Make Your Own Toys with Sue Havens
Great video by artist Sue Havens on how to make a simple, patchwork bear (and I love her nails!):
Make a Comment ( 2 so far )Tips-n-Tricks
Tip: Choosing Eyes for your Softie
I enjoyed this recent blog post by Larissa of mmmcrafts because it highlights an important little part of softie-making that can be easily overlooked:
{image credit: mmmcrafts}
Choosing eyes for your softie creation! Have a look through the different options Larissa provides and you’ll see that each choice alters the overall personality and expression of the bunny. For the most part, you could try different kinds of eyes after the softie has been sewn up and stuffed - the only exception is when using the plastic safety eyes as these need to be inserted before these steps.
Just a tip to try out on your next softie!
Details here: Ideas for Bunny Eyes by mmmcrafts
Make a Comment ( 2 so far )Super Simple Way to Create a Cute Face for Your Doll by Ellen Lumpkin Brown
Ellen Lumpkin Brown is an extremely talented doll-maker. Not only does she create an amazing range of dolls of different ethnicities, she also makes their outfits, and hand draws/paints on their faces.
{image credit: Burdastyle/Ellen Lumpkin Brown}
In this guest article on the Burdastyle blog, she provides an insight into how she goes about creating her doll faces.
Find it here: Super Simple Way to Create a Cute Face for Your Doll by Ellen Lumpkin Brown (on Burdastyle)
Ellen has also published a book - “Doll Fashionistas” - that provides step-by-step instructions on how to make her dolls including excellent tips on stuffing, materials, and construction. The book also provides further detail on creating the doll face and how-to’s on an excellent range of doll outfits.
You can find her book in the Softie-Making bookshop: “Doll Fashionistas” by Ellen Lumpkin Brown
Make a Comment ( None so far )Softie Stuffing Tips by Melly & Me
Melly & Me have returned with their Tips and Tricks series for 2010. Their first post addresses a very good topic in the realm of softie making - stuffing!!
{image credit: Melly & Me}
And I can vouch especially for their suggestion to use a paintbrush for stuffing. I have been using an old paintbrush for years and it has proven by far to be more effective that traditional specifically-made-for-stuffing tools (that’s my humble opinion, but please try it out for yourself).
Read more here: Tips & Tricks: Stuffing by Melly & Me
Make a Comment ( None so far )Time-Lapse Video: Sewing an Antlered Monster Plush by Love and Sandwich
And we’re back!! No excuses for the prolonged absence. Let’s just get stuck back into it!
Check out this excellent time-lapse video on the process of making a plush toy by Love and Sandwich. Nothing solves the mystery of bringing a plush toy to life like seeing it in action. Enjoy!
Turning Small (Softie) Parts by Melly and Me
Melly & Me have started a fantastic little series on their blog called “Tips & Tricks Tuesday“.
Their first tip/trick addresses one common softie-making question: “How do you sew and turn out those small softie parts?“. This includes parts like ears, little arms or legs, feet, horns, etc. that are easy enough to sew up but can drive one to instant insanity when it comes to turning them right-side out.
Melly provides a very clear tutorial accompanied by excellent pics.
{image credit: Melly & Me}
Find it here: Tips & Tricks Tuesday: Turning Small Parts by Melly and Me
Make a Comment ( None so far )Forest Friend Stuffies by Rice Babies
Rice Babies provides a great tip on how to use animal silhouettes to make forest-themed stuffies/softies from felt. She used these as giveaways for her child’s birthday party:
{image credit: Rice Babies}
Find it here: Forest Friend Stuffies by Rice Babies
Found via Whip Up
Make a Comment ( None so far )How to Make Doll’s Hair by Tantehilde
Tantehilde makes extremely cute rag dolls. She shares a very helpful and clear tutorial on how to make a doll’s wig from knitting yarn, and how to attach it to a doll’s head to get this kind of hair style:
{image credit: Tantehilde}
Find the tutorial here: How to Make Doll’s Hair by Tantehilde
Make a Comment ( 3 so far )Tutorials: Doll’s Wig & Shoes by Zippypops
Elise of Zippypops recently contacted me to let me know that she had some tutorials up on her blog. Elise is a very talented doll-maker and you can view and purchase her beautiful creations from her shop.
In this tutorial she shares how to make a doll’s wig using synthetic hair (purchased from a craft shop or costume store) and how to attach it securely to a doll’s head creating this two-bun hair-do:
{image credit: Zippypops}
Find the tutorial here: How to make and attach a doll’s wig by Zippypops
Elise also shares how you can make these basic doll shoes, which you can then embellish to your heart’s content or keep sweet and simple:
{image credit: Zippypops}
Find the tutorial here: How to make basic doll shoes by Zippypops
Both tutorials are very clearly written with excellent pictures for each step.
Make a Comment ( 5 so far )Amigurumi Lessons by Roxycraft
The fabulous Tamie Snow of Roxycraft has put together a few videos on amigurumi techniques.
Here is a video she has done on Amigurumi Single Crochet:
Find more of her helpful and wonderfully put-together amigurumi demos, tutorials, and videos over here: Amigurumi Lessons by Roxycraft
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