Sewing Simple Softies With 17 Amazing Designers

This book brings together 17 Sew a Softie designers from around the world. Each designer has come up with a delightful new hand-sewn project to inspire moms, dads, kids, grandparents, and teachers of all kinds. No expensive machines are required, and each project uses stitches and techniques that can easily be mastered by first-time sewers. Get together with kids and enjoy time together sewing a wide range of softies, including a Taco, a Painted Flower, a Tooth Tiger, Bluey Koala, a Toucan, Seashells, Lucky Spiders, and many more. Sew a Softie is a worldwide community that works to teach a whole new generation to sew, and to transmit a love of sewing and an appreciation of its enormous potential to nurture creativity, independence, and a sense of community in our children. Sew a Softie events have inspired thousands of people, especially young children, to begin sewing.

Softies--simple cloth characters to sew with basic tools--are popular worldwide for good reason: easy, fun designs give the successful results that inspire a new generation of kids to sew. This guide to the zenki way, from the founder of Sew a Softie, helps parents, teachers, community organizations, and kids make a good thing even better! Using the zenki method, everyone can create huggable softies--and more importantly, design their own. The zenki secret? Two squares of felt, only four straight lines to sew, and a key design feature: wide seam allowances, allowing arms, legs, wings, hair, and more to be cut from the border (no inserting or pinning). Try it with these 14 different zenki characters to make, brimming with quirky personality and ready for your own touch. Each project builds designing know-how and has clear photo-by-photo instructions. Learn the zenki way to become an unstoppable softie designer, and a lifelong sewing lover.

The founder of Miss Daisy Patterns has crafted “a great book if you want to get into the world of making animal dolls and wardrobes of clothes for them (Blackberry Garden). Learn how to make Daisy Dog, her best friends Rosie Rabbit, the twins Betty and Ben Bear and Daisy’s beret wearing puppy, Mimi. Each character has their own complete wardrobe for all of their adventures together, from playing dress up to long summer picnics, sleepovers and weekend walks. Sewing Animal Dolls features easy to follow step-by-step instructions with full-size sewing patterns for all of the characters, clothes and accessories. “This beautiful collection of handmade dolls is sure to be cherished for years to come!” —Handmade by Deb “This book is such an adorable, inspirational guide on sewing some cute friends! They are very well put together with patterns to allow the reader to sew up the same animal as seen on the cover and through the book.” —Inspired2Craft “Not only are the dolls great to make for yourself they also make wonderful gifts.” —Blackberry Garden

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.

Crafty hipsters who are looking for something a little different from other sewing books with a retro-flair will love Sewlicious. Kate Haxell has created 35 stitched and highly original projects for your house, for festivals and glamping, to wear, and for crafting. Chapter 1, At Home I Have..., includes a patchwork quilt with a pattern based on the Fibonacci sequence, or you can explore alternative embroidery with the skull picture. In chapter 2, Under Canvas I Love..., find your tent with a homemade patchwork flag and keep your stuff in a handy purse belt, waterproof tablet case, and yo-yo decorated storage pouch. Chapter 3, Today I’m Wearing... shows you how to make the perfect pretty-and-practical apron, as well as an embellished collar to liven up plain tops and a patchwork coat for your pooch. Finally, in chapter 4, I Like to Make..., discover a knitter’s bucket bag, needle roll, pincushion, and more. Stylish artworks alongside this eccentric collection of makes will inspire you to pick up a needle and thread and create something that’s both individual and beautiful.

Unleash Your Inner Crazy Craft Lady! Here a cat there a cat, everywhere a crafted cat! Cats to decorate your home, to wear, or to give to someone you love. The Cat Lover's Craft Book is dedicated to those who craft and those who are in love with all things cat-related! Whether you like to embroider, crochet, sew, knit or felt, there's a cat-tastic project inside this charming book you'll want to try your hand at, including: Turn your umbrella handle into a furry cat's tail Sew and embroider a personalized cat book cover Make a lovely hand embroidered brooch or earrings Make a cute cat door stop using a bottle and fabric Make cuddly cat pouches, purses and bags Knit, crochet or sew a charming cat-shaped pillow Sew a chic cat badge or button cover using cross-stitched fabric Sew an adorable cat doll and dress her up And so much more! Super simple, step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and templates make these adorable cat crafts accessible to knitting, felting and embroidery beginners. These purr-fect needlework crafts will delight cat lovers of all ages, and provide many hours of fun creating cute and kitschy cat-inspired items--the perfect handmade gifts with lots of purr-sonality.

Kindle the imagination with these loveable handmade fabric toys! Inspired by vintage 1940s patterns, projects include dolls, softies, pillows, puppets, and little girl’s handbag. Learn toy-making tips to give your creation personal style and a sweet disposition. Author Jill Hamor gives ideas for involving children in the process to teach them basic sewing skills. Customize any project to fit your skill level and time commitment, and have fun making outfits for your dolly from your favorite fabrics, scraps, or even upcycled bits from old clothes. Share the love of handmade with your whole family…the young and the young at heart!

Sew super-cute rag dolls and their gorgeous clothes—perfect for personalized presents! Start with one basic doll sewing pattern—which you can then alter to personalize your doll’s coloring and hairstyle. Then choose from a range of fabulous themed outfits and accessories to complete your uniquely charming doll—including a ballerina doll, a bride doll, a bedtime doll, and a fairy doll. All instructions are suitable for intermediate to experienced sewers and include full-sized templates for the doll, clothes, and accessories.

Colour illustrated craftbook which provides step-by-step illustrations and instructions for creating soft toys including traditional rag dolls, teddy bears and numerous other animal toys. Photographs of all finished toys provided together with ideas and patterns for clothes, hair and faces, plus templates for ears, tails, beaks and feet. Includes an index. One in the 'Sew Fast Sew Easy' series.

Shizuko Kuroha's Japanese Patchwork Quilting Patterns infuses a cherished American craft with an exquisite Japanese sense of color, detail, and design. This book brings a fresh eye to classic patchwork patterns in a way that is delighting quilters all around the world today. Here, Kuroha shares her intricate hand-quilting techniques and a design sense that has been refined over her 40-year career as a celebrated book author and teacher. Her easy combinations of soft colors, detailed patterns, and bold stripes show how to achieve balance and flow in any type of patchwork project--from the simplest to the most complex. Step-by-step illustrations walk quilters through Kuroha's intricate hand-piecework process. The book includes 19 sampler blocks used to make hundreds of different combinations for all kinds of quilting projects. The photos and diagrams of the block assembly are so clear, you hardly need to read the steps! A handy printable pattern sheet at the back of the book takes the labor out of drawing the pieces used to build these blocks. Detailed instructions show you how to incorporate the blocks into projects large and small, including: Pincushions in round and square designs Drawstring bags and zippered pouches embellished with patchwork Quilted tote bags and a stylish backpack Table runners and wall hangings with gorgeous color schemes Full-sized quilts destined to become cherished heirlooms This book is an invaluable introduction to the basics of hand-stitched piecework. Practiced quilters will also love it for the way it broadens their horizons. Kuroha fans will be happy to see this popular book finally available in English--where it's sure to become a treasured reference for years to come!