Thanks to Jade for the link to Jennifer Thurston’s cute and cuddly knitted dinosaurs:
{image credit: Jennifer Thurston}
Each dinosaur only requires 1 ball of yarn. Instructions are in downloadable pdf format.
Get it here: Knitted Dinosaur Softies by X-treme Knitting
Make a Comment ( 1 so far )This little gal reminds me a lot of those big, bright-eyed and mischievous (but very funny) cartoons they show on Nickelodeon:
{image credit: Missy Ballance}
Another great Beginner’s project from Missy Ballance. Both instructions and template are in pdf format.
Get the free pattern here: Silly Girl Softie by Crafty Carnival
Make a Comment ( 1 so far )Another Softie Extraordinaire, Teresa of Sewing Stars, has a free pattern for these cute “rodents”:
{image credit: Sewing Stars}
Admittedly, I am not a fan of mice (actually, they freak me out) but these guys are just too sweet, especially when made up in those pastel shades that remind me of ice cream 
Teresa provides the pattern and tutorial in pdf format and the instructions sheet is wonderfully illustrated.
Link: Mouse Softie by Sewing Stars
Make a Comment ( 2 so far )Awww, shucks. How adorable is this little fellow with his spotty belly?
{image credit: Quirky Critters}
Quirky Critters has posted up a free pattern and tutorial on how to make this bear on Plush Parade. The pattern is in jpg format and can be easily enlarged as required. There are just 3 template pieces to cut out making him a great beginner project.
Details here: Plushie Bear Softie by Quirky Critters
Make a Comment ( None so far )Following on from the previous post on making a Steiner doll, Simmy has posted up a step-by-step guide on how to make a larger Waldorf doll using stockinette:
{image credit: Simmy}
Browse through Simmy’s site and you will see that she makes beautiful Waldorf dolls (amongst other things). In her post, she also provides excellent pictures to illustrate each step and provides some recommended resources on making the hair. She offers to send you her pattern if you do not have one of your own (although again, like the Steiner doll, it would be easy to draw up the pattern of the body yourself).
Click here: Basic Instructions for Making a Waldorf Doll by Simmy
Make a Comment ( 2 so far )Ever wondered how to make a Steiner doll (also known as a Waldorf Doll)? Yes? Then you really must drop in on Sooz’s fantastic free tutorial!
{image credit: Sooz}
The project requires the basic softie making materials plus very good quality felt and interlock (t-shirt material) in a flesh colour (or a white t-shirt dyed with tea). Sooz provides a sample template but really, you could create your own templates freehand as the shape of these dolls is quite simple and unfussy. The steps and accompanying pictures provide excellent detail and Sooz also guides you through how attach hair.
If you’re looking for more Steiner doll inspiration, visit the Steiner Dolls Flickr Group spawned by Sooz’s pattern.
Find the tutorial here: How to Make a Steiner Doll by Sooz
Make a Comment ( 3 so far )Thanks to Fawn Pea for sending through the links to two endearing and completely soft and huggable, free knit softie patterns on her website: Cris the Star-nosed Mole and George the Octopus {image credit: both Fawn Pea}
Both of these softies are knitted and then felted. Instructions are very clear and easy to follow, and there are some great tips along the way also.
So if you are knitter, check these out links:
- Knitted and Felted Star-nosed Mole Softie by Fawn Pea
- Knitted and Felted Octopus Softie by Fawn Pea
Seriously, this must be the biggest collection of doll-making techniques by one person on the internet: Mimi’s Doll Making Techniques
The author, Mimi, is clearly a very experienced doll-maker and it is very generous of her to collate and share all of these fantastic tips on making dolls. You can easily spend an hour or so reading through the content. Topics are arranged alphabetically. Though the focus in on doll making, I believe the following are just a few of the topics that you can apply to softie-making in general:
> Stuffing Technique: Excerpt - “Think of it this way: if you put a bunch of tennis balls into a sock, you’d have a lumpy sock. But if you cut the tennis balls in half and then stacked them inside one another, the surface would be smooth and strong.”
> Fabric: Includes finding the right side of knit fabrics, determining the stretch, avoiding distortion and precision sewing
> Glossary: Comprehensive list of relevant terms you may come across when making dolls/softies
Make a Comment ( None so far )Thanks to Heather for the link to this very helpful tutorial on making sock monkeys. If you have wanted to make a sock monkey but just can’t seem to get your head around how to actually construct a monkey out of a pair of socks (I admit, it puzzled me for a long while before it finally clicked), you will want to read this tutorial:
{image credit: Urban Threads}
Every step is very detailed and well explained, and the accompanying pictures are excellent in terms of providing the necessary guidance (especially if you are visual person). The little guy even has a really cute “tattoo” on his chest:-)
Follow this link: Sock Monkey by Urban Threads
Make a Comment ( None so far )More from Ku - a 2D elephant softie that can be enlarged and made into an elephant pillow (and in the original size, I think it would make a really cute brooch!), and a 4-panel Alpaca. Both are very easy to put together and can be entirely hand-sewn {image credit for both: Shishi Girl}:
And here’s what Ku writes about the 4-panel construction: “Two side panels with the proper outline, a belly + inside limbs panel to divide the bottom half into four legs, and a top of the head + inside ears panel to give the head some width and make two ears. Almost any four-legged creature can be made into a simple softie using this approach.” Great tip!
Links:
> Elefante softie by Shishi Girl
> Alpaca softie by Shishi Girl
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