Create adorable woodland-themed pacifier clips using embroidery designs of a squirrel, rabbit, raccoon, bear, fox, and deer. Perfect for baby gifts and handmade product shops.
SAFARI PACIFIER CLIP — STEP-BY-STEP TUTORIAL
MATERIALS NEEDED FOR THIS PROJECT
1- Stabilizer
2 - 5” x 7” embroidery hoop — equivalent to 13 x 18 cm
3 - Hand towel
4 - Burp cloth / diaper cloth
5 - Small baby washcloth or burp cloth
6 - Embroidery threads
7 - Masking tape or painter’s tape, for holding the ribbon in place
8 - Scissors
9 - Ruler
10 - Disappearing fabric marker
11- Lighter
12 - Snap press or snap pliers
13 - Snap button
14 - Pins
15 - Satin ribbon No. 5 — 7/8” wide, approximately 22 mm
Optional: pearlescent paper.
MARKING THE FABRIC
STEP 1
Mark the spot on the towel or burp cloth where the woodland character will be embroidered..
In this sample, the design was positioned in the corner of the towel/burp cloth to leave space for adding the child’s name.
For the small burp cloth, mark approximately 2” from the edge toward the center. This mark indicates the bottom edge of the finished embroidery. Also mark the center of the towel.
STEP 2
Hoop the towel or burp cloth together with the stabilizer.
Make sure the fabric is smooth and secure inside the hoop before starting the embroidery.
STARTING THE EMBROIDERY
STEP 3
1 - Place the hoop on the embroidery machine.
2 - Embroider the design as usual until you reach the color for the outline of the forest character..
3 - After the outline is stitched, part of the character’s hands will remain unfilled. These open areas indicate where the satin ribbon will be placed.
PREPARING THE SATIN RIBBON
STEP 4
1 - Cut a piece of satin ribbon measuring approximately 8” long — 20 cm.
2 - Seal both ends of the ribbon carefully with a lighter to prevent fraying.
Safety note:
“Always check and follow your local safety regulations for baby accessories. Keep the finished pacifier clip strap short enough to help reduce strangulation risk.”
ATTACHING THE RIBBON TO THE EMBROIDERY
STEP 5
1 - Fold approximately 1/4” of one ribbon end to create a cleaner finish.
This is the end that will be secured inside the embroidery.
2 - Place the satin ribbon between the character’s hands.
3 - Use masking tape or painter’s tape to hold the ribbon securely in place.
Make sure the tape stays outside the stitching area whenever possible.
STEP 6
1 - Return the hoop to the embroidery machine and stitch the tack-down for the first hand.
Tip:
Use the same thread color that will be used to fill the hand. This helps the tack-down blend into the final embroidery and gives a cleaner finish.
2 - After the first hand is tacked down, the machine will move to stitch the tack-down for the second hand.
3 - Secure the ribbon under the second hand.
4 - Once the ribbon is attached, carefully remove the tape from the hands.
STEP 7
Return the hoop to the embroidery machine and complete the fill stitching and finishing details for both hands.
The embroidery will cover the ribbon ends, creating a clean and secure finish.
STEP 8
After the hand fill stitches are complete, continue stitching the rest of the embroidery design until it is finished.
Once the design is complete, remove the hoop from the machine carefully.
ATTACHING THE SNAP FASTENERS
STEP 9
Once the embroidery is finished, remove the hoop from the machine and mark where the snap fasteners will be attached to the ribbon.
Place the first snap approximately 5/8” from the end of the ribbon — about 1.5 cm.
Place the second snap approximately 2 9/16” from the end of the ribbon — about 6.5 cm.
Make sure both marks are centered on the ribbon before attaching the snaps.
STEP 10
After marking the snap placement, use a snap press or snap pliers to attach the snap fasteners to the ribbon.
Make sure the snaps are facing the correct direction before pressing them in place, so the ribbon can fold and close properly around the pacifier.
Check that both snaps are firmly secured before using the piece.
FINISHING
FINISHING
Clean up the embroidery on both the front and the back of the project.
Trim any loose threads, remove excess stabilizer, and make sure the ribbon and snap fasteners are securely attached.
Your hand towel or burp cloth with the pacifier clip attachment is now ready.
