[This text file contains the text of the Fledermaus pattern zine for two stuffed bats. Line breaks and formatting are retained. Bracketed additions describe images or other features of the zine, such as pages or line breaks. The zine is composed of a single front page folded into quarters: front, inside left, inside right, and back, then, upon unfolding, the interior contains a single page pattern. The zine is composed of black-and-white hand-written narrative about my encounter with the pattern and my love of bats as well as the two pattern piece outlines. These pattern-piece outlines are intended to be cut against fold lines, making a fuller bat shape. One does this twice, then stuff them. The edge of one wing has been reconstructed in the digital form of the pattern because a scanner cut it off. It exists in the original.]

[The ordering of this pattern is as it is intended to be used, front, interior left, interior right, pattern page, back]

[front page exterior, folded]

[upper left-hand corner: very small outline of a flying bat with its wings pointed down. this is shaded.]

Fledermaus

A zine pattern for 2 flying stuffed bats.

[lower right-hand corner: very small outline of a flying bat with its wings pointed up. this is shaded.]


[interior left]

This pattern was inspired by the following block from the Nancy Cabot Block Index. October 19, 1935.

[photograph of a block index with three quilt blocks across. The middle block has a repeating bat pattern. It occurs in rippling rows of light and dark-colored fabric. The photograph is small and not very clear.]

To make a mobile, consider invisible thread or fishing line. I used the inner hoop of an embroider hhop.

[interior right]

[banner made of washi tape with a different repeating pattern of a bat mid-flight.]

I encountered it on ElizabethHartman.com and thought it would be cute if stuffed. But I also wanted one with wings raised. So I played with graph paper until I made these patterns. With external stitching, it's got a country Halloween feel.

[written across the bottom: unfold, trace, cut, sew!]

[pattern page]

You need:

* 24"x8" of fabric (or 12"x8")
* needle
* thread
* stuffing
* paper / pattern paper
* 1-2 pins
* scissors

Step 1. Trace pattern [small image of pencil]

Step 2. Using 12"x8" piece of fabric, fold in half (6"x8"). Place pattern against fold line. Pin. Cut. Repeat. Do NOT cut fold.

Step 3. With wrong sides together, stitch around lines indicated on pattern.

e.g. [small sketch of a bat, with marked stitch lines and two arrows pointing to where the bat's wings meet at the bottom, with "leave open" written under the arrows.]

The pattern will NOT be turned inside out.

4. Stuff

5. Stitch closed. Add more stuffing while closing, as needed.

You've got a bat!

[back]

In college I learned the delightful word Fledermaus.

I used to draw flying mice on friends' whiteboards to indicate I'd been by.

[middle right: a tiny sketch of a mouse, consisting of an oval with a tiny head and legs and tail extended. this mouse has motion lines drawn behind it and the caption wheeeeeee underneath]

Fledermaus
Ruth Tillman
uncopyright 2018
ruthtillman.com/patterns