Step 6: Sewing the front triangle to the gusset

((If you wanted to add arms and legs to your Onigiri- Stop now and please see information on adding limbs- you’ll need extra felt to cut them out of.))

*********You will have to change thread colors once you reach the Nori hat felt. So it matches correctly. You will also be adding in the Nori hat gusset at this time.*********

Take your front triangle (your Onigiri’s face) and pin the gusset piece all around the outside edge, taking into account the seam allowance. Pin the first CORNER first! Make sure that both fleece pieces have the matching side touching- that is whatever side you’ve chosen to be the “right” side.  You’ll be sewing the back pieces together so your ugly stiches will go unseen. That means that the face will not be visible to you as you sew. You’ll be starting your stitches on the bottom of the Onigiri. Pay close attention to leaving an opening for stuffing. I recommend doing so in the bottom part somewhere. The pattern I’ve provided will have one marked as a suggestion. Start sewing the gusset on the “X” marked on the pattern. Stop sewing the gusset on the “O” on the pattern – it should be about 1 1/4 inches from where you began to sew the gusset. You’ll need this extra room when you turn the plushie inside out in order to get the umeboshi through.

Aligning the Body Gusset and Pinning the First Corner

Stop Sewing the Body Gusset and Change Thread to Attach the Nori Hat Gusset.

Step 6.5: Sewing in the Nori Hat Gusset

When you reach the edge of the Nori hat that’s been glued to the Onigiri face, it’s time to STOP sewing and add in the Nori hat gusset. First, change thread to a matching color to your Nori hat. Second, gather some pins and align the Nori hat gusset. The trick is to align one corner of the Nori hat piece with it’s gusset and then align the other corner in the same manner. With both corners aligned, now pin the top corner of Onigiri head to both the Nori hat gusset and the body gusset. 

Aligning the Nori Hat Gusset.

A Little Diagram from the Side on Aligning the Nori Hat Gusset.


The Nori Hat Gusset is Now Aligned and ready to be pinned in

A Little Diagram of How should Nori Hat Gusset will look.

Here's the Nori Hat Gusset Completely Sewn to the Front Piece.
Here's a View From the Back- You Can See How It Looks Like a Little Box.

Now continue sewing the rest of the fleece body gusset on...

Step 7: Sewing the gusset to the back triangle body piece **Remember to attach the Nori hat gusset in the same manner, see tips below.**

This step is very much like the last. Make sure that your umeboshi is facing your Onigiri’s face. Remember “right” side to “right” side when sewing. Start the gusset in the same spot and end it in the same spot on the corresponding back piece. DO NOT CUT OFF the extra gusset length- you’ll need this to close the plushie up. TIPS for aligning the other side of the Nori hat gusset: align the first corner of the Onigiri body with its gusset and then align the Nori hat gusset with the other Nori hat piece glued to the back of the Onigiri. Align both end pieces of the Nori hat before the top corner – do this right to make the Nori hat look good – even if it means pulling or fudging the rest of the Onirigi gusset (what I mean here is that you may end up pulling a corner in a bit more than you thought). Just MAKE SURE that the Onigiri gusset has some overlap where the stuffing opening is so you’ll be able to make a clean seam there after you stuff it.

The Umeboshi should be touching the Onigiri's Face.


Aligning the Back of the Onigiri with the Nori Hat Gusset.
Here it is all pinned together.

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