Monday, February 16, 2009

Adventures in Toy Land

Ok, so I promised pics of the softies that I made and here they are. Sorry they are blurry - I'm a totally crap photographer. I got the patterns for these toys from More Softies.

These pocket gnomes aren't really like the one in the book - I just couldn't get the face right. They were designed by Ellen Box (Bonspiel) and hers are super cute. I gave up on the eyes in the end and just bought buttons. Mustaches were also required - they do have mouths but I like the lumberjack look and made them super hairy. The littlest one - my favourite - is made at the size published in the book (I didn't enlarge it) and the big one is made to Ellen Box's measurements. I forgot to check the direction of their hats though so they don't match up. The yellow fabric is a stretch knit that I scavenged from the Bulimba Belles giveaway table so I can enter them into the Challenge competition this month. That same yellow fabric has also been used to make a bumble bee. However, I am stooopid and I put the bee stripes the wrong way on it and it looks like a yellow submarine with little wings (according to my Sam). This is what happens when I try to get creative and make something without a pattern. There will be pictures once the shame dies down enough for me to post them.


This little elephant is Olga from the same book. Olga is TINY and I couldn't sew her gusset in properly. There was much swearing while I tried (multiple times) to turn out the trunk too. It was worth the frustration though - I think she's sweet. I made her using Dick & Jane fabric. I've previously used this fabric as lining in a satchel for Hilary to run around Camden Market with when she reaches London.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Adventures in Toy Land

I spent some quality time with my sewing machine last night trying to make some softies. Not too successfully I may add. Gussets are just so damn hard to sew in! The smaller the toy, the harder it gets. My giant hands don't help either.

Will post pix once they're finished. I need to go buy some eyes and some fur...