I don’t make many crafts for little girls, because I don’t have any mini models readily available. But when Undercover Tourist asked me to make something to celebrate Star Wars Weekends at Disney World, I knew two things: it was going to involve Yoda and it was going to be for a girl.
I grew up with Star Wars. Back before all that Jar-Jar nonsense, everyone wanted to be Princess Leia, marry Han Solo and have Luke Skywalker as a brother. But my absolute favorite character was always Yoda. There’s just something about that little green guy. “Do or do not. There is no try.” Words to live by.
To make Master Yoda, you’ll need:
- one black felt scrap
- one white felt scrap
- one green felt 9 x 12” rectangle
- 3/8 – 1/2” wide grosgrain ribbon, 60 inches or less
- black embroidery floss
- you may also want green and white floss or thread if you’re sewing your bag
- this Yoda Bag pattern
I chose to sew my bag together, but you also have the option of using craft or hot glue. Everywhere it mentions sewing, just run a bead of glue instead. Just be sure to let it dry or cool completely between each step. This small bag is not meant for large or heavy items, especially if you use glue.
To cut the purse shape, fold the green felt in half and place the bottom edge of the pattern on the fold. Cut four eyelids and two ears from the green as well. From the white felt, cut two eye whites. Cut two eye centers from the black. Decide where you’d like the bag to hang on your body or the body you’re making it for, measure the ribbon to that length and add 6 inches.
Place the eye whites on the front of the bag as indicated on the pattern. Sew in place. I used white thread and hand-sewed.
Place the black eye center in the appropriate place over the white and stitch.
Slightly overlap the eye with the top and bottom eyelids. Stitch in place.
Stitch a mouth using the black embroidery floss. If you’re gluing your bag, you could carefully draw the mouth on with a black Sharpie to keep this a true no-sew project.
To form the ears, fold at the line shown on the pattern. Use a few stitches or a bit of glue to hold the fold in place.
Turn the upper edge of the bag to the inside 1” on both the front and back. Stitch near the edge of the felt.
Lay the bag out with the face closest to you and the inside up. Pin the ribbon next to the edge of the back on the right and left, extended down 3”.
Place the ears as indicated on the pattern, on top of the ribbon and sticking out on each side. Make sure the edge of each ear extends about 1/2” into the bag.
Fold the front of the bag up over the top of the ribbon and ears. The top edges should be even.
Stitch 3/8” from the edge, then again just over 1/8” from the edge.
Because I have no little girls, this bag is hanging in my sewing room. I’m seriously considering using it myself when we go to Disneyland next summer. According to Yoda “Size matters not.” Well, I think in Disneyland, age matters not. Right?
