how to catch a fish...tutorial

Fishing Game Pattern

Well I promised I'd post a how to on making a fishing game.  It's long overdue so I apologise to those that have patiently been waiting for me to get my act together.  I have been building this post little by little over the last month or two and I have finally finished it!

When I first sat down to start writing the tutorial I realised I was a little lost as to where to begin.  I have assumed the sensible thing to do is to write the instructions as though my audience have no idea what to do even though I know you are all far cleverer than that.  I've seen your projects.  I know how good you all are at making things!

I guess this knowledge also comforts me.  Any possible flaws that may exist in both my instructions and pattern will be overlooked or remedied by the sheer creative brilliance that lies out there in the blogging world.  Please be sure to let me know of any issues you come across as I'd like to treat this as a learning process for me too.

Here's the list of what you'll need.

1 stick for a fishing rod.  This can be a curtain rod or a branch off a tree.
Drill (optional)
PVA (wood) glue
A length of strong string for the fishing line.
A magnet, preferably a strong one.  My husband bought ours from the hardware store.
A packet of paper clips or washers to sew inside the fish.
Assorted coloured felt/fabric
Stuffing, again this can be the bought stuff or old fabric/wool scraps.  You don't need much.
Cotton or yarn for sewing
Some coloured ribbon preferably light coloured.
Some green ric-rac, wool or strips of fabric for seaweed.
Buttons (optional)
Craft glue (optional)
Some imagination for decorating and personalising the fish and sea life

Fishing rod.

Making the fishing rod is easy peasy and your main objective is to ensure that the string stays attached to the stick for the long term.  When my husband made Ivy's he used a piece of metal pole we had lying around and he taped the string to that with some electrical tape.  This is working well enough for the time being but if I were making it from scratch I would attempt to make the pole out of a stick because wood is much easier to attach things to.  What I've also observed is that kids seem to be a little rough with the rod so it's really, really important to make sure you attach the string to the pole securely as well as the magnet to the string.  A stray flying magnet could do a lot of damage to both children and precious objects!

1. Depending on your length of stick, drill a hole wide enough to thread your string through easily at one end of the stick making sure it goes right through to the otherside.*
2. Paint the end of the tip with PVA glue and thread your string through the hole.  Wrap a good length of string around the stick where you've painted with PVA and tie securely.
3. At the other end of the string attach the magnet by tying it securely. 

*If the stick you are using is not wide enough to drill make sure you glue the string and wrap it securely to ensure it will not come off.

SEA LIFE

This is the more difficult part but as I said earlier, I know what crafty fiends you all are and I know you will all be able to do this easily.  It's important to note that the pattern pieces provided are designed for an outside seam, machine or by hand and do not include appropriate seam allowances for inside seams.

The fish

I didn't use my pattern pieces to create the fish shown here as I usually just cut straight into the felt as I go.  The pattern pieces I've provided are used as a guide so feel free to personalise your fish by omitting or adding fins or by cutting out your own fish.

1. From the pattern pieces provided cut out the fish and sea creatures from the different coloured felt making sure you cut two pieces of the pattern pieces where indicated.  If you are feeling ambitious, there is no reason why you couldn't adapt the patterns to make the creatures out of fabric, you will just need to make sure you add seam allowances where necessary.  I hope some of you consider doing this.  I reckon a few velvet or patchwork fish would look amazing!

2. Decide on whether you are going to hand sew or machine sew.  It doesn't really matter as they both will take around the same time.  I preferred hand sewing in the end but it's up to you.
3. Start by sewing the side fins to the body making sure they line up on both sides.
4. Next choose some buttons for the eyes and attach to the body where you think they'll look best.  If you are thinking of decorating the fish by sewing things to the body this is a good time to add any decorations.  Alternatively you could also do this at the end but I find it easier to do it early as you can tie all your ends on the inside. It's up to you.

5. Pin the top and bottom fins as indicated on the pattern pieces to one piece of the body.
6. Pin both pieces together and start sewing the pieces at the nose end of the fish working your way around until you nearly reach where you started from. 
7. Now add your stuffing.  You don't need that much as you want to add just enough to give the fish some shape.  Of course you always have the option of not adding any stuffing at all if you want a flatter looking fish.
8. Depending on what you are using, insert a washer/paperclip into the hole.  If hand sewing, continue joining your seams as you were previously ensuring that your washer/paper clip is attached securely and hidden on the inside of the fish.  Finish off.

9. Repeat for the rest of the fish.

The Jelly Fish

I loved making the jelly fish.  It's terribly easy and I'd actually advise you make this on the sewing machine to ensure that the ribbons are attached securely.

1. Have your jelly fish pattern pieces ready.
2. Select and sew on your eyes. I used buttons.
3. To make the tentacles choose 3 good lengths of ribbon from a selection of ribbons that you'd like to use. You need to fold these in half so make sure they are a long enough.  Repeat this process 2 more times so that you have 3 groups of three ribbons.  Fold each group in half.
4. Pin the ribbon groups (folded end) in between the bottom of the body pieces (straight edge).  Sew along this seam with your sewing machine so that the ribbons are secured in place.
5. Hand sew* around the outside of the rest of the body pieces placing washers or drawing pins in the top of the head. Remember to add stuffing just before you finish.  Close off  *Alternatively use your sewing machine but bear in mind you will need to attach your washes away from the edge before you sew the pieces together as they may break your needle.

Starfish

1. Have your pattern pieces ready.  You can use a different coloured felt for each side if you like.
2. Decorate one side of your pattern piece with sequins or buttons or anything else you'd like to use.
3. Start sewing around edge remembering to add a washer to two or more points as you go.
4. Just before you finish sewing the pieces together add your stuffing.
5. Finishing sewing up.

Seaweed



I use a bit of trial and error when I make the seaweed as there is no real method or pattern to doing it.  The important thing is that it's not too heavy and that you sew about 4 - 5 washers into the middle of your clump to ensure that it's easy for the magnet to pick up.

1. Choose about 8 varying lengths of green ric-rac, wool, ribbon, strips of fabric etc..Any thing that you think would look good as seaweed.
2. Loop the lengths of seaweed into a piled mess hand-sewing the 'clump' in place.  Make sure you sew in washers as you go.
3. When you are satisfied that your clump is held together well enough  you are finished.

And that's it! You now have a fishing game.  Why don't you think about making a drawstring pouch to store it in?  While you're at it, why don't you make me one?  Procrastination is ruining me!

Please feel free to email me or comment with any questions you have.  As much as I think I've covered all the steps I may have left out things so I'd really appreciate any feed back you have too.

Have fun!