soothing gremlin softie (free pattern)
The Get Well Gremlins are finished and I have 2 little ladies who are quite excited about them! They are kind of a twist on a dream pillow but you don’t use dry herbs as the stuffing. Each gremlin has a pocket to hold a cotton ball or piece of wool cloth with a few drops of your favorite essential oil(s) for calming or soothing. (Read this post to learn why I came up with the Get Well Gremlins).
I used thrift sweaters for these happy little guys. No knitting skills needed! 
What I used to make the Get Well Gremlins:
thrift sweaters- wool and cotton
wool blend felt
embroidery floss
scissors
thick yarn
buttons
needle
pins
stuffing
FREE PATTERN DOWNLOAD
sewing machine (optional)
Directions:
1. Download pattern, lay out, and cut pieces leaving a 3/4 inch seam allowance if you are using a sewing machine to stitch up the gremlin. If you use a sweater with a very loose weave like the one shown here, leave a larger seam allowance. This weave likes to unravel if you’re not careful.
2. Hand-stitch pupils (buttons) onto the eyes, then stitch the eyes (running stitch) onto the gremlin.
3. Whipstitch the pocket onto the belly using a thick yarn. If using a sweater, this pocket will stretch as you stitch, keep this in mind when placing the pocket.
4. Put right sides together and pin, LOTS of pins are necessary to prevent rolling on the machine. Sew an overcast stitch 2 times (for reinforcement) if you are using a loose weave like this sweater, it will want to unravel if you don’t! Remember to leave an opening for the stuffing! *If you prefer to hand-stitch the pieces together, whip stitch the pieces on the very edge using very close stitches and overlapping. Use a thick yarn to do this. I whipstitched my frog together and didn’t use a machine; so it can be done.
5. Turn right-side out, stuff and whipstitch the opening closed. Hand-sew the mouth using a backstitch with the yarn. Hand-stitch the little tooth on; now the gremlin is ready to soothe and heal (or play and cuddle)!
Essential oils to add to cotton ball or small piece of cloth:
Calming oils- to induce sleep or relieve insomnia: lavender, roman camomile, mandarin, petitgrain
Flu/cold soothing essential oils (antiinfectious, antiviral, antibacterial, antiinflammatory): lavender,eucalyptus, peppermint, rosemary, tea tree, thyme, ravensara
To go with the get well theme, Karin, from Fleecenik Farm, suggested to make the gremlin big enough to go around a hot water bottle! Love this idea, but the girls were set on a softie this time. Renee suggested stuffing them with flaxseed or rice to warm them up, another great idea!
**Fantastic book recommendation to learn more about essential oils and aromatherapy- Aromatherapy for the Healthy Child by Valerie Ann Worwood
This is so cool! I’m gonna make them for my 2 boys for x-mas they are gonna love them! We haven’t got much money so this is a great present idea!
Santa Claus made these for my kids this Christmas! He left this poem with them:
Hi! I’m your get-well gremlin.
Can I please live on your bed?
When your tummy is tremblin’
Lie down and rest your head.
Dab some oil on a cotton ball
I will hold it in my little pouchy.
There’s no boo-boo too big or small,
I can take away your ouchy.
I wanted to attach a photo, but don’t see a way to add it in the comment section here. If you have an email address, I’m happy to send it to you that way, if you’re interested.
This is super awesome. Thank you for sharing!
Hermosa idea!! Me gustó mucho. Lo voy a intentar. Saludos.
Hi Lisa!
Just wanted to let you know that I linked from Growing Naturally.
Steph
that is a GREAT project. thanks so much for sharing! my kids will be tickled….this is gonna be a holiday gift for sure yay. i’m so excited!
Benjamin just saw these guys and giggled. He likes ‘em!!
Oooooh! I love these! I have been wanting to make some sock monsters, but I am sewing challenged. I am in the process of working on that. You have the best ideas and are so inspiring!!! I love your site!
Wow, I love this! Thanks so much for sharing the pattern, I’ll be linking.
This is so adorable! Do you mind if I link to this from the side bar on my blog? I love it!!
I’M IN LOVE!!!!
)
GREMLINS, I LOVE YOU
How cute and practical at the same time. Great use of sweaters…thank you for sharing the idea!
How CUTE! And what a beautiful blog you have. Nice to meet you!
Kali loves her little woolen bell ball!!!
I love these silly fellas. How do you make a downloadable pattern? I want to give people a pattern for a gnome hat soon. love, Beth
These are so dang cute! I have the page bookmarked….I think I will make some this winter! Thanks for the pattern! You are so creative…..I love it!
These are great! Just in time for runny noses, which will probably hit the day after Halloween.
For another great herb book, see (if you haven’t already) *A Kid’s Herb Book* by Lesley Tierra. My daughter loves it.
I’ve been following your blog for a while and made my kids the oak leaf laurels for their fairy costumes. Thanks for the great ideas and the free sharing of them!
Eek! This little critter turned out so darn cute!
Love these! So cute!
Becca
These are very cute little gremlins! Thanks for the book recommendation. I’ll have to check that out!
Lisa I love these little guys! And they are something I can actually make with Goose and Binky! I love the pocket for soothing hankies. I hope everyone is feeling healthy again!
Lisa
Next time I get sick, big sis, will you make me one???
These are so inventive Lisa.
These are so cute!! Thanks for the closeup of the whip stitching. I’ve been trying to remember the few hand stitches I know because my son became very interested in doing some sewing when I was making his Halloween costume and I’m hopeless without a machine. He should love this project. I hope your little ones are all better soon!
they are so cute and thanks for the free pattern!
They turned out great!
Such a cute idea! Thanks for sharing.
didn’t they turn out well!
they are gorgeous and I had no idea you could do that to knitting!
The gremlins are so cute ~ you’ve made the tutorial easy enough so I might even give it a try! Thanks for sharing this neat craft idea Lisa.
Wow! They came out great! Absolutely adorable! DEFINITELY making some!! Thanks so much for sharing.
Wow, looks easy enough for even ME to try! Thank you, I LOVE this idea!
ooh so cute! thank you for sharing.
awesome! i love love love it. finnian is getting one for christmas or his birthday (also in december)! thank you!
nicola
http://whichname.blogspot.com
They are absolutely adorable!
Just darling.
I love them.
Absolutely adorable!!!