Craftside

Fleece hedgehog pattern and tutorial from the book Wild and Wonderful Fleece Animals

I predict that hedgehogs are the next hottest trend! Why? Because I am seeing them everywhere and I love them. I did a post about hedgehog cookies here, a felted hedgehog here, a clay pot hedgehog here and I have been seeing them all over! If you want to jump in on the hedgehog bandwagon, here is a great pattern and tutorial from the super cute book Wild and Wonderful Fleece Animals: With Full-Size Patterns for 20 Cuddly Critters.

Click on these great pages from Wild and Wonderful Fleece Animals: With Full-Size Patterns for 20 Cuddly Critters to enlarge and read the tutorial on how to sew a fleece hedgehog.

Here are the hedgehog patterns:

 

More about the book and patterns:

 

Wild and Wonderful Fleece Animals:

With Full-Size Patterns for 20 Cuddly Critters

by

Linda Carr

Fleece is soft, warm, easy to work with, and simple to sew-requiring no lining or edge-finishing. Even brand-new sewers can make the perfect gift in a weekend, or less!

New in paperback, this book provides easy step-by-step instruction to make a range of cuddly fleece creatures to keep or give away-in a variety of colors, textures, and patterns. Each of the 20 animals is featured in a full-size photograph, along with a variation in one or more colors or sizes. There are easy-to-follow line drawings and step-by-step text instruction for construction and assembly of each one. Linda Carr adds her own creative touches to each of the simple shapes-decorative trims, bright appliques, and quick, secure closures. Full-size tissue patterns and templates are included for each of the projects. Fleece fabric is easy to find, and the selection of colors, patterns, and textures is increasing in stores like Jo-Ann and Hancock Fabrics.

Linda Carr designs toys, dolls, and kids' and doll clothing for Vogue patterns. She has worked with Vogue to create many licensed patterns, including Jim Henson's Muppets, Cabbage Patch Kids, World Wildlife Federation toys, and the Madame Alexander series. Linda was featured in the February 2007 issue of Vogue Patterns. She is also the author of Classic Cloth Dolls: Beautiful Fabric Dolls and Clothes from the Vogue Patterns Collection.

And one last inside peek: I did a flower from Wild and Wonderful Fleece Animals and posted the flower pattern here.

Sew a heart on a softie from the book Palm-Size Softies

Giggle time! Jane Doe Amineko gave Rorschach a heart "tattoo". If you follow this blog you have seen all the "kids" as we call all our Aminekos (crocheted cats). I was flipping through Palm-Size Softies and Tattoo Bible - Book 2 and got the idea that Roy should get "inked," only the needle used was for sewing and his material was felt and some embroidery floss.

Roy is really happy with Jane's work. Any suggestions for more? I also had the idea that this would be a great idea for fixing a worn spot or rip in a loved softie.

If you like these little Goat Groupies that were my inspiration and want the full pattern and lots more, grab yourself a copy of:

Palm-Size Softies:

Patterns and Ideas for 44 Stuffed Pets and Dolls That Fit in the Palm of Your Hand

By

by Hitomi Takahashi, Mikiko Matsui, Akemi Tsubo

Packed with more than 40 unique, adorable projects, Palm-Size Softies shows you how easy it is to create some of the most stylish stuffed toys around. Full-color images provide a panoramic view of each critter, and the step-by-step instructions and included templates will make construction of your new friends effortless and quick. Whether you’re searching for a loveable little pup, kitten, bunny, or bear, you’ll find a fun, fast, low-cost craft project that the whole family will enjoy. Easy-to-find materials and distinctive fabrics will give your projects personalities all their own.

Hitomi Takahashi is the Chief-Editor at Boutique-Sha, a leading craft publisher in Japan. Hitomi has published books on a variety of craft subjects. Mikiko Matsui and Akemi Tsubo are staff editors at Boutique-Sha. They are big fans of small and cute sewn creatures.

And if you like tattoo art then you will love:

Tattoo Bible - Book 2

by

Superior Tattoo

Based on the success of Tattoo Bible - Book One, ArtKulture and Superior Tattoo bring to market Tattoo Bible - Book Two, another unique and colorful collection of flash art. Everything is here, from Skulls to Tribal, from Americana to the avant-garde.  Tattoo Bible - Book Two, covers different styles and an endless supply of ideas. The images are represented in a range of physical sizes, some are printed two or four per page, the more intricate designs are reproduced one per page. The categories include Hearts, Dragons, Roses, Skulls, Butterflies, Girls, Crosses, Celestial, Tribal, Back Pieces, and Nautical.

Superior Tattoo is one of the best-known and well-respected suppliers of tattoo equipment to tattoo shops all over the world. From tattoo machines to a vast array of colored inks, Superior Tattoo can supply everything a necessary for the creation of today’s bright, colorful tattoos.  Their unique position as a leader in the tattoo industry makes Superior Tattoo the ideal author for a book of high quality flash art.

How to make a retro fawn softie from the new book Palm-Size Softies

Is this little fawn cute or what? I knew instantly when I started flipping through

Palm-Size Softies:

Patterns and Ideas for 44 Stuffed Pets and Dolls That Fit in the Palm of Your Hand

this was going to be the first softie I was going to sew.

The patterns and directions to make this retro fawn softie were so easy to work with and follow.

First I made a copy of the patterns from Palm-Size Softies.

Then I cut all the pieces out of fabric.

All that was left to do was follow the sewing and assembly instructions (see below).

 

Want to make one yourself? Just click on the retro fawn and pony patterns and get sewing!

  Assembly instructions:

Accessorize your softie with faux fur and a pom pom nose.

 

If you like this cute softie (or plushie) project and want more awesome designs and patterns, grab a copy of:

 

Palm-Size Softies:

Patterns and Ideas for 44 Stuffed Pets and Dolls That Fit in the Palm of Your Hand

by Hitomi Takahashi, Mikiko Matsui, Akemi Tsubo

Packed with more than 40 unique, adorable projects,Palm-Size Softies shows you how easy it is to create some of the most stylish stuffed toys around. Full-color images provide a panoramic view of each critter, and the step-by-step instructions and included templates will make construction of your new friends effortless and quick. Whether you’re searching for a loveable little pup, kitten, bunny, or bear, you’ll find a fun, fast, low-cost craft project that the whole family will enjoy. Easy-to-find materials and distinctive fabrics will give your projects personalities all their own.

Hitomi Takahashi, is the Chief-Editor at Boutique-Sha, a leading craft publisher in Japan. Hitomi has published books on a variety of craft subjects. Mikiko Matsui and Akemi Tsubo are staff editors at Boutique-Sha. They are big fans of small and cute sewn creatures.