Howdy! I can finally post about these little critters because my niece finally has them. The PIC and I trekked back to the homeland last weekend and we saw the niece (who is completely and ridiculously adorable--seriously, she's rocking little pigtails now. It's out of control.). We gave her tons of books and the stars and blocks blanket for Christmas, so I decided to make some little animals for her birthday, which was ages ago; yes, we are the worst aunt and uncle EVER.
The "Soft Turtle Buddy" pattern comes from the classic Bend-the-Rules Sewing by Amy Karol. The directions say to enlarge the pattern 129%, but I enlarged it even more than that. I don't unfortunately remember if I went 150%, 175% or 200% (I copied the pattern quite some time ago and did not write that info down.) The finished turtle is between the size of a Beanie Baby and a Beanie Buddy, as if that helps anyone out there get an idea of its size. The shell is light blue flowery-butterfly flannel and the head, tail (yes, there's a small tail), and legs are light tan corderoy. The eyes are blue felt and handsewn on.
The raccoon and owl are the "Felt Forest Creatures" from Doodle-Stitching by Aimee Ray (gasp, a different sewing book!). I think this is the first time I have blogged about something I made from this book, but I have also made the "Songbird Wristlet" for a certain sister of mine. Anywho, these two critters are made from felt. These involved a lot more handstitching than the turtle. I did all the embroidery, and the bellies, raccoon mask and tail stripes are handsewn. I embroidered the niece's initials on the backs of the owl and raccoon, too (and also a little heart in the spirit of Pound Puppies).
The niece seemed to like the animals; in fact, when she sees the owl, she starts hooting. So, next time I make animals, I need to make some more that make recognizable sounds. Seriously, what does a raccoon say? Or a turtle?
As usual, all the supplies came from Hancock Fabrics, including the Polyester fiberfil used to stuff this little guys. I'm kind of bummed out that one of the local fabric shops is closing. It was a quilting shop, so they had a good selection of cottons. I am a fan of supporting the local shops, but they seem to be dwindling out here.
The "Soft Turtle Buddy" pattern comes from the classic Bend-the-Rules Sewing by Amy Karol. The directions say to enlarge the pattern 129%, but I enlarged it even more than that. I don't unfortunately remember if I went 150%, 175% or 200% (I copied the pattern quite some time ago and did not write that info down.) The finished turtle is between the size of a Beanie Baby and a Beanie Buddy, as if that helps anyone out there get an idea of its size. The shell is light blue flowery-butterfly flannel and the head, tail (yes, there's a small tail), and legs are light tan corderoy. The eyes are blue felt and handsewn on.The raccoon and owl are the "Felt Forest Creatures" from Doodle-Stitching by Aimee Ray (gasp, a different sewing book!). I think this is the first time I have blogged about something I made from this book, but I have also made the "Songbird Wristlet" for a certain sister of mine. Anywho, these two critters are made from felt. These involved a lot more handstitching than the turtle. I did all the embroidery, and the bellies, raccoon mask and tail stripes are handsewn. I embroidered the niece's initials on the backs of the owl and raccoon, too (and also a little heart in the spirit of Pound Puppies).
The niece seemed to like the animals; in fact, when she sees the owl, she starts hooting. So, next time I make animals, I need to make some more that make recognizable sounds. Seriously, what does a raccoon say? Or a turtle?
As usual, all the supplies came from Hancock Fabrics, including the Polyester fiberfil used to stuff this little guys. I'm kind of bummed out that one of the local fabric shops is closing. It was a quilting shop, so they had a good selection of cottons. I am a fan of supporting the local shops, but they seem to be dwindling out here.
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Ma gave me Amy Butler's In Stitches and Sew Cool Sew Simple Stylish Skirts, which I ended up exchanging for Sew What! Skirts (with Ma's blessing, of course). SCSS Stylish Skirts looked like a neat book, but it requires that one buy a skirt pattern and then shows how to modify the pattern. Sew What! shows one how to make a skirt "from scratch"; one makes one's own pattern.
And I just found out that one of my friends actually had to get rabies shots when he was little. Amazing. (Not that he had to get shots, that sucks, but amazing that I had never met anyone before who had to get rabies shots, at least not that I knew of.)
Kudos to people who actually get my literary/pop culture references. I often have to explain the Tim Johnson thing to people. Hello, do people not have to read "To Kill a Mockingbird" in school? Oh, the scissor-plunge. Remember how we would crack up every time we would read that part? Of course you remember.
"Mary Ingalls" had scarlet fever when he was in the eighth grade, so, no, it was not eradicated before we were born. Pretty close, though.
Sincerely, Owl Bound Colette :)