Red Rhino Found (but NOT red!)

Day One

Finally bit the bullet and set about making my own pattern for Lee's Rhino - see Hunt for Red Rhino post.

I had a picture in my own mind as to what it should look like and had a couple of patterns I could use as a foundation but both would need significant 'faffing' and joining together to get how I needed it to be.  The rhino - Ronny, made previously (see post) - pattern is for a horizontal one and is far too big for what I needed and my Psycho Ted pattern had the wrong shaped head, ears, and body but was the right size.

Using copious amounts of scrap paper, swear words and a large pencil eraser, I drew out a head pattern basing it on Ronny's.  I cut out the pattern in some scrap cotton for the trial and was in the process of pinning the 'yolk' piece (middle piece between the two head pieces) to the head when I realised that the back of the head needed shaping on my pattern.  As Ronny is horizontal, the back of his head is attached to the body so didn't need shaping.  The one I am trying to make has to have a back of the head.  Bu***r, strike one.


Strike two came with the realisation that the yolk for the Psycho Ted wouldn't do as there was no shaping for the wider nose and rounder head bit
between the ears.  How do I get myself into these things?

Remodel number three was done with a piece on the back of the head, shaped nose and longer bit underneath the chin.

Having recut the scrap cotton, I reservedly pinned the two head pieces to the yolk and hand-sewed them together.  There was a little tweaking required but all in all not a bad job!

However, I then realised that to get the full effect I should have added some ears before sewing up the seams and I would also need to work out sizes for the horns.


I hope you can see where this is going?

I have stuck the head on a stick (right) for a quick piccy.  Doesn't look quite right yet, but there are body parts missing!


Using the original Ronny horn pattern, I scaled down the front horn and redesigned the smaller of the two completely just as a 'doo-fa'.  I attached the horns, added an ear - paper pattern not yet made - and added a group of black-headed pins as an eye.  Hey presto!

Finally looking something like ......  This is still in the draft stages but pleased so far.  Just the ears, body, and a tail to make a pattern for now........... lol

Day Two

It doesn't look like it but the material I have to make the final product is an old blouse (not mine) and the colour is 'ecru' - Lee's choice!  For those of you who don't know, ecru was a shade of beige-brown which nylon tights and stockings were back in the day (!!) that was supposed to look natural.  I have tried several different backgrounds and colours to try to get the colour in the photo right but nothing seems to be working so you are just going to have to believe me when I say that it is ecru!  Looks like pink but it isn't!! It's a bit suedey and is great, I have found, to sew with.


I was asked to make the horns silver, but that isn't a colour I 'stock' and one I have struggled to find in an appropriate fabric so gold is as good as it's going to get.  I quite like the way the horns have turned out.  The fabric is some left over from a friend's black and gold shopper I made for her for Christmas.  It's very much like the gauzy stuff you get around flower bouquets, but again, it's ok to sew but be careful you don't sew too close to the edge cos once it starts fraying; it breaks up like glitter and you get covered!!

So the pieces have been sewn together and are now waiting for assembly. The head is done and the horns look even better on :)

The 'inside' of the ears and end of the tail have been done with the gold to 'tie in' the colours and I have four lovely black buttons for the joints.  Freddie Fix-it was made with proper teddy joints as it was for a little kiddie but as Lee is over the age of 21 (just, lol) I think I can trust him not to put the buttons in his mouth.  Also Psycho Ted had button joints so there is definitely a theme going on... lol

Day Three

Day of reckoning!  The pieces have all been sewn together and he looks brill (even though I do say so myself).  The colour looks great, though I had reservations in the beginning.  The gold is a good contrast and considering I didn't really have a pattern, I'm really chuffed.

There is one last 'accessory' to add - the third horn.  Again no pattern but that hasn't been a problem before.  This has to be red - again Lee's decision.

I don't have a lot of red either but remembered that I had used a red scarf previously for some accents on a bag.  I dug it out of my 'stash' and have made up the bit.  As this is to be removable, I have also added some Velcro.


As the Rhino hasn't been given the ok by my Quality Control department - my Aunt - I will leave the adding of this until she has seen it.  At nearly 91 years of age, I believe that it's a little too far for her imagination to stretch!

Lee picked it up last night and he loves it!  Happy Bunny

See you soon   :)