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Sea Monster Toys - Boar Whale: This is a template and instructions for making a stuffed fabric toy sea monster [Domestic Arts, Embroidery, Research, Largess, Beastiaries]
by Dorothea de Beckham

This small toy is suitable for largess, pin cushion, cat toy or as embroidery practice or sampler. Based on several depictions in manuscripts and maps from Europe, the boar whale can be decorated many different ways. This template was developed from depictions of "Aper Marinus Cetaceus" in the Carta Marina (1539) by Olaus Magnus (1490–1557) and woodcut prints in Ulisse Aldrovandi’s (Bologna, 1522-1605) Monstrorum Historia “History of Monsters” (1642).

Details:
What materials were used in making this project? Craft Felt, Thick Craft Thread / Embroidery Floss, Poly fill Stuffing and Felt confetti	What are the project's measurements? About 6 by 4 inches	What kind of construction methods or techniques were used? Cutting, sewing and embroidery
Was the project based on a specific time or culture? The project was based on the SCA culture of largess dragons and other toys, and drew inspiration from a creature depicted in late period European maps and bestiaries.	Were any modern materials or methods used? If so, what led to that decision? Materials already on hand were used for the prototypes while attempting to mess up and follow the directions as written.	Was there a specific reaction or emotional response you wanted to cause in the viewer/audience? If so, how did you hope to achieve it? The expected responses are 'Cute!', 'What is it?'
Describe the process you went through in making the project. After making a few of the popular felt dragons, I was researching sea monsters for the local barony which has a boar mascot. Once I found the Boar Whale, the process of creating a template of four simple shapes seemed obvious.	What did you learn while working on this project? Cutting the spiral takes sharp scissors, patience and a little practice to get even, but even imperfections look OK on the finished critter.	If you were to make this project again, what would you do differently? I would use a floss color that wasn't black. Several prototypes look a bit like Frankenstein's Monster.
Were there any surprises? I was not expecting the tail and nose to look good on either end.
Documents:
Boar Whale and Sea Pig Research The felt craft sea monster toy template is based off creatures in the Carta Marina (1539) by Olaus Magnus (1490–1557) and woodcut prints in Ulisse Aldrovandi’s (Bologna, 1522-1605) Monstrorum Historia “History of Monsters” (1642). Images from scanned versions are included here for reference and potential variation since these creatures may not be as readily identifiable as whales, walrus, porpoises or with some creative license, beavers.	Sea Monsters - Boar Whale Template 1 page with four shapes scaled for 8.5" x 11" paper
Links:
Carta Marina https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carta_marina A wall map of Scandinavia created in Rome during 1527–39 by Olaus Magnus (1490–1557)	Carta Marina: Image https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carta_marina#/media/File:Carta_Marina.jpeg The Boar Whale, "Aper Marinus Cetaceus" appears in the waters along the top center of the map.	Vlyssis Aldrovandi patricii Bononiensis Monstrorum historia: Cum paralipomenis historiae omnium anim https://books.google.com/books?id=9c0WtJUZcC4C&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=Vlyssis%20Aldrovandi%20pat Aldrovandi, Ulisse. 1642. Vlyssis Aldrovandi patricii Bononiensis Monstrorum historia: Cum paralipomenis historiae omnium animalium. Bononiae (Bologna): Typis Nicolai Tebaldini. The "Aper Marinus Cetaceus" appears on page 63 of the parallel notes appendix (Paraliponena Historiae Omnium Animalium). Sea pigs "Monstrosus Sus Marinus" appear on pages 109 and 353 of the parallel notes.
Sources:
- Aldrovandi, Ulisse, Monstrorum historia: Cum paralipomenis historiae omnium animalium, "Paraliponena Historiae Omnium Animalium", Bologna: Typis Nicolai Tebaldini (1642), 63, 109, 353, trans: https://books.google.com/books?id=9c0WtJUZcC4C&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=Vlyssis%20Aldrovandi%20pat	- Olaus Magnus, Carta Marina, "Carta marina et descriptio septentrionalium terrarum (Marine map and description of the North Lands)", Rome / Venice: Pope Paul III (1539), trans: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carta_marina#/media/File:Carta_Marina.jpeg
Notes:
- Materials: § Craft Felt § Thick Craft Thread / Embroidery Floss § Poly fill Stuffing / Felt confetti Tools: § Scissors § Large Hole Needle § Template (see Documents)	- Construction: Use 2 or 3 colors of craft felt: one for the main color (body, tail) (A,B), one for the secondary color (tail, nose-spiral)(B,C), and a third color (feet)(D). The feet may also use the main or secondary color. Note: This pattern allows multiple variations. 1. Cut out 3 body shapes using the template, and 1 each of the tail (fan), feet (bone), and circle. Then cut the circle as evenly and thinly as possible leaving the center circle about the size of a small coin or your thumb. 2. Stitch the tail pieces together: Using a contrasting color of thick craft thread (or full strand embroidery floss), stitch around the edge of two different color tail pieces (B) and then if desired, add a running stitch to accent the ribs of the tail. 3. Stitch the tail to a body piece: Pick one of the three body pieces (A) to be the belly and stitch the tail (B). (Note: Either end can be the tail).	- Construction: 4. Add feet to belly piece: Tack the feet (D) to the inside of the belly (A) so the rounded ends are outside the body. Securing the feet inside the body may be done while stitching the body pieces together. If the feet cross the belly piece that has the attached tail, then the tail will lay flat like a beaver’s tail. If the feet cross either of the other body pieces, the tail will look more like a fish. 5. Stitch the body pieces: Match the top of the three body pieces so they form a bottle or vase. Stitch down to the sides from nose to tail. Stitch down the top spine from tail to nose. It may be easier to insert stuffing before finishing this step. 6: Stuff poly fill stuffing into the body to the firmness you prefer. If you forgot to add the feet before closing the body, add them to the outside of the belly before attaching the spiral.
- Construction: 7. Stitch the nose: Line up the center of the spiral so the circle closes the nose and the strand points to the belly. Stitch the nose opening closed. 8. Stitch on the spiral: Attach the spiral to the body. A running stitch is sufficient. Have fun trying different stitches. Snip the feet apart if the spiral is long enough to allow more space for the spiral. End across the top of the tail. Snip off any extra length. 9. Embroider the face: Eyes, tusks, nostrils. Optional: Add decorative stitches to the spiral. Note: You can do a fancy embroidery stitch for the eyes and along the spiral. Complete! You should make more! Get creative!

Photos:

Sea Monsters - Boar Whales [cover photo] A variety of boar whale toys