Running Gingerbread Man SVG

About this design

The old story says you can’t catch him, and this design shows why. The gingerbread man is in full sprint, one leg stretched far forward and the other kicking back, his arms pumping as he runs. Wavy icing trims his wrists and legs, and his head is turned slightly forward as if looking ahead.

He is one connected piece with six cut-outs for the icing details. The design passes our cut checks from about 2 inches tall, and the running pose makes it one of the most dynamic designs in the gingerbread collection.

Color layers

• Backing in cream, which becomes the icing lines
• Design in gingerbread brown

Projects

• Running club or race shirts for a holiday fun run.
• Kids’ shirts with “Catch me if you can” in your own font.
• Storytime props for “The Gingerbread Man” story.
• Cookie tins for a running joke.
• Gift tags for a fast eater.
• Window clings in a classroom reading corner.

Size and cutting tips

It passes our cut checks from about 2 inches tall. The fingers and feet are the narrowest parts; for felt, cut at 4 inches or more. For race shirts, 8 to 10 inches tall works well.

Step by step: holiday fun run shirt

1. Set the design to 9 inches tall and download the solid style.
2. Type your event name and year in a bold font in your software.
3. Mirror and cut both from iron-on vinyl.
4. Press the gingerbread man on the shirt front, slightly off-center as if running across.
5. Press the text underneath.

Color ideas

• Brown with cream icing, the classic
• White on a red race shirt
• Neon orange for a high-visibility running shirt

Design notes

Because he leans forward, this design looks best with empty space in front of him. Place text or other designs behind him, not in his path, so he looks like he is running into open space.

Good to know

This design is a single connected piece, so it is quick to weed and easy to place. For a storytime display, cut him from brown felt and add a fox, a cow and a horse from your own craft supplies to retell the whole tale on a felt board. Children love moving him along the board as the story goes.

Variations to try

• Mirror it in the editor so he runs to the left.
• Repeat it in a line in your software for a racing border.

Pairs well with

The Dancing Gingerbread Man is another lively pose, and the Bitten Gingerbread Man shows what happens if you catch him.