D.I.Y Craft

Denyse Schmidt of Denyse Schmidt Quilts saw her first Scottie Dog at the Elephant’s Trunk flea market in New Milford, Connecticut many years ago and fell in love. She’s been collecting vintage patchwork Scottie Dogs (and photographing them when her bed got too full) ever since. Just like old patchwork quilts, no two Scottie Dogs are alike—but they all have personality. We’re not sure where the pattern originated, but, due to the proliferation of patchwork Scotties out there, it probably appeared in a very popular women’s magazine in the 1940’s. And now, you can make your own!

1. Cut the Fabric

Cut a total of fifty-four 2-1/4″ squares of fabric – that’s 27 squares each for the Dog Front and Dog Back. Make sure to cut on the straight grain of the fabric. We used a variety of colorful wools and cottons, vintage and new, and tried not to repeat any fabric (except on the other side of the dog). Cut the Side Strip of the dog, 55″ x 2-1/4″. If you need to piece the Strip, make sure the seam is perpendicular to the sides. The finished Scottie Dog is approximately 11″ wide x 12″ tall. If you want a smaller or larger dog, change the size of your squares accordingly.

2. Design the Dog

Arrange the squares on a table in the shape of the Scottie Dog Front and Dog Back. Be sure to make them mirror images of each other (see Diagram A).

3. Sew the Dog *

*All seam allowances are 1/4″ With fabric right sides together, sew the squares together in vertical rows. Press the seam allowances either up or down, alternating the direction for each row (up on first row, down on second, etc). When all the vertical rows are assembled, stitch them together in order to make the Dog Front. Repeat for the Dog Back.

4. Attach the Side Strip

Before you attach the Side Strip, stay-stitch 4″ along the tail end of the Dog Back, and 3″ along one long side of each end of the Side Strip (Diagram B). This will serve as a guide for handsewing the opening closed later. With fabric right sides together, and leaving 1″ of the end free, sew Side Strip to Dog Front beginning below the tail end. Sew the non-stay-stitched side to the Dog Front. Take care when stitching the corners to make sure they stay square. At outside corners, stop stitching, pivot with needle down, and begin stitching again. Clip the corner of the side strip. At the inside corners, stop at the seam, back tack, take needle out and begin sewing again at the seam line on the next square. Be careful not to catch the seam allowances with your needle when stitching inside corners. When you are near the end, stop and sew together the ends of the Side Strip, trimming any excess fabric. Stitch the remainder of the Side Strip to the Dog Front. Repeat, and sew Side Strip to Dog Back, leaving a 3 square opening at the tail end to stuff the Dog. Back-tack at the start and end of the opening.

5. Stuff the Dog

Stuff the dog with the stuffing of your choice. Turn under opening at the stay-stitching and hand-stitch closed. 

6. Attach the Eyes and Decorate

This is the fun part—bring your Scottie to life and bestow a unique personality with treasures from your stash of trimmings and do-dads! Button eyes are fun, or use felt if giving the Scottie to a small child. Ribbons and trim make great collars or scarves. Arf arf!