How to sew the Lion Mane

When you are sewing our PATCHWORK Animals, you often need an unusually technique to make the animals speciel characteristic. Here you can see how to sew the Lions Mane. We are using the same technique to some other animals.

You can purchase the pattern for download in the store.

Cut out the paper templates for the mane.

Cut fabric pieces for the paper templates. You can see the sizes in your pattern.

Centre the paper templates on the wrong side of the fabrics and fold down the seam allowances along the 2 edges. Baste or glue the seam allowances in place.

Be aware, that the large seam allowances on 2 of the sides must not be folded down. Later they will be folded against the right side and become the mane.

Arrange the pieces, as you have basted them, following the sewing diagram carefully.

Here you can see the Mane unit.

Whip stitch the mane pieces together along the sides, where you have folded down the seam allowances but only the small parts, where the paper templates are.

Do not use a black thread as mine. The black color is only for illustration. Use a thread with a color, that matches the fabrics.

Whip stitch the pieces together in rows along the sides, where you have folded down the seam allowances but only the small parts where the paper templates are.

Here you can see the 1. row finished, showing the right side.

Place the rows right sides facing each other. Push the large seam allowances in between the rows (towards the right side) as you sew the 2 rows together in the new folds.

1. and 2. row sewn together, showing the wrong side.

Here you can see the 1. and 2. row sewn together, showing the right side with the large seam allowances.

Sew the triangle on the 1. and 2. row. Here showing the wrong side.

The triangle sewn on the 1. and 2. row, showing the right side.

Continue sewing the remaining pieces together in the same way. Remember to place the ears in between the rows. You can see the position in your pattern.

Here you can see the mane unit, showing the wrong side.

A close up showing the wrong side with the triangle.

The mane unit showing the right side with the large seam allowances.

A close up showing the right side with the large seam allowances.