Steampunk Halloween

I bought this funky panel at the Pleasanton Craft Fair (post for 9/25/25) and decided to sew it up for this Halloween season before I forgot about it or lost it in my stash. The panel is titled Steampunk Halloween 3, which then begs the question, "Are there Steampunk panels 2 & 3?". Yes, there are, but they are more grid type panels and not items to cut out and stuff. 

There are six monster-ish images to sew and stuff on the panel I bought. They are called Pillow Pals and Pincushions. I've shown the front of the four larger ones and the back of the two smaller ones.

• Mr. Moon (~ 16" tall)
• Pumpkin  (~ 14" tall)
• Monster with Clock (~ 11 " tall)
• Monster with Clock Pincushion (~ 7" tall)
• Monster with Pumpkin (~ 11" tall)
• Monster with Pumpkin Pincushion (~ 7" tall)

The images are scattered on the panel, not lined up neatly in rows. The straight of grain varies in its direction and, consequently, so does the direction of the bias. The moon is pretty consistent in terms of grain orientation, but the others are a toss-up. This random grain direction is actually advantageous when trying to tug the front and back to align with each other. I found a fair amount of pinning was a must. To match along all edges, the front and back will not lie flat with each other. Once they are stuffed though, this "bump" really does not matter. The pumpkin illustrates the largest mismatch.

I also liked that the quarter inch seam was not marked. It is frustrating with other ornaments that a slight deviation for that quarter inch reveals a narrow slip of white peeking out at the seam. These steampunk images do not have that demarcation line. Also the exterior curves on these were very gentle. I did not need to clip the concave curves or interior corners as is usually recommended. I often forget and have to re-inside-out the ornament to do so ... bummer. The moon had only a couple spots in the seam allowance near his nose that needed clipping and the design did not present any pointy corners. The large pumpkin had a couple spots to clip as indicated.

I always use this same Silky Poly-fil for stuffing. It is so soft, not at all scratchy or itchy as some can be. I have a tool I bought from a doll making booth several years ago that is fantastic for inserting stuffing. I think its original intent was to allow stuffing to go down into long narrow places, like a dolls arms or legs, but I find it distributes the stuffing much more evenly, even in wide open cavities. The tip of the tool grips the stuffing, so in reality I am pulling the stuffing into place rather than pushing it. I don't keep compressing it in the same area. For these six pillow/pincushions I used about 1⅓ bags.

Another tip I try to remember to do is to turn in the seam allowance at the opening and crease it with my thumbnail to make it easier when whip stitching the opening closed after stuffing. Those Clover Wonder Clips® are great for helping keep the opening even without wrinkles and aligned while hand stitching.

 

Enough details! Here is the front and back of those six funky critters.

One last afterthought... These are some images from the panel that can possibly be used for appliqué. At opposite corners are a mama and baby pumpkin. The plant in the tuna can reminds me of Audrey II  from Little Shop of Horrors.  Rising from a tombstone is a vulture. In the very center, emerging from a typewriter, is a "ghost writer". Yes, appliqué is the "A" word for me but how hard could it be to adhere these to iron-on fusible and decorate something? There was no way I could throw these out!