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Do-It-Yourself Whale Mobile

I had big dreams of sewing little animals for my handmade mobile for the baby’s room…but then I found these great little whales and sharks at the Target dollar spot.  I figured with all the time and material I’d use making them, a $3 investment was a great deal.  And now all I needed was something for them to be swimming after….a little sailboat seemed to be just the ticket.  Which is why my husband thinks this is a little scary for a baby’s room…but I think it’s funny.

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own mobile:

  • Dowels (12” or however big you’d like)
  • Fishing line or thread
  • Little stuffed animals

And if you’re making your own boat like I did:

  • 3 types of fabric
  • Cardboard
  • Thread
  • Stuffing

I’ll start with directions on how to sew the boat.  I used this tutorial to cut the sails and base of the boat… (see diagram 1).  Once you have your sizes measured on cardboard, cut out the cardboard pieces and trace onto the backside of your fabric.  You’ll need to cut two right sails, two left sails, and two boat bases.

Next, sew the sails together – place the right sail and left sail right sides facing together and sew along the edge so they make a complete top sail.  Repeat with the other set.  Press the seams flat on the back of the sails.

Now attached the boat base to each sail set – once again by placing right side to right side and stitching together.  Press the seams flat once again once you’ve completed both sides.

Place the two right sides of the completed boats together and pin around the whole boat – then sew around the wrong sides of the boats attaching them together and just leave a big enough hole to stuff them with pillow stuffing.  Turn the boat right side out and proceed to stuff away.  Then use a slip stitch to close the hole you left.  And your little boat is complete!

Now on to the mobile~

Take two of your dowels and make them into an X – tie yarn around the middle to secure the X.  Then I used thread and a needle to pierce the top fin of the whales/shark and stitched it about 4 times to make sure it was secure.  Tie the other end to one of the dowel ends – wrap many times and tie tightly to make sure this doesn’t come loose.  Do the same with the rest of your animals and little boat…and you’re finished!

I don’t have a crib to hang this over yet…so I just had to hang from my chandelier to give you an idea of what this will turn out like.  I’ll post an updated photo when it’s officially installed~ I might have to add some waves or other little pieces to give the baby more to look at.  But for now, this $4.50 mobile is just about perfect!