Here is a quick, easy, and super cute project:
{image credit: Coloured Buttons}
I imagine that you could make a whole bunch of these with different fabrics, yarns, coloured felts for a birthday party, a classroom, etc. Children will also be thrilled creating one these cuties with your guidance and supervision.
Find it here: Baby in a Pouch by Coloured Buttons
Make a Comment ( None so far )Apologies for another unexpected break - life got crazy busy with an little softie exhibition I was working on. But I’m back and ready to post up lots of wonderful (and free) softie patterns for you, and just in time for the gift-giving season!
First post for today is this sweet Gulla’alla (Koala) and baby by Coloured Buttons:
{image credit: Coloured Buttons}
This would make for a great Beginner’s project. The shape is easy and simple to work with and the construction is straight-forward.
You’ll find the template and the instructions here: Gulla’alla (Koala) by Coloured Buttons
Make a Comment ( None so far )Thank you to Linda for letting me know about some easy to make softies on her website, Pane Amore Creativita.
She has provided tutorials on how to make a felt cube softie, a felt bear softie, and felt finger puppets:
{image credit: Pane Amore Creativita}
The tutorials are in Italian but you can transalate them into English using one of the translation buttons on her website. Also, these projects are quite easy to follow without the transalation and can be purely hand-sewn.
Find them here:
1. Felt softie cubes by Pane Amore Creativita
2. Felt teddy bear by Pane Amore Creativita
3. Felt finger puppets by Pane Amore Creativita
There is no doubt that babies love to squeeze and cuddle things that will make a noise in response (and yes, some grown-ups like this too!). Susan Beal from CraftStylish shows you how you can turn a few empty plastic wrappers, felt, and thread in to a crinkly toy for your little bub (or um, grown-up friend):
{image credit: Susan Beal}
This is really easy to put together and I like the fact there is a little bit of recycling thrown in as well 
You could insert add a bell or squeaker instead of the plastic wrapper. And if you are not in to owls, then you could pretty much draw up whatever you wanted and turn that into a crinkly toy!
Find it here: How to Make a Felt Baby Toy with a Crinkly, Crackly Recycled Surprise by Susan Beal
Make a Comment ( 2 so far )Here’s a quick and easy, cute elephant softie to whip up on a quiet afternoon:
{image credit: Quilttaffy}
Instructions and pictures are very clear and super easy to follow and Quilttaffy suggests that you can also insert a little squeaker into the softie. Template is downloable in PDF format.
It’s over here! Animal Friend Tutorial by Quilttaffy
Make a Comment ( None so far )I recently received an email from Karyn regarding rattles, bells, and squeakers for handmade infant softies. Her question was more about suppliers and in my limited experience, it has been rather hit and miss. I have found rattles and bells at my local Spotlight but no squeakers. If you have any recommendations for suppliers (online or in your local area) of rattles, bells and squeakers that you can insert into soft toys, please do leave them in the comments!
Her email did trigger a related subject in my mind and that is: what is the best method of inserting rattles and bells into soft toys? This is especially important when making softies for infants but safety is key no matter what age the recipient is.
I found this excellent method on Origami Snail’s website for rattles/bells. She uses either a bell or some beads, fishing wire, and a small plastic egg-shaped container.
{image credit: Origami Snail}
She writes:
“To make the rattle you will need a small light hollow plastic container that can be separated into halves (I used the toy container from a Kinder Egg although I am sure that you could get some kind of purpose made thing), a bell or some beads (I re-purposed a few links from a jingly anklet I had around), 8 inches of strong gauge fishing line, and a needle.
Take your bell or beads or what ever and string them on the fishing line such that they hang in the middle of the length. You will have two lengths of line either side.
Poke two holes at the top of one half of your container. Thread each length of line through a hole from the inside and tie a tight knot on the outside of the container so that your beads or whatever hang down.
Make sure that when they hang down on the inside that they have room to move and won’t touch the other end of your container when you put it back together. If they do then it won’t make as nice a noise, especially if you use a bell.
Put the container back together and your rattle is done.”
I would add that the final step is to tape around the plastic container to ensure that it stays shut.
By the way, she also has a free pattern for a very cute amigurumi bunny baby rattle, which incorporates the rattle described above, available here.
If you’ve got any tips on inserting rattles, bells and squeakers, please feel free to leave those in the comments too.
Make a Comment ( 9 so far )As the title states, here’s an easy softie ball made of just 12 pieces:
{image credit: Shishi Girl}
The free pattern is provided by Shishi Girl in a pdf format, ready to download. There are also extra tips on assembling the ball that are on her blog post accompanying the pattern.
This would make a really cute baby gift - insert a small bell or rattle inside before sewing it closed.
Find it here: Easy Softie Ball by Shishi Girl
Make a Comment ( 1 so far )
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