ar cient ME toly for Creating 15 Plush Pals Saree ceut copia & 20072068 Tees osiay ‘Prtogophs op § © 207 2082. rnkl ‘Hosmer apy gh ©7002 208 in oy, nights sae No po te ok nar barrens fe ny tem uahoin wen armeson homme phe veus7a-c.are sane onsen nce (Deane yoke hneoh tao secin est seperti tere Hough sofas ee ‘ndfon to mat, yo ec ator on ba Intenso come naehls heard xd vp eam woled Stes oe pian stor gens lh Si oun-op th remumtar at hepa a re onl ene sign ion yh a for Joanand Topsy WEEE, introduction verry Mol di belabedetatelobebobsholtad Like mos! litle girls, | grew up with a collection of stuffed animals—a few bears, a seal, a country mouse, and my favorite, a life-size pink poodle that matched my bubble gum-colored bedspread and walls. Back then, stuffed animals were cute and cuddly—and they were only animals Now, thanks fo a legion of independent crafters and artists, plush toys ‘are no langer just cute and no longer just animals, As you'll see in the projects that follow, plush toys can also be ice cream sandwiches or even hambones, Called softies, these handmade plush toys are created for adulis and are a great outlet for creativity and imagination. THE PROJECTS IN THE KIT The soflie projects were chosen for their originality and for the variety of styles and sewing techniques they represent. They include a mix of easy projects for beginners and more challenging ones for experienced craft- fs. Enjoy creating your own plush toys and expressing your imagination ‘And remember to have fun!| softies home ec Whether you're a novice crafter or an experienced sewer looking for a new challenge, you'll find a softie project that's right for you. First, you'll need to collec! the right supplies, Some projects require more than the basics, so check each project's supply list for any additional fabric, trim, ‘or special items before you sit down to sew. HERE ARE THE BASIC TOOLS NEEDED FOR ALL PROJECTS: Embroidery needle Hand-sewing needle Fabric scissors Dressmaker's chalk or erasable fabric-marking pen Tape measure and ruler Pencil Straight pins Cardstock (optional, for making patterns) Fiberfill (Note: These tools are not repeated in the supplies list for each project.)fab reur Felt isa wonderful fabric for softie making. lt comes in dozens of colors, iseasy to work with its edges won't fray), and is widely available in craft and fabric stores, There are three basic types of felt: acrylic craft felt, wool felt, and a wool-acrylic blend. Aerylcfeltis generally sold in 9-by-12-inch sheets, and some retailers also sel itby the yard. Wool felt is harder to find in stores and is more expensive, but the febric’s “hand” (the wayit feels) is much nicer than that of raft felt (see “Resources,” page 23, for online sources). Wool felt can be found in sheets of various sizes andis occasion- ally sold by the yard or even by the square inch. It also.comes in a variety ‘of weights—generally a medium-weight felt is best for softies. The wool- acrylic blend feltis a step up Irom cra felt ands less transparent than the 100 percent acrylic. Polar fleece isa good substitute for felt ityou want your solte to be fuzzy. , floss, and filler FABRIC Generally you will need less than 4 yard of fabric to make a soltie, soyou can often use any leftover fabric scraps you have on hand. Vintage fabrics with cute patterns and interesting colors are also great for making oF trim ming softies. Look for interesting material zt thrift stores, garage sales, and flea markelsor recycle a vintage skirt and give it new ile asa stuffed toy. TRIN Most softies have some form of embellishment litle bits of felt, special embroidery, beads, buttons, or ribbons. While you're out “thrifting” for ‘abric, look for trim, too: Lace, buttons, ribbons, and appliqués can all be cut off and used as decorations for your softies. Be open-minded about what qualilies as trim—plastc pieces Irom board games, dol ands, and items from the hardware store can personalize your creations eh , THREAD, AND YARN Floss comes in dozens of vibrant colors and finishes, including metallic, and is sold in craft and fabric stores as a six-stranded thread wound in small skeins, When a project calls for two or three strands of floss, cut a piece of floss 12 to 18 inches long and gently pull the strands apart by hand to get the number you need. For machine-sewn softies, use a thread color that matches the main fabric color. For hand-sewn creations, use cotton embroidery floss as designated in the project instructions, or choose floss to match or contrast with the elt or fabric iu Two types of filler are used to make most soltes: beri (flulty polyester stuffing) and weighted ler. Both are sold in cralt stores and some fabric stores and come in generously sized bags that provide more than youl need for one project. Fiberfll will get compressed inside the softie-on average, stuffing will reduce to @ third ofits original size~so you may end Lup using more filler to stufl your soflie than you might expect. Alternative fillers include cotton batting, yarn, seraps of fabric, and even old panty- hose (be sure to cut off the elastic waistband before using). Weighted filler (sometimes called plastic bean pellets) is used to help some solties balance and stand upright. Plastic pellets are easy to work with and do the job nicely, but i you prefer a “green” option, you might consider using lenti's or rice, In damp weather, however, the lentils crrice may absorb moisture and clump or get moldy, ruining the shape cof your project-and a solte filled with food could attract mice or bugs. That being sad, live in a humid climate and use lentils, and I haven't had any problems with moldy softies. Most softies look best when they are chock-full of stffingit gives thema fuller, more finished look. Follow the project directions to producethe same lookas the soltie pictured or adjust the amount of stuffing to fityour own style, Here are tins for getting good results with stuffing: * Using your fingers, stuff the soft with small amounts of filler, adding a litle bt at atime. Don't ry to jamin ane big glob of filler; it won't save time and it may look lumpy. * Work the stuffing into all the edges and corners ofthe softe. Ifyou find it hard to reach tiny areas with your fingers, try using a crochet hook, a chopstick, or an unsharpened pencil to push the stuffing into the tight spots. Be especially careful to stuftthe softie's arms and legs fully so that they are firm and stand out from the body. Make sure the stufing s even throughout * When you think you've stuffed enough, add a little more! softie sewing techniques Making solties is easy! The sewing techniques are not complicated and are easy to pick up il you're new to sewing. Some softies are sewn pri- marily by machine while others are sewn by hand, and still others are con- structed using a combination of machine and hand sewing, If you dor't own. machine, don't despair-every project in the kit can be sewn entirely by hand (see “To Sew by Hand Instead of Machine,” page 12). There are just a few basics to keep in mind and a few terms to be familiar with. PATTERNS In this kit you'l find folded sheets of patterns for the softies, Cut out the pattern pieces from the sheet, pin the pieces onto your fabric, and cut carefully around the pinned patterns, Alternatively, for smaller shapes, you ‘may want to retrace and cut these pattern pieces from cardstock in order totrace the pattern outline directly on the fabric. To trace the pattern, use dressmaker's chalk or an erasable fabric-marking pen. Then just cut along the outline Note: For patterns that involve machine sewing, the pattern pieces already include a Y4-inch seam allowance unless otherwise noted in the project instructions (see “Seam Allowances,’ page 10, for information on stitching seams). Pattern pieces to be sewn by hand have no seam allowance, since the pieces willbe sewn together at the cut edges. Some patterns contain placement marks indicating, for exemple, where to insert a foot or attach an ear. youre an experienced sewer, you'll notice that some ofthe markings that you would ordinarily find on garment patterns do not appear on these patiern pieces. Thisis because softies are much more forgiving than garments, soit's not crucial to position the eyes on the face or trim on the body exactly where they are ‘on the original. To position facia features or trim, look at the photograph of the softie you're making to see approximately where to place them, or customize the toy by positioning as you like. ‘When you do find placement marks on a pattern, you'llneed to transfer those marks to the cut fabric pieces with dressmaker's chalk or an erasable labric-marking pen before unpinning the pattern piece. I you're machine sewing the soltie with right sides together, transler the marks onto the wrong side ofthe labrie. If youre hand sewing the softie with wrong sides together, transfer the mark lightly onto the right side ol the fabric. For projects made with pieces that are a standard shape, such as acircle, square, or rectangle, you'lfind cutting dimensions provided in the project instructions. Either mark the dimensions directly on the fabric, cor draw the shapes on cardstock and then cut them oul for use-as your pattern. Fora circle, draw the shape freehand or trace a round object, then measure and trim the circle to the diameter given in the instructions. For an oval, draw the shape freehand, or draw a rectangle using the‘ensions given and then round the corners with scissors. Be sure to double-check the pattern dimensions belore cutting. Since these pieces, sometimes need to be joined with other pieces, accuracy is important. RIGHT VERSUS WRONG SIDE OF THE FABRIC Many woven fabrics, such es printed cotton, have distinct right and wrong sides. Accordingly, youllfind the terms "right side” and “wrong side" used throughout the sewing directions. The right side ofthe fabric is the front, or face, ofthe fabric-the side thai you want to show on the outside of your soltie. The wrong side ofthe fabric willbe turned to the inside of the soltie and will not show on the finished piece. Felt has no right or wrong side— both sides are the same. Most patterns for machine-sewn softies wil direct you to position {wo pieces of fabric with right sides facing (and with the edges aligned) ‘and sew the seam on the wrong side ofthe two aligned pieces. Alter sew- ing the seam, you will urn the softie right-side out, hiding the stitches of the seam you just sewed and keeping the seam allowances on the inside olthe softie. Some project directions (Lor example, in Treeling) call for machine sewing the two cut pieces with wrong sides together. You don't need to lurnthe soltie right-side out after you've finished sewing-you're already working on it right-side out. The seam and the seam allowance will show onthe finished softie. Because Treeling is made of felt, the seam allow- ances’ cut edges won't unravel or fray. SEAM ALLOWANCES Unless other wise noted, all seams on machine-sewn pieces should be sewn witha %-inch seam allowance. This seam allowance is already built into the patterns for machine-sewn softies. However, the stitching line for this Y-inch seam is not marked on the paterns, Use the ¥-inch stitching guide mark on the base plate ol your sewing machine to position the aligned cut edges ofthe fabric so that they are V4 inch fromthe needle. If your base plate doesn't haveestitching-guide marks, mark the plate with a slicky note (or a rubber band slipped over the free arm of the machine) Ya inch to the right of the needle; this will serve as your stitching guide. Instructions for most garment and home-decorating sewing projects direct you to press the seam allowances open or to one side. For machine- sewn solties, stulfing the softie with filler will do the job of fattening the seam allowances on the inside for you. (With softies designed to be sewn by hand, there are no seam allowances to worry about) TOPSTITCHING VERSUS EDGE STITCHING While most seamsin these projects are sewn with a Yé-inch seam allow- ance, occasionally the directions call for topstitching or edge stitching Topstitching refers to stitching on the fabrie's right side more than Yh inch from an edge;it can be used to add decorative stitching, join two pieces offabric, or do both at once, Edge sltching relers stitching very close to an edge (usually ‘YAinch or less from the edge) and, lke topstitching, can be used to deco- rate, reinforce, or attach the fabric. Inthe case of the Deer iPod Holder, the deer's head is edge-sttched onto the front of the holder DEALING WITH CURVES Almost every sollie project has a rounded curve somewhere-an elephant’s back, or achick’s head, for example-and i's helpful to know basic techniques to use on curves. Unattended curves may make the fabric bunch inside the softie, or they may cause the fabric to pull oo tightly, making it hard to turn the soltie right-side out. As. result, you ‘may find itdlificut to get smooth, finished edges ‘There are two basic curves—inner and outer-and there are two techniques for handling them: clipping and notching. A few of the projects inthe kt will direct you to clip curves.Here's how: An inner curve may have too much fabricin it to allow the fabric tole fat in the small, curved space. Clipping the fabric enables itto old over itself and lie lat on the inside ofthe project. To clip e curved seam, use your scissors to make small cuts into both seam allowances around the curve, as shown inthe illustration below (let). When you're snipping, be careful not to cut into the stitched seam. With an outer curve, the fabric stretching around the curve will pull a bit, and the seam will not lie flat on the inside of the softie. Notching the seam allowances on an outer curve enables the fabric to stretch comfortably around the curve and allows the seam tole lat, To notch an ouler curve, cut tiny triangles out ofthe seam ellowances, as shown in the illustration below (right). Again, be careful not to cut into the seam’s stitches when you're notching, Hlyoure unsure whether you need to clip a curve, the project directions will tell you when to do so. Once you use these techniques a few times, you'll begin to see when the fabric needs tobe clipped or notched, phigan ne cive Nacht oar ute TO SEW BY HAND INSTEAD OF MACHINE It’s easy to sew a soltie by hand, even il the directions call for machine sew~ ing, Follow the project directions exactly as they're writlen, keeping the fabric's right sides facing or sewing. When the instructions tell you to sew 2a seamby machine, sew a small tight, even backstitch or running stitch by hand instead (see pages 15 and 19). A second way to convert a machine-sewn project to @hand-sewn cone involves making a few changes in the directions. The resulting sotie will ot look exactly like the one shown in the kit: The seam allowances wil show on the outside ofthe finished soltie, Thisis not necessarily a bad thing, since hand sewing gives the solte a charming, handeralted look. The technique works fine on softies without sharp curves but is ess successful on a project like Lucky Elephants, whose sharply curved trunks would lose their definition since the seam allowances would bunch up inthe curves To.convert soltie instructions for hand rather than machine sewing, follow the steps below: step 1. sew with the fabric wrong sides together. When joining two cut pieces, place the wrong sides of fabric together. Because this places the seam allowances on the outside of the soltie, i's probably a good idea to use felt, since the edges on felt wor't fray. step 2. pick an embroidery stitch to replace the machine stitching. Any one ol several embroidery stitches will cose a seam—backstitch, run- ning stitch, blanket stitch, or whipstitch (see "Hand-Embroidery Stitches,” page 14)-s0 picking one is@ matter of taste. Keep stitches nice and even, without a lot of space in between them, so the softies closed securely and the stulling stays put step 3. select floss colors carefully, since your stitches will shov. floss in'a color that contrasts with the color of the fabric will give the work a nice, handmade look. For a subtler style, match the floss color to the fabric step 4. consider an optional finish for the edges. Since your seam allowances will show on the right side, you may want to finish the edges by cutting them with pinking shears or decorative-edgescissors. Todo this, you'll needa little more room onthe edge than the V-inch seam allowance built into the pattern, so cut all te pattern pieces inch bigger all around. When pinking or using decorative-edge scissors to cut the edges, be careful to not cut too close to your stitches and acci- dentally open the seam. you decide to use decorative-edge scissors, look for scissors made for fabric, not for paper and scrapbooking. HAND-EMBROIDERY STITCHES Hand embroidery is lun to do and adds a distinctive, handmade look to your softie. Aside from elemental straight stitching and cross stitching, there are seven hand-embroidery stitches used to make the softies: back- stitch, blanket stitch, French knot, lazy daisy stiteh, running stitch, satin stitch, and whipstitch. The project directions specify the stitches used, but sometimes you can substitute stitches to get a different look. For instance, toclose a seam, regardless ofthe stitch called for in the pattern, you could use a whipstitch, backstitch, blanket stitch, or running stitch. You could substitute embroidery stitches for the decorative beads or other trim called forina pattern. Or, if you want to keep embroidery toa minimum, you can sometimes glue on certain elements, like the eyes onto a soltie face, instead of embroidering them. Experiment and use your creative style to customize the project. Here are a few tips for successful embroidery: Always keep your stitches and the space between them the same length. Be consistent with your sewing tension (how tight or loose you make your stitches), you're new to embroidery, you may want to practice ona scrap af fabric before beginning the softie. To learn more embroidery stitches and techniques, see "Resources" (page 23), Backstitch The backsttch is 2 basic embroidery stitch and is used decoratively in many ofthe soltie projects (see the backstitched swirl on the Sparkle Burn). tis called backstitching because you move the needle a slitch backward before sewing the next stitch To backstitch: The backstitch is worked Irom rightolelt, Place your threaded needle under the fabric and bring it upall the way through at the point where you want to begin, point (I) in illustration A, Insert the needle into point (2), go under the fabric, and come back out at point (3), which is cone stitch length ahead of point (1). You now have one completed stitch. To make the next stitch, insert the needle into point (2) inillustra~ tion B-originally point (1) in illustration A~and repeat the sequence, keeping your stitches the same length and tension and moving backward and forward ina straight line. Ifyou keep the stitches small and close, they will resemble stitches made by a sewing machine, as shown in llus- tration.Blanket stitch The blanket stitch is typically used to close seams or add decoration when layering elements. The Paper Doll Dress uses a blanket stitch to close seams To blanket stitch: The blanket stitch is generally worked from left to right, with the thread moving between two parallel lines. Bring the threaded needle up through the fabric at point (1), on the bottom line. Then insertit at point (2) on the topline, and come back out at point (3), directly below. Before pulling the needle all the way through, make sure the threadis under the needle, as shown inillustration A, Start the next stitch by inserting the needle at point (2) as shown inillustration B, and bring the needle out at point (3). Continue working across the fabric this way, keeping height and width the same. t 2) LW ee e © French knot The French knot is easy to make and produces a rounded knot that can be used for the center ofa flower or the eyes on your softie. You could add French knols o creale a series of decorative dots. To make a French knot Bring the needle up at point (1). Hold the thread tightly in your left hand (or in your right hand if you're alleft-handed sewer), and wrap it around the needle twice, as shown. Carefully insert the needle near point (1) and pull the thread through (be careful not use the same exact hole, or the thread will pull through and you'll have to start allover). That’ it~you've made a French knot, To make a bigger knot, wrap more twists of thread (or yarn) around the needle and/or use more strands of lloss in your needle,Lazy daisy stitch The lazy daisy stitch s a variation of the classic chain stitch and is designed to look lke the petals ona flower. This stitch is used on Charlotte with Her Fedora and Dorian the Dog, You can add it as a decorative touch to other solties. Tomake a lazy daisy: This stitch is worked in circle. Bring the needle out from below at point (I) in illustration A, insert the needle back through the same hole, and exit at point (2), alin one smooth movement. Keep the thread under the needle as you pullit through. Insert the needle at point B)inillustration B over the loop and bring the needle out at new point (I. Continue stitching around a center point to forma circle of petals. Running stitch The running stitch is simple to make. Just be careful to keep the length of your stitches and the space in between them the same length. The Chick ina Bonnet projectis a good example of how a running stitch is used to decorate a curved edge. To.sew a running stitch: The running stitch is generally sewn from right to left. Bring your threaded needle up at point), then back down through the fabric at point (2) Skip space that is equel tothe length of the stitch you've just made, and come up at point (3), Repeal to continue the line. ty 3Satin stitch Satin stitches are used to fil in an area with floss. They make good noses {or softies~see the snowman's nose on the Gingerbread House. The stitch itsetis easy to do, butit may take some practice to get the fil stitches lined up evenly and flat. Be sure to fill in the designated area with enough stitches so the fabric underneath doesn't show through. To sewa satin stitch: Bring athreaded needle up through the fabric at point (D, then insertit back down in the fabric at point (2), Bring the needle back Lup at point (3), next to point (1), and repeat the process to film the area, Fora round nose, i's best to start the frst stitch in the middle of the nose and then filin tothe right and left with successively smaller stitches, Be consistent so that both filled sides match and the nose is round. Whipstitch ‘A wihipstitch isa good stitch for closing a seam-and it's very forgiving fora beginner embroiderer since it's intended to have an unfinished sort of look. Party Cake uses ths stitch for al ofits seams. Using a contrast- ing color of floss with your whipstitch will make it stand out. The lenath of the stitch and angle will vary depending on the design and size of the soltie. Sew yours to look like the solte pictured or adjust to reflect your own style To sew a whipsttch: Working with two cut edges held together with wrong sides facing, bring the needle up at point 1), then insert the needle from bochind the fabric and bring it up at point (2). Continue taking angled stitches across the seam, keeping the angle, stitch length, and distance between them even, That's all there is tot. 7 | |ONLINE TUTORIALS Craltsterorg: wwiveraftsterorg Instructables: wwninslrctablescom Whip Up: worn whipupinel : \ ! 5. 7 . 7 ' creating original softie designs t Cee eee et ae | Once you've made a few softies, you many wantto startereating yourown | 3 q | designs and patterns. you are drawing-challenged, as | am, try using | resources — | scommon object, such asa glassfora circle, tocreate an outlineforapat- | De | tern, Or; look for images that you can trace tomake apattern. A sparrow | : | cullineis easy. You could sew several in different colors felt with unique | } trim and bead eyes and fashion theminto a mobile. Bird and other images | are everywhere-in books, in magazines, on wallpaper, even on plates. \ | Other sources are coloring books, scrapbooking stencils, and die-cut i FELT AND Fasc | greeting cards. | Kitty-Craft (abrics, Japenese crati books): wwwkitiy-er i Keep the following in mind as you develop your designs: \ Iiasett Gabi oo ony Wet sraoc reat catt | * Use these projects to experiment with techniques and stitches \ nem cok eee, uperbuzzy (Japanese fabric) wiv superbuzeyicor | © Soltie-makingis not ike spelling bee-perfectionisnot arequire- | re es 1 ment. The charm of a softies its handmade, unique quality. | TRIM AND OTHER CRAFT SUPPLIES Io. Ribbons, rickrack, buttons, and beads are fun embellishments that 1 ee ads, dol-making su ngs | eT chars, fb wos loggles com i ‘anedd toor inspire deson: | M&.JTrimming (large variety of ons, beads, braid, | 7 Feltisforaiving and easy to work with 1 and buckles) worwsnjtim.eor | + Asoftie canbe anything-a house, an imaginary animal, fabulous t Tinsel Trading (vintage hibbons, velvet flowers, tassele, and silver 1 food, an internal organ. There are no limits \ apc) wvnwtinseltrading com I RETAIL STORES | I Hancock Fabrics (labric, craft fet, and sewing spies): i I wnuwhancockisbrics com I 1 Jo-Ann Stores (cralt supplies and tak wwiwjoann.com 1 i Michaels (wide range of craft supplies): www.enichsels.com 1 I \ 1 1 || I ! ! I ONLINE SHOPS SELLING HANDMADE GOODS. Etay: wwwetsy co Mahar Dry Goods: wsw:mahardrygoods cor hesaltie designers’ individu V MAGAZINES FOR INSPIRATION AND IDEAS CRAFT: wwyweraltzine co Movie Cire Ides wirenaraglacesdenscom (n French) Gaheloe wus veken, rhpert acknowledgments = delolelniabetadaiatadatenill My heartfelt thanks to all the softie designers who contributed projects for this kit! 'm proud to be able to present your workin this collection\ gingerbread house, Evoking memories of holidays pest, this adorable Gingerbread House could be the beginning of a sottie village under your tree. A grea} stocking stuffer! \ embroidery stitches \ Whipstiteh 1 Satin stitch {French knot * Couching stitch Y Runnings Blanket stitch Note: When sewing with floss, use 2 strands unless otherwise noted. materials FELT: Isheet of brown for the house; scrap ‘of white for the root, snowman, and other ‘embellishments; scraps ‘of bubblegum pink, kelly green, lavender, yellow, mint green, orange, pale blue, pale pink, pale yellow, and red for the house embellishments FLOSS: brown, matching floss colors to coordinate with each color of felt OTHER: fabric alue: weighted filer pissicutry Levet : moderate finusneo size 2inches wide | by 3% inches high sew: by hand cut from patterns FROM FELT 2white rooks ‘white snowman bottom ‘white snowman head ‘kelly green holly leat 4vwaler candies: Tin pale blue, in pale yellow, tin mint green, andTin pale pink ‘white window frame Tred door 2 brown house pieces: Thouse Iront and 1 house back white front snow 6 white triangle wedges forthe mint candy ikelly greentree Thrown house floor cut freehand white candy cane ‘mint-green candy circle, FROM FeUr rectangle, Yeinch wide by Tinch indiameter 2 brown house sides, 2inches long 2 bubblegum pink hearts, Dhinches wide by ‘yellow doorknob circle, each 4 inch in diameter 2 inches high ‘hinch in diameter TO white scallops, eacha 40 circles tor door and A white door trim rectangle Ya inch wide by rool candies, Beachin rectangle Yainch wide %inchlong orange, bubblegum pink, by 3% inches long yellow, lavender, and red, each % inch in diameter sew step 1. raise the roof 4a. Place a white roof piece on top of one of the brown house side pieces, with the white ringed icicles overlapping the top edge of the house side. Note: The bottom edge of the icicles should be 1% inches fromthe bottom edge of the house side. b. Using 2 strands ol white floss, whipstitch around each icicle to attach the roof to the house side. ¢. Repeat Step 1 a-b, and sew the second white roof piece to the second house side. step 2. add the roof candies @, Randomly place 15 candy circles over one white roof piece as follows: 3 each of the following colors: orange, bubblegum pink, yellow, lavender and red. b. Using a matching color of floss, sew each circle tothe roof with {wo straight stitches toform an’x-shaped slitch across the center of the circle +c. Repeat Step 2 a-b, adding 15 candies to the other roof piece.step 3. add the snowman a. Refer to the photo for positioning. b, Place the snowman bottom and snowman head on the house side, aligning the snowman bottom with the bottom edge of the house side. Embroider the snowman to the house with whipstitches all around with white floss. . Add 2 brown eyes and a red nose to the snowman. Using 2 strands of each color floss, satin stitch each element. d. With 6 strands of brown floss, embroider two arms, making one long straight stitch /2-inch long for each arm. step 4. add the holly leaf a. Pin the holly leaf to the left of the snowman and sew it onto the house with small green straight stitches to mimic the veins of aleat. b. Using 3 strands of red floss, add three French knots for berries at the bottom of the holly leaf. step 5. add the candy cane | Pao eter eer eaten sec et eet tetera b. Start at the bottom of the candy cane. With 6 strands of red floss, embroider the stripes by making diagonal stitches across the white candy cane. Becaretul to keep your stitches even and at the sanie angle and distance from one another. (Note: This technique is some- times called “couching” when two colors of floss are used to achieve a raised effect. In this case, we've used a strip of felt for the layer under- neath and floss for the overlay.) step 6. add wafer candies a. The wafer candies should be added to the opposite side of the house. Position the pale blue water at the bottom lett edge of the house side, and sew with a whipstitch and light blue floss. b. Repeat, adding the pale yellow, mint green, and pale pink waters to the bottom edge—each with two strands of matching color floss.step 7. add the window frame «0. Embroider the window frame above the water candies using 6 strands of red loss and a diagonal stitch over each line of the frame asin Step 5b, Set aside. | step 8. embroider the front of the house «.Place the door on the bottom edge of the house front and embroider running stitches using 3 strands of red floss in 5 vertical ines from top to bottom ol the door. b.Place the doorknob on the door and sew a few straight stitches with 2 strands of yellow lloss to attach it to the door. «€ Take the white door-trim piece and shape it around the door. You may want to lightly glue tin place. With 6 strands of red floss, sew diagonal stitches over the white trim to create a candy cane look 4. Assemble colored candies around the door end sew to the house with a French knot and 3 strands of a coordinating color of floss. 2. Add the snow trim onto the house front aligning the peak of the snow with the top of the house. Use 2 strands of white floss and sew it to the house with small straight stitches along the icicles edge only. 4. Assemble the mint candy by placing the white wedge sections on top and spaced evenly around the circle. Position the mint candy in between the snow trim and the candies surrounding the door, and attach by sew- ing small whip stitches around the wedges only with 2 strands of white floss. Set aside. step 9. embroider the back of the house «@.Place the iree in the center of the house's bottom edge. Use green floss and straight stitches along the bough lines, and add a few stitches atthe top b. Use 3 strands of floss to add French knot ornaments to the tree. Place a heart on each side of the tree and whipstitch them to the house back with? strands of red floss 4. Create five rows of scallops (14 scallops total) at the top of the house, starting at peak. Shape one scallop trim and sew to the house with while floss and straight stitches around the piece. Successive rows of scallops have two, three, lour, and four scallops each. Trim as needed. @. Add a scallop at the bottom edge of the house back on either side of the tree. You now have all four sides of the house completed! step 10, assemble the house «. Sew both sides ofthe house tothe front with 3 strands of white floss. Place wrong sides together and blanket stitch sides to the front. b Sew the back of the house to the sides with a blanket stitch. Close the roof line with the same blanket stitch ¢. Attach the floor with the same stitch, leaving one side open for stuffing, 4. Stuff the top three-quarters of the house with fibetill Stuff the bottom quarter with weighted filler ¢@. Stitch the opening closed and shape the house with your hands. To make the house a haniging omament: Sew a loop of ribbon in the roofline os you're closing that seam. Use only fiberfil GINGERBREAD HOUSE DESIGN BY CASS! GRIFFIN, SELLA DIA (WWW.BELLADIA.TYPEPAD.COM)treeling Start o softie forest with this turquoise ree, and then design your own softie animais and flowers to inhabit it, A piece of mirrored glass would make a perfect lake. Fake spray snow, anyone? embroidery stitches Backstitch Whipstiteh ete: When sowing with floss, use 2 strands unless otherwise noted, materials FELT: multicolored scraps forthe leaves; sheet of turquoise for the tree- top: ascrap of white for the eyes; I sheet of brown forthe tree trunk Floss: black, pink THREAD: blue, brown ‘TOPSTITCHING THREAD: color that contrasts with leaves TRIM: 2 black beads foreyes ‘OTHER: febric glue pisnicutry uevst eosy muse size : 8 inches wide by Ih inches high sem : by machine ond hand cut from pattern FROM FELT 2turquoise treetops cut freehand FROM FELT 19 pointed-oval leaves invarious colors, witha mixture of small leaves (by linch) and large leaves (% by 1% inches) white eye circles, each Yhinchin diameter ‘brown tree trunk, by 6% inches (Fold the felt sheetin half to cul this rectangle, mea- | suring the rectangle with one end ofthe pattern positioned on the fold. Once you sew the sides of the trunk, | the fold will become the bottom of the trunk) sew |. step 1.attach leavestothe treetop «Position the leaves randomly on the treetop front, and lightly glue therm inplace b. Using a contrasting color of topstitching thread in your machine, stitch down the center of each leaf to detineit. Leave long thread tails at the beginning and end of your stitching, and then pull the tails to the other side of the felt and knot off for a clean finish. Alternatively, you can backstitch by hand, using contrasting topstitching thread down the center ofthe leaf to get the same effect. | step 2. sew the trestop «0. Place the two halves of the treetop with wrong sides together and the edges aligned, and pin together. Machine stitch around the treetop's edges with a %4-inch seam, leaving a 4-inch opening at the bottom for inserting the trunk. Note: Usually, when sewing by machine, you'll align the pieces and sew them with right sides together, and then turn the finished soft right side ‘out But for this project the pieces are aligned with wrong sides together, sotthe 44-inch seam allowances show on the right side and serve as a decorative touch. You don't need to turn the project since it's already right side out bb. Stulf the treetop three-quarters full with fiberiil step 3. puta face on the tree trunk «@. Sew ablack bead in the center of each white eye circle, b. Position the eyes on the trunk, and lightly glue them in place. Then hand sew straight, rather than slanted, whipstitches around each eye with black floss. ¢. Create the mouth by hand sewing a few long stitches in pink floss,step 4, sew the tree trunk a. Because you cut the trunk on the fold of the fabric, the cut piece, unfolded, will be twice the trunk’s length, or 13 inches long, By eliminating 2 seam on the base ofthe tree trunk and instead using the fold as the trunk’s bottom, the tree will have a smooth, rounded base that does not need to be sewn. b. To sew the sides ofthe cut trunk, refold the fein half tthe midpoint, with the short ends aligned and right sides together, and machine sew 2 Yi-inch seam down each side, leaving the top of the trunk open fiberiil. ¢. Turnthe trunk right-side out and stuff step 5. pulitall together «a. Insert the top of the trunk into the opened gap at the bottom of the traetop (as marked in the pattern), and hand stitch the pieces together using a backstitch and thread in the same color you used to sew the treetop. Make the size of your hand stitches as consistent as possible, matching the machine-sewn stitches in length. As you stitch, fil in any ‘gaps inthe stuffing by adding more, For o fun effect, cul your treetop 2 inch wider all around, After sewing, trim the seam allowances with pinking shears. TREELING DESIGN BY LYNDA LYE, LITTLEODDFOREST (WWW.FORESTPRINTS.COM|| ice cream sandwich | Too cute 10 eat, this ice cream sand. ‘ wich could be par of o picnic aift basket filled with other feit food. Or you could add weighted filler, and it becomes a delicious-looking paper- weight for your desk embroidery stitches Backstitch Whipsttch Note: Use 3 strands of loss \, formouth materials FELT: | sheet of brown for sandwich top and bot- tom;a serap of black and a scrap ol while for eyes FLEECE: a scrap of creamy white forice cream FLOSS: rod THREAD: white OTHER: fabric glue pnevury tevet : moderate) sntsHen site: 34 inches ‘wide by 5% inches long by is inches deep sew: bymachineandhand | cut from pattern | FROM FELT | 2 brown sandwich crusts cut freehand \ FROM FLEECE { Zlongereamy white | icecreamrectangles, | inches wide by 4% inches long 2 short creamy white ice cream rectangles, \ inches wide by \ | 2% inches long FROM FELT ! 2black eye circles, Yeinch in diameter | white eye circles, %inch in diameter sew step 1. embroider the mouth 1a. Using a backstitch and red floss, embroider the mouth on the top rust, positioning it slightly below the center of the crust, Set aside. step 2. sew the ice creamfleece «a. With right sides facing, machine sew the two long and two short pieces of ice cream fleece together to form an open rectangle. Leave the fourth side open for stuffing ater. step 3. put the sendwich together «@. Position the top crust facedown on your work surface, and center the ice cream rectangle on the crust’s wrong side, with the right side cof the ce cream fleece facing out. Turn under the raw edges ol the ice cream rectangle toward the center of the rectangle, and pin through the raw edges o attach the ice cream to the crust Using white thread, machine sew the raw edges ofthe ice creem rectangle to the top crust from the inside, making sure thatthe crusts scalloped edges remain unsewn, ¢. Turn the ice cream sandwich inside out. The scalloped edges should now be inthe middle. 4. The next step is to attach the bottom crust. This can be abit dificult to machine sew, so hand-sewing directions as well as those for machine sewing are provided. to machine sew: Pin the bottom crust tothe ice cream fleece, carelully tucking the scallops ol the bottom crust into the middle so you don't accidenially sew over them, Make sure the corners ofthe top and bottom crusts line up-this will give your sandwich a clean, rectangular shape. ‘Sew the crust to the ice cream fleece. As you sew each side, stop for a momento straighten the softie, You may want to backslitch a bit so the threads don't unravel, Leave the last side open for stuffingte hand sew: Turn the ice cream sandwich right side out. Position the bottom crust onto the ice cream sandwich and hand sew the parts together, using 2 backstitch, Leave the last side open for stuffing step 4, stuff the sandwich «2. Turn the sandwich right side out (if you've sewn it on a machine) Allscallops should be free and not sev into any seam, b. Stuff the sandwich with fiberfi through the opening in the ice cream fleece step 5. finish «a. Hand sew the last side ofthe ice cream fleece closed with a whipsitch. b. Glue the smaller, black eye circles onto the larger, white eye circles, and then glue the eye sets to the top crust, approximately % inch above the mouth. ICE CREAM SANDWICH DESIGN BY HEIOI KENNEY, MY PAPER CRANE (WWW-AIYPAPERCRANE.COM)I dorian the dog ; |, step Wembrotdertheeyesundilawers | sew a. Lightly glue an eye on the face of each half of the body. . Using a single strand of orange floss, embroider a blanket stitch around each eye. Then, using 6 strands of burgundy floss, make a French knot in the center of the eye, and, using 6 strands of light blue oiricutry Lever : moderote rmisteo size: 3 inches wide | bby 3H inches high i | Ifyoutre looking forahand-sewn sofie | tehang as an omament, Dorian the i Dog is the one for you. He's as|light as leather, sohe'sperteciforhangings / st tyhond floss, sew 3 French knots underneath it. ‘And you can have fun embellishing him SOP iat sitet cMickes wre «Lightly glue both flowers to the lower front side of body. imaginative flower overlay is a great \ | 4. Working with teal and moss green floss, embroider a stemfor the technique that could be used with other tulip using a straight stitch, and make leaves using a lazy daisy stitch, projects in the kit. Or, you could try other design elements, such as hearts, stars, crosses, circles, or leaves, in place of the flowars ‘embroidery stitches Blanket stitch French knot Lazy daisy stitch | Whipstitch | Satin stitch Note: When sewing with floss, use 6 strands unless otherwise noted, materials FELT: sheet of white forthe body; scraps of blue, yellow, pink, and. brown forthe eyes, flowers, tai, and ears FLOSS: orange, burgundy, light blue, teal, moss green, rose pink, turquoise, light pink, red, aqua, tan, white, brown ‘OTHER: fabric glue cut from patterns FROM FELT pink tulip flower ‘yellow diamond flower 2white bodies 2brown ears 2 brown tails cut freehand FROM FELT 2blue eye circles, Y%einch in diameter 1 | 1 ' | around the pink tulip. +.For the diamond flower, make smal turquoise whipstitches around the flower. | | @. With a single strand of rose pink floss, embroider a blanket stitch | 9. Switching to 6 strands of light pink floss, stitch a straight stitch across the diamond flower in both directions and then add a red cross stitch in the center of the flower, using a single strand of red floss. h, Make a stem for this lower by sewing a straight stitch using 6 strands ofturquoise floss. i, With 6 strands of aqua floss, embroider a lazy daisy leal, step 2. make the tail Align and stitch both pieces ofthe tal together, using a single rand oftan floss and a blanket stitch; leave a small opening at the straight edge of the tall Fill he tail wth liberi, and stitch it closed. b. Insert the base of the tail in between the two body pieces placed ‘wrong sides together: Stitch the tail securely to the inside of one side ofthe dog body.step 3. make the body ©. Aliga and stitch the two parts of the body together with single strand of white floss and a blanket stitch, step 4. add the ears «. Lightly glue an ear on each side of the body. Add a single-strand stitch or two of tan lloss at the top of each ear to securely attach it ta the body. step 5. embroideranose «2. Using 6 strands of brown floss, embroider a satin stitch nose. To hang Dorian as an ornament, add a narrow ribbon at the top of the head as you're stitching around the body, This project uses 13 different colors of floss, buti’s fine to create your own color scheme and reduce the number of colors. Use glue sparingly—just enough to aitach the pieces. Always sfitch over the glue after it has dried, in order to secure the element properly DORIAN THE DOG DESIGN BY CHIKA MORI, CHIKAGRAPHY (WWW -CHIKAGRAPHY.COM)| party cake ‘The Mad Hatter would go crazy for this Alice's Adveniures in Wonderland— inspired pink cake softie, with its odor. able felt dollop of whipped cream on top. Everything you need 10 make this cake is included in the kit, including trim, floss, and filler, I's a-great softie embroidery stitches Whipstiteh French knot Note: When sessing with floss, use 3 strands unless otherwise noted, fo stort with= it's simple fomake ond simply irresistible whan it’s done! materials Gachided inthe kt) FELT T sheet of pink for frosting; I sheet ‘of white for the cake and whipped cream FLOSS: pink, while TRIM: Ismall, sparkly pom-pom (about the DIFFICULTY LeveL : easy fimisheo size = 3 inches in | diameter by 3% inches high | \_ sew: by hand cut from patterns FROM FELT ‘pink scalloped frosting 5 white triangles for the whipped cream cut freehand FROM FELT white cake rectangle, sizeofapencileraser) inches wide by OTHER: fiberfil to stuff thecake 10% inches long 2cake circles (1 pink and I white), each Binechesin diameter sew step 1. assemble the side of the cake «2. in the scalloped frosting tothe white rectangle. Using pink loss, embroider the two together around the scalloped edge with a whipstitch b, Add aFrench knot to the center of each scallop. step 2. add the cake top and bottom «.Pin the side of the cake to the white cake bottom circle and hand sew together with white loss and a whipstitch. b. Join the side seams of the cake side together and whipsttch it closed « Pin and sew the pink cake top on the rest of the cake, leaving a 2-inch ‘gap open for stuffing. step 3. stuifthe cake «Fill your cake with fiberfil (No flour, butter, or eggs needed!) b. Sew the opening closed. step 4, stabilize the softie «0. Weighted filer is usually added to stabilize a sofie. However, this soltie designer has a different approach that works well, too: Using white floss, sew a loop through the bottom of the cake, up through the top, and back downto the botiom. Pul he stitch ight and knot the ends ofthe thread together. The resulting dimples on the top (which will be covered by the whipped cream) and underside of the cake help itsit flat step 5. make the whippedeream «a. Pin two triangle pieces together. b, Starting atthe top point ofthe triangle, sew the pair together down one side to the bottom edge, as marked on the pattern, c, Repeat Step 5b, adding the three remaining triangles one at atime, until you've sewn all five pieces. 4, Stuff the whipped eream with fiberPARTY CAKE DESIGN BY AOI HORN, SHINHATSUBAL! (WWW. SHINHATSUBALTYPEPAD.COM)charlotte with her fedora > With her fedora perched [auntily on her head, this chick reminds me of one of the very determined and no-nonsense heroines ina Jane Austen novel embroidery stitches Blanket stitch French knot Whipstitch Lazy daisy stitch Running stitch Note: When sewing with floss, use 1 strand unless otherwise noted. materials FEtT: 1 sheet of orange for the body; a serap of yellow for the wings and eyelids; scraps of coral and teal forthe flowers; ascrap of fuchsia forthe beak; seraps of white for the hat;@ scrap of areen forthe leaves-onthe hat Floss: orange, purple, lavender, fuchsia, pink, apple green, forest ‘green, aqua, white OTHER: fabric glue pusricutrr Level : moderaie riisigo size : 3 inches wide by 3% inches high sew: by hand cut from patterns FROM FELT orange bodies: Ibody front and I body back 2yellow eyelids ‘coral tulip flower 2yyellow wings 2 fuchsia beaks orange chest orange bottom body Iwhite hat top ‘white hat brim cut freehand FROM FELT teal flower square, Yainch by ¥4 inch ‘white hatband, 3% inches long by Yainch wide 2agreenleavestor the hat sew step step 1. make the eyes «. Using the photograph as a guide, position one eyelid onto the body {front approximately % inch down from the top of the head b. Sew the eyelid to the body with a blanket stitch, using the orange floss ¢. Under the eyelid, embroider 1 horizontal straight stitch using 6 strands of purple floss. 4. Keep the purple loss in your needle, and edd 6 straight vertical stitches about Ye-inch long each under the horizontal stitch for eye lashes. Atthe end of each eyelash, embroider a French knot using 6 strands of lavender floss @. Repeat Steps 1a-d and sew the second eyelid to the body back. Align the eyelids so they are in the same position on the front and back. Set aside. 2. make the wings 2. Sew the tulip flower onto a wing with a blanket siteh, using I strand of uchsia floss b, Sew a square teal flower to the wing with a whipstitch and pink floss. «. Add straight stitch for the flower stem under the tulip, using 6 strands of apple green iloss. For the tulip’ leaf, embroider a lazy daisy stitch, with 6 strands of forest green loss 4. Tocreate the stem of the teal flower, use 2 strands of aqua floss and sew a running stitch under the square, curving the path, 2. Add leaves for the teal flower with two lazy daisy stitches, one on either side ofthe stem. Use 6 strands of aque floss for the leaves 4. Continue with the aqua floss and finish the teal lower by adding A straight stitches from the center of the square to each corner. 9. Lightly glue the embroidered wing in place on the body front and wshipstitch it onto the body with a single strand of fuchsia floss.h. Repeat Steps 2a-g for making and sewing the second wing to the body back. Set aside both pieces. step 3. make the beak a. Blanket stitch the beak pieces together on two sides with fuchsia floss. ‘Stuff with a-small amount of fiberfill and sew closed, Set aside. step 4. assemble the body «2. Using a blanket stitch and orange floss, sew the chest to the body front, matching point A on the body to point A on the chest (see marks on the pattern for placement) b, Blanket stitch the body back piece tothe chest, Insert the beak above the point where chest meets body, Hold it in place as you blanket stitch it to both the front and back pieces. 4. Continue to blanket stitch the front and back together, sewing from the top of the beak, over the head and around the tail to the bottom e. Sew the bottom body piece to the body with the same floss and blanket stitch, stuffing as you sew the chick closed. Do not overstulf. Set aside. step 5. make the hat «0, Place the short ends of the sideband together and sew with a whip- stitch, using white floss. 'b. Sew the hat top to the sideband loop with a blanket stitch to make the crown of the fedora. Whipstitch the hat brim to the crown with white floss. ¢. Glue two green leaves to the side of the hat. 4. Take a 4-inch lenath of 6 strands of pink floss and tie it around the hat. Knot it in the back; add a second knot in fuchsia over itor decora- tion. Trim the floss as needed, CHARLOTTE WITH HER FEDORA DESIGN BY CHIKA MOR), CHIKAGRAPHY (WWW.CHIKAGRAPHY.cOM)lucky elephants These lucky elephants snap together to form a mini-carayan. Note: the Instructions are for the smaller ele phant. To make her larger companion, enlarge all pattern pieces [except the ear} by 155 percent. Enlarge the ear piece by 150 percent. embroidery stitches Whipstitch Satin stitch materials FABRIC: for the elephant a scrap of medium- weight red printed cotion (Aye scrap of medium- ‘weight white printed ' cotton (B); forthe bird: asscrap of yellow printed cotton (C) THREAD: red, white, yellow FLOSS: navy blue for the bird's eyes TRIM: 2 black buttons Yinchin diameter forthe ‘eyes, red acrylic paint for | the bird's beak ‘TIONAL: 1%-inch snap irricutry Lever: moderate rintsnen size ls inches long by 4 Inches high ‘sew : by mochine and by hand cut from patterns FROM PRINTED COTTON A 2red ears (in reverse) Dred bodies linreverse) | ‘red trunk gusset Tred tal \ FROM PRINTED COTTON & white heads (lin reverse) 2uhite ears (Vin reverse) ‘2white underbodies (lin reverse) FROM PRINTED COTTON ¢ 2 yellow birds (lin reverse) | Geetipatendof directions) | sew step 1.sew the head «2. With right sides facing, align and pin the 2 head pieces together. Set your sewing machine to a small sitch setting, and machine sew the head pieces together from point A to point B, as marked on the pattern. Set aside. step 2. make the ears, one atatime «0. The ears are sewn with the red printed fabric on the back, and the white background print on the front. With the right sides facing, pin the two pieces together. Machine sew from J to K, leaving an opening as marked on the pattern for turning and stuffing Trim the seam allowance to just less than Yainch, Turn the ear right- side out €-Press the ear to flatten the seams 4.Fold the ear flap over (see pattern for fold lines); press and take a couple of stitches to baste the flap in place at the edge near the opening. e. Stuff lightly with fiberfill and sew the opening closed. Repeat Steps 2 a-e to make the second ear. step 3.sewthe body a. With right sides facing, place an ear on a body piece, and baste in place along the seam that will align with the head, as marked on the pattern. Repeat and baste the second ear to the other body piace. '. With right sides facing, pin the combined body/ear pieces together, and machine sew along the elephant’s back, starting at point C (on the pattern) through to point D. «With right sides facing, pin the head to the body, matching up the seams so thal the head aligns with the body (point A on the head should align with point C on the body pattern),4. With right sides facing, machine sew the head to the body along the neck seam, keeping the ears sandwiched inside the body cavity. Set aside, «. With right sides facing, pin the two underbody pieces together and machine sew from paint F to point G, Leave an opening (see pattern for placement) between points F and G for turning right-side out. 4. Turn the underbody right-side out and pin the right side of the trunk gusset to the right side of the underbody, matching point H on the trunk gusset to point G on the underbody. With right sides facing, machine sew together along the shortest edge (where the elephant’s mouth would be, ifit had one). 9. With right sides facing, align point F on the underbody to point D on the body, and point | on the trunk gusset to point B on the head. Machine sew together, continuing to keep the 2-inch opening between points F and G on the underbody for turning and stuffing. h. Clip all curves and turn the elephant right-side out. The ears should popup. step 4. stuff the elephant and close «a. Stuff the softie with fibril, starting with the trunk and using a chop- stick or pencil to get the filling into the small spaces. b. Manipulate the elephant with your hands to shape «¢ Turn the edges of the opening on the underbody inward and hand sew closed with white thread using 2 whipstitch, Set aside, stop 5.add the tail and eyes ‘a. With right sides facing, fold the tail in half and machine stitch, leaving small opening for turning. b Turnthe tail right-side out, stuff with a small amount of fiberfill, and hand sew the opening closed.If you moke both elephants, add.a snap to the underside of the small elephants trunk ond the facing piece to the top. of the larger elephant’s tall so you can hook them together [LUCKY ELEPHANTS DESIGN 8Y MAGGIE SMITH (WWW. MAGGIEBOOKS COM)sparkle bunny | embroidery stitches Sometimes We have fo put down the hot glue gun and stop embellishing ' thankfully, this bunny is not one of those times! | Blanket stitch |, Satin stitch | Backstitch | Running stiteh Whipstitch Note: When sewing with floss, use Isrand.uniess otherwise noted. French knot materials FELT: I sheet of white; ascrap of pale pink; a serap of bubblegum pink Foss: black, ight blue metalic, pear! pink, pear! white: Note: Pearlcatton floss Gize 5)is a more lustrous version of stan- dord embroidery floss. THREAD: white, pink TRIM: 17 clear, iridescent sequins; 17 pink seed beads;6 inches of narrow ribbon; | flower button, Yinchin diameter cut from patterns DirFicutry Leves e05y FINISHED Size 3 inches wide by Si inches high sew: by hand FROM FELT 2white bodies 1set of pale pink inner ears cut freehand FROM FELT ‘pale pink oval lace, inches in diameter " 2.bubblegum pink cheek circles, Yeinch Indiameter ‘ sew step stop step Amake the face 1. Embroider the pink face onto the body front with a blanket stitch using 2 strands of white thread. b. With small straight stitches and white thread, sew the bubblegum pink cheeks to the bunny's face. Switch to black floss and with, 6 strands in your needle, embroider two French knots for the eyes. 4d. Satin stitch a nose with 2 strands of light blue metallic floss. Add a straight stitch under the nose and two diagonal straight stitches to form the mouth, 2. embellish the bunny body €@.Starting with the bottom swirl, use the pink pearl floss and backstitch a freelorm swirl moving from the let leg, across the body to the upper right. Add three stars over the bunny’s heart with straight stitches cross- ing over to make the ive points. Use the photo as 2 guide, or create your own design. Using white thread, sew the sequins ina scattered pattern across the body. Add a seed bead to the center of each sequin 3. add the pink inner ears a. Embroider a pink ear to the center of each white front ear with a run- ning stitch and a doubled strand of white thread. |. step 4. assemble the bunny «0, With wrong sides facing, pin the bunny front to the back . Use the white pearl floss and whipstitch the front to the back, begin: ning at the neck and working your way around the head and down the other side of the body. Keep your stitches close together to create the effect the designer intended.«Stuff as you go along, being sure to get the iller into the ends of the bunny's feet and arms. Do not stuff the ears. 4, Embroider the ears together with a running stitch and a double strand of white thread step 5. add abow anda button 0. Make a bow with the ribbon and sew it to the bunny with a couple of stitches hidden underneath 'b. Sew the button onto the bunny’s hand. ‘SPARKLE BUNNY DESIGN BY NAN MONTGOMERY, THREE WISHES DESIGN (WIE THREEWISHESDESIGN.€TSY.COMm)hambone | t Ee Only the finest cuts of fleece are used ee CATE to moke this juiey, tender meal reat qilsameshesGiechestigt = by Sinches wide ‘Sew: by machine and by hond | cut from patterns | FROM FLEECE materials rapRic: scrop ofan fleece, 9 inches by ‘tan ham beck Binches;iilece obwhité 1 fleece, 3 inches by iitaaheathget | Ginches: piece of pink |, fleece, 6 inches by a a Binches embroidery stitches Running stitch Whipstitch ‘pink ham lace Floss:dark brown | | rRIM:THlat white button | witha shank, Tinch in | diameter ‘OPTIONAL: an awl 1 sew step 1.embroider the ham hock «. Begin by punching holesin the pattern on the dots in ares 1-4. b.Place the hock pattern on top of the right side of the tan fleece and, using a fabric-marking pen, make a small dot on the fleece for each punched-out hole. ¢. Using these marks as a quide, take 6 strands of dark brown floss and sew 12 long straight stitches from dot to dot ina semicircle for are 2.Note: The ham hock is embellished with brown flossto simulate the twine used on a ham in real lie 4. Follow the marks ol are 3 and sew long running stitches along that curve ‘e. Make the vertical lines by sewing long straight stitches starting at the first dot on arc 1 and moving dot to dot toward the dots that make up the outer curve on the pattern. 4 Replicate Step 1e by making long straight stitches radiating out from are 1and covering the surface of the fleece. Set aside step 2. sew the ham bone «. With right sides facing, machine sew a seam along the bone's long side from point A to point B on the pattern. b. Spread open the bone and clip along the seam every % inch, being careful not to cut into the seam you've just séwn, «¢. Spread the bone open and, with right sides facing, pint tothe inner curve of the ham hock. The clipped seam allowance of the 2 bone pieces will overlep abit where they meet at the center. 4d. Sew the bone to the ham hock along the curve. @. With right sides facing fold the combined piece in half aligning the brown loss lines. Pin together and begin stitching from the top of the bone and down to the widest end ofthe hock. Leave a -inch ‘opening in the middle for stuffing.stop 3. add the ham face to the hock «2. Clip along the curves ol the hambone's circular edge. b. With right sides facing, lay the pink ham face on your workspace and put the ham hock on top. Pin together € Stitch around the circle, attaching the hock to the face. step 4, stuff and embellish «0. Turn the soltie right-side out bb. Sew the button to the center of the ham face, leaving long 6-inch thread ends inside the softie. Add alittle stuffing under the button and use the thread ends to tie around the stuffing and anchor it to the button, Tie and knot tightly. This will help flatten the ham face and make the bution pucker inward. d. Finish stuffing the rest of the ham, being careful o stuff the bone ‘end firmly. e. Sew the opening closed with a whipstitch, HAMBONE DESIGN BY LAUREN FLEISHER, SWEET MEATS (WWW.SWEET-MEATS.COM)birthday banner Celebrate bath big and small events in your family’s life with a banner! Start with the Happy Birthday pennant and create new traditions with a Happy First Snow Oay, |¥ Summer, or Monday fs Chocolate Chip Cookie Day banner. These directions are for a banner with both “Happy” and “Birthday” on the same line. You could also separate the words as shown in the photograph materials Feur: Yeyard of 72-inch wide gray (or approxi- mately 4 sheets of 9 by 12); Yayard each of tur- quoise, lime green, and pink (or approximately 3 sheets of each color) HeatnBond Lite: % yard of 26-inch-wide backing Iron-on interfacing enough to cover your gray felt Pinking shears Cardstock Silk or suede rope: Dh yards Fabric glue ‘OPTIONAL: Pink thread for sewn star detail prepare the felt ‘STEP 1. Iron the. HeeinBond Lite onto the turquoise, lime green, and pink felt. STEP 2. Iron the inter facing onto the gray tet Note: Donot eu pattern pieces until you've prepared the felt as described above. pisricutry LeveL: easy fiisheo size : Each circ is 44 inches in diometer. The bbonner is opproximately 6 feet long, sew : hiss primarily a no-sew project since al pieces are hhea'-bonded together cut from patterns FROM FELT 2 turquoise letters'H’ turquoise letier'P” ‘turquoise letter Turquoise letter Y” ‘lime green letter AY lime green letter Y Time green letter 'R lime green leiter'D" Apink letter 'P* pink letter 'B’ Tpink letior'T pink etter 'A’ cut freehand lime circle,3% inches 1 pink circle, 3% inches in FROM FELT in diameter diameter. Trim by Yeinch ‘A gray circles, 4pink circles, 4Yeinches _2t/around with pinking 4% inchesin diameter in diameter. Trim by sheats Blime circles, 4Ysinches 4 inchallaroundwith 5 turquoise eicles, 4% pinking shears. inches in diameter. Trim indiameter. Trim by Ye inghenraund with by % inch all around with sinking sheers. pinking shears. sew step 1. cutoutallthe shapes 1, Using the letter patterns provided, trace each letter backwards on the paper side of the HeainBond, then cut out the letters. (You must trace itbackwards so thatthe felt side will be the right way around for theletter) b.Cuta 4Y%-inch circle rom cardstock to use as a pattern and then trace and cut the correct number of circles on the gray, turquoise, lime ‘green, and pink felt as noted above. step 2. assemble thelettercircles «a. Stack a letter on top of a contrasting color felt circle and add the pair ontop of agray circle. Each stack should look lke this: letter HeatnBond colorful felt circle HeainBond gray felt circle with iron-on interface on the reverse side (you wil glue the colorful circle to the side of the gray circle that does not have interfacing)b. To bond the circles and letters together, press the letter on the top of the stack with your iron on a medium/high setting. Be careful not to set the iron too hot, orit may damage the felt . Create one circle set without a letter by topping a gray outer circle with successively smaller turquoise, lime green, and pink circles. This set will be used to separate HAPPY and BIRTHDAY. d. Optional: Stitch star designs (like the one on the Y in HAPPY) by machine, or add an embroidered backstitch by hand, on afew of the finished letter circles. step 3. string the letter circles together 0. Create two small holes on the top of each letter circle with alarge yarn needle, You may need lo rotate the needle a bit o stretch a hole inthe felt. b, Place the letter circles in order so they spell out HAPPY BIRTHDAY. i Remember to put the circle stack without a letter in between the two words. «. Thread the rope by hand in and out of the holes on each circle set, leaving a4%-inch gap in-between each circle. d. Once you've finished stringing the banner, go back to each circle sat and add a dab of fabric glue under the rope between the holes to hold itin place, 2. Tie a knot at each end of the rope and hang up your banner! tips) * Macrame lewelry cord or hardware store twine would also work to string the letters fogeli * HeainBond kite is o poper-backed lightweight interfacing material designed for pro} te bonding of lighiweight fabrics. You can buy HeuinBond in fabric and craft stores. * You may choose to add embroidered embellishments by hand. BIRTHDAY BANNER DESIGN BY AUTUMN LAPOUR, CRAFTY MOMMY (WWW. CRAFTYMOMMY.ETSY.COM)fat ‘n’ flat penguin This penguin almost fitsin the paim of | your hand. Enlarge the patterntomake | a pillow, or keep the same size, leave a gap at the top, and sew a 4-inch zipper Info the space to create a small pouch Running stitch Backstitch Whipstitch ‘Note: Ths softie designer hand sews the penguin with» ‘upning stitch and then goes back over the samearea with second series ofrunning stitches to fillin A backstiteh would also work as wellfor hand sewing, or you could ‘machine-sew the piece materials FABRIC: a scrap ofluchsia taux suede (or velour), Binches by 1Zinches; a scrap of gray faux suede, Sinches by Sinches;a scrap of narrow-wale cream corduroy, inches by Sinches THREAD: cream, gray, fuchsia rim: 2 (Vé-inch) black eyes with washers purricutrr urvet:maderate | FinisHeo size : 8s inches wide by 7 inches high sew: by hand cut from patterns FROM FAUX SUEDE 2 fuchsia beaks Dhuchsia iopers A gray feet Thuchsia face ‘huchsia back FROM CREAM CORDUROY 2 flippers ‘belly sew step 1. make the beak, feet, and flippers «@. With right sides facing, pin the beak pieces together and hand sew around the edge with arunning stitch/backstitch, leaving the straight side open, b. Turn right-side out. Stuff the beak lightly with fberfill and set aside. «. With right sides facing, pin a fuchsia flipper to a cream flipper and sew together leaving the straight edge open. Repeat to make the second flipper. 4, Turn both flippers right-side out. Stuff each flipper lightly with fiber and set aside. 2. With right sides facing, pin two feet and sew together around the ‘edges, leaving the straight edge open. Repeat to make the second foot, {Turn feet right-side out, and stuf lightly with berfil 9. Quilt each foot to detine the toes, using backstitches and gray thread, Set aside. step 2. sewthe front a. With right sides facing, carefully align the penguin’s face with the belly, bs Insert the beak in the center of the front, Hand sew across the middle, sewing through the beak, altaching face, beak, and belly. ¢.Cul tiny holes for the eyes and attach those with washers on the inside. step 3. putit all together «@. With right sides facing, pin the penguin front to the back, inserting the flippers and feet in batwaen the body pieces. b. Starting by one of the feet, sew the penguin together with a running stiteh (or backsttch), making sure to sew through the fabric of the feet and lippers to make them secure, Leave a -inch opening at the bottom of the body,PENGUIN DESIGN BY JEN BENNETT GUBICZA, THE SWEETEST PEA (WWWSWEETESTPEA.ETSY.COM)sew | chick in a bonnet | eccaieiie comida step 1. make the hat a «@.Place a hatband on the front hat. Use the dark pink floss to sew the a hatband to the hat front with @ whipstitch along the top and bottom of the band. ‘isficULTy teveL : easy 1 Nothing's cuter than baby animals in ' fals, cnd this sweet chick looksready =! fimsieD size: inches vide forthe Easter Parade! Sreeiinthes hah tnt hall. b. Layer the yellow flower circle onto the orange flower and place the pair baeerbow: Inthe center of the hatband you've just sewn i «¢. Using medium yellow floss, edgestitch a running stitch around the pose yellow flower circle, sewing itto the hat front. Be sure to sew through all ee four layers of felt (the hat, hatband, and orange and yellow flowers) so embroidery stitches materials cut from patterns { that the flower is secured properly. Whipstitch FELT: ascrapofdarkpink FROM FELT 4. Place the second hatband piece onto the hat back, being careful to forthe hatband; a scrap 2 dark pink hatbands | align it with the hatband on the hat front. Use a whipstitch and dark pink Tasco of pole pink for the hat 2 \ Blonket stitch chopotoranseforthe TPalepinkhatfront | flossto sew the hatband to the hat back Note: When sewing with flower;a scrap of medium orange flower ! ‘e. With wrong sides facing, pin the hat front to the hat back. Note: The fos ike 2evandvuness —yllowlortheleet beak, foal pikhatback | | hat fronts 4 inch shorter the bri=thisis intentional. atherwiee noted, and flower center; 1sheet of pale yellow lor the \ body;asmallserapot 2 paleyellow bodies block for the eyes #mediumysliowleet £. Blanket stitch the hat front to the hat back using dark pink floss. Leave the bottom of the hat open so it will fit over the chick's head, Set aside. cut freehand step 2. makethefeet Floss: dark pink, medium prow seit ; @. Place two feet pieces together and whipstitch around all four sides yellow, black, pale yellow diredhumnyeliew loner with medium yellow floss. Do not stuff. circle, % inch in diameter b. Repeat to make the second foot, and set aside, | 2blackeye circles, step 3.addtheface Wehloremees = «0. Position each eye approximately 1% inches down from the top of the medium yellow beak, head and whipstitch both eyes onto the body front with black floss. stone Make sure the eyes are low enough to show beneath the brim of the hat. ‘onthe short side and ermahara hae b. Whipstitch the beak in place with medium yellow floss. \_ long sides 1step 4. finish the chick a. With wrong sides facing, pin the body pieces together, inserting the fect ata slight angle a the bottom (see pattern for placement). b. Sew the body pieces together with a running stitch using pale yellow floss. Leave a 2-inch opening at the bottom for stuffing step 5. stuff and close <. Stuff the chick lightly with iberfil b. Close the opening, matching the running slitch you've sewn around the rest of the body. When finished, place the hat on top of the chick ‘CHICK IN & BONNET DESIGN BY CASSI GRIFFIN, BELLA DIA (WWW. BELLADIA TYPEPAD.COM)japanese cherry cake (77 a step 1. sew the pink felt ribbon to the cake side | «a. Lay the cake side piece flat and position the pink felt ribbon on top. raereaan Pin orglue lightly in place. finisneo size: 2% nches wide | bb, Hand sew the ribbon tothe side with pink floss and small whipstitches by 2% inches high ; ee ' «along the top and bottom edges ofthe ribbon |e. With a single strand of red floss, add decorative straight stitches | / | | __ randomly placed around the ribbon, | Felt food, like this cherry cake froma 1 Japanese arist, makes a lovely gif ' Add weighted filler and it becomes a paperweight for a desk step 2. sew the cake bottom to the side | a. Stand the cake side piece on top ofthe cake bottom and hand sew GmecoleryenEheS! step 5. inish the embellishment «©. Attach the paper flowerto the collar by sewing 2 seed bead though its center b Lightly glue the collar around the front neckline -Blanket stitch the collar atthe shoulder seams, sewing through all three layers o felt, Do net sew the armheles closed. 4. Sew or glue the pink ribbon onto the dress waist. step 6. make the hanger (optional) «@, Using @ wire trimmer oF jewelry pliers, curl the wire into a hanger form, starting at the top hook b. The bottom of the hanger should be approximately 2 inches wide~ justwide enough to extend abit past the dress armholes (just ike @ real hanger), Jeg button or large bead for the pink poper flower if PAPER-DOLL DRESS DESIGN BY ALICIA PAULSON, POSIE GETS COZY (WwW ROSYLITILETHINGS.TYPEPRO.cOM)penguin tea penguin back 8 {etn flat penguintujpbued TaN 1 ioedoor ipod holder door ipo older on oper dol ress oe paper dol dross oper doll dress pocket paper doll dress cunt door ipod helder japanese cherry ake poper doll dressbsoundo} .-sapjou pod s99p ssaip op sodod Bison pees ae ‘9499 Alay tan pasos peayz00p 29pt04 pod s99p T T ' 1 fi 1 i 4 un soneinsi ta t ' 4s9p10u pod s20p ps ' ' Mi pod soap, 1 ' 1 1 1 ' 1 ' 1 1hhambone ee eream sandwich \pmpune woes 25)vow eo lee cream sendwichchick in @ bonnot chick ino ‘bonnet chick in a bonnet in bonnet chick na bonnet beck sparkle bunny chick in bonnet»: sparkle bunnypup ‘Avung opuods (\) ouuog ©. 991 ‘09 ‘Asuna 2punds pee sauuog © ur PNP ‘og s2uyeg 9 ul pH seuuogn urypKD youuogo ur 49birthday bonnerHH, ae sewuog aan Ample aa yma) sowsog fopyuy ae Jeuuog sopuniglucky elephants tol, | lucky olophants ts Icky ‘lophents syuoydoye Ax) lucky elephants ‘sh lucky elephantsswoydore ‘9p0), oak a siuoydeis Apo) x prude swoudare 20,4 gingerbread house. ‘ong wedge a gingerbread hous singorirecd hoe tonlbeck wel candy att sagen hae ae = _ See lepers — one sro heed 60s charlotte oO chortotte wld charlotte ‘ingerbread house charlotte with her fedoranoy pooiqieGus rs su0u04> ote i U8 ‘uoy0ye a une euopoy> sn0y oaiqi06 5 no pooigiesus = sSpancfiuns nou poeiguebys 2sn0y poaiqiesuns 2n0y paeiqiesuiS waitin suouei> P19 994 ‘tony vey pooiqieGu6 * ssnoy posiqie6ui6 OO Oo 2n0y poeiqieBulSparty coke dorian the dog body oO dorian the dog Sarendower dorian the dog ww dorian the 409 gorian the dog ‘uke ower ‘reeling perty cake dorian the doguyoou, 2p 94) uoUOP pcan 4b UDO ‘oon 0p 04) woop arom pean ‘9402 Auod