Tapirus vellus
a felt-toy pattern
about.
As mentioned with Tapirus cutieus, I love tapirs. All four extant species. The genus Tapirus is a 5 to 11 million years old! Homo (of Homo sapiens fame) is only 2 million years old. The like to be in or near water, so the above is one of my pattern tests with fire lilies, which aren’t a thing as far as I know.
pattern.
This pattern includes color and embroidery options for all four extant tapirs (Brazilian, Baird’s, Malaysian, and mountain), as well as options for felt wires inside so, when it sits up, you can bend the arms down, too! What a beaut!
Creator: Angela Boyle
Publication Date: April 2025
Format: 19 pages, letter, including written instructions, photo instructions, gallery images, printable templates, and tips and tricks.
In addition to the written instructions, the pattern includes complete photo instructions. Like this example showing how I transfer marks like where the ear should go. The photos are based on the simpler Tapirus cutieus, but the jist is the same.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to look at my gnarly fingers in too many pictures. At least the nails aren’t covered in chipped fingernail polish for a change!
I specifically chose the pale green felt with the orange floss to make them high contrast so you could easily see the stitches against the felt. My intent was that the felt be light and the floss dark, too, for anyone who has problems seeing these colors.
process.
If you ever wanted to feel bad for a tapir, feel bad for this guy. Look at those anemic little legs. This was the first of the realistic tapirs and he looked crazy. I’m not entirely sure how he’s standing up.
Oh.
Yes, I am. He has pipe cleaner weire in his legs.
I think this was the second tapir. Those legs look much sturdier. But now he’s got a bit of a hunchback. Close, but no cigar. Another try it is, then.
Ah, those legs look much sturdier. And I really went with it for the pipe cleaners, in the legs and nose. Very poseable.