A Librarian Less Ordinary: Sophie's Squash and Friends

If you have yet to read the adorable Sophie's Squash by first-time author, Pat Zietlow Miller, stop whatever you're doing and go find a copy. I promise, you'll swoon over the sweet story and Anne Wilsdorf's darling illustrations!

A heart-warming tale of friendship, this book is the perfect addition to any library storytime. I'd fallen in love with Sophie and her beloved squash, Bernice the moment I discovered it last year.

Imagine my delight when I came across stuffed versions of Sophie's darling friend (the butternut squash, of course). And then try to imagine my horror when I realized those cute little props cost over $50 with shipping. It looked something like this:

Image from the talented, Monster Wrangler Mike on TPT

So, I did what any frugal Pinteresting, DIYing educator would do... I made it myself. And for a fraction of the cost, I might add.

I purchased one yard of butternut squash-y colored broadcloth (otherwise known as light tan) and one-fourth of a yard of stem-y colored broadcloth (otherwise known as dark tan). I walked out of the fabric store having spent a grand total of $3.87 (coupons and teacher discounts are a wonderful thing). Because I'm a frugal Pinteresting, DIYing educator, I already had plenty of thread, stuffing and paint. I was all set to start my squashes (or is it just squash? Like gooses versus geese).

I headed home and was excited to get started when it hit me... I had no idea, whatsoever, how to make fabric squash. And so I did what any normal person would do; I put the fabric in my craft closet and left it there for three weeks. And then when my art-student sister came to town, I asked how one might go about making fabric butternut squash. Fortunately, (I have no idea how) she knew:

I folded the cloth over, make a tube shape that angled out towards the middle and left the top and the bottom open. I forgot to include a picture, but I hand-stiched a loose seam along the bottom of the squash so it could be cinched together (brilliant sister's idea, of course).

I flipped the squash tube inside out and stuffed it with batting. I was very impressed at how "squashy" it looked! And I loved the cinched bottom. As you can see, the neck of the squash was far too long so I just cut off the excess fabric.

Time to add the stem. Easy-peasy. Sew, flip, stuff.

I did a loose running stitch along the top neck of the squash, cinched it just a little, added my stem, and sewed it all together. Aside from jabbing myself with the needle several times, it worked brilliantly and feels super secure!

Viola! I painted on the face with some black acrylic paint and sat back to admire the cutest squash I've ever seen. Or caressed.

I then repeated the process three times for a total of two large squash and two baby squash.

Aren't they just the cutest things you've ever seen?

One more step... In the book, Sophie's squash starts to feel a little under the weather and develops some dark spots and squishy areas (ahhh, he's rotting). So, I pulled out all the rotting squash colors I could find and gave him a little makeover.