: Flip the strips of fabric right side up so that both the carrot fabric and leaf fabric are right sides up. Topstitch across the top of the carrot and leaves (on the right side of the fabric). *this step can be seen in the photos in the “shaped top tutorial” below in step 4*
Step 6: Fold the carrot in half lengthwise, right sides together, align the raw edges and pin together.
Step 7: Sew along the raw edge of the carrot from the bottom tip to the top edge using a ¼ inch seam allowance. Clip the curves and turn right side out.
The instructions for filling and tying off are below the next section.
Shaped Top Instructions
Step 1: Sew the leaves by placing each set of two leaf panels right sides together and pin in place. Sew together using a 1/4 inch seam allowance, leave the bottom straight edge open for turning. Clip the curves and turn right side out. Topstitch with about a 1/8 inch seam allowance. Repeat with each set of two fabric panels until you have three completed leaves.
Step 2: Arrange the raw edge of the leaves with the top of the carrot (the wide edge), right sides together. The leaves will overlap, you want to fit them across the top of the carrot about 1/4 inch from each edge.
Step 3: Sew across the top, securing the leaves to the carrot, with a 1/4 inch seam allowance from the top edge of the carrot.
Step 4: Flip the leaves right side up so that both the carrot fabric and leaf fabric are right sides up. Topstitch across the top of the carrot and leaves (on the right side of the fabric)
Step 5: Fold the carrot in half lengthwise, right sides together, align the raw edges and pin together.
Step 6: Sew along the raw edge of the carrot from the bottom tip to the top edge using a ¼ inch seam allowance. Clip the curves and turn right side out.
Filling and Tying Off Tutorial
Step 1: Sew a running stitch at the top of the carrot, just below the topstitch. Leave the thread tails long at this point.
Drawstring Top: Put a knot in the thread at each end where the thread enters/exits the fabric (two total knots).
Step 2: Fill the carrot with either candy/trinkets to make a ‘treat bag’ or with fiber filling to create a plush carrot.
Drawstring/Fillable: For the drawstring option, pull the thread to tighten the top and tie in a bow. Tuck the bow to the inside of the carrot. This can easily be untied by a child to discover the fun contents!
Plush: Pull the thread tight at the top to close. Secure with a knot and thread the tail of the fabric to the inside of the carrot, pulling the needle and thread through an inch or so away. Trim the excess thread flush with the fabric.
FEED Bag Tutorial
Step 1: Cut two panels of burlap fabric to 6.5″ x 9″. Cut the letters for applique (follow the instructions in this “how to applique” tutorial)
Step 2: Center the letters on one panel of the bag and iron in place using iron-on adhesive. Applique in place.
Step 3: Sew the long edges and bottom edge of the burlap panels together using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Zig-zag stitch along the seam allowance to prevent the burlap from fraying. Turn the bag right side out.
Step 4: Fold the raw top edge over to the outside about ¼ inch, then again another ¼ inch. This will tuck the raw edge into the fold. Topstitch along the folded edge.
Your bag and carrot(s) are done! Fill ’em up and feed a child’s imagination!
Here’s a great image for Pinterest! Pin now and save this project for later.