How to make a pony

I was reading Crafty Creatures by Jane Bull, and came across this super cute pony. I decided to make it and it was surprisingly easy, and I received lots of positive feedback.

Difficulty Rating: Easy-Medium

Time: 2-3 hours approx hand sewn

What you need:

- Sewing tool box ( includes tapestry needle, black embroidery floss, 2 buttons )

- Lots of wool/yarn

- Scraps of felt

- Thread that matches your fabric

- Thread that matches your pony's ears
- Thread that matches your pony's tail and mane
- Fabric of your choice
- Matching felt scrap
- Template ( shown below )
- Lots of longs strands of wool
- Stuffing

How to make the body

1. Trace the template below and pin onto your fabric. Cut.
2. Turn both your pony shapes to the wrong side of the fabric. Pin together.
3. Sew a back stitch around the edge. Leave a gap for stuffing.
4. At the neck of the pony, snip 3 small triangles from the edge of the fabric to the seam. This will help shape the pony. Make sure your triangles do not interfere with your stitches.
5. Turn your pony right side out.
6. Stuff through the gap. Stitch it closed with a slip stitch.

How to make the tail and attach it

1. Get about 20 long strands of wool and tie in a knot at the top. If you wish, you can do less strands.
2. Cut the tail to the length you are satisfied with.
3. Place the knotted end of the tail onto the body at the rear end [ see template below ] .
4. Sew onto the body with a tapestry needle [ optional ] with strong stitches from the base of the knot to the body.
5. Tug to make sure it is sturdy. If not, repeat step 4.

How to make the mane and attach it

1. Get a strand of wool and tie a knot at the top. Tie another knot in the same place.
2. Sew the strand onto the beginning of the mane with matching thread. Use strong stitches from the base of the knot to the body.
3. Repeat step for all of mane. Place each strand next to each other until you reach your satisfied point.
4. Cut the length to your satisfaction.

How to do the finishing touches

1. Cut out the ears.
2. Position the ears in place at the top of the head.
3. Sew a small over stitch that attaches the ear to the body. Make sure it is strong and that the thread matches the ears.
4. Repeat step with other ear.
5. Sew the eye onto the correct position on the face with black embroidery floss.
6. Repeat with other eye.

You are finished!

Template:

Increase size by a few centimeters.

Crafty Creatures by Jane Bull

Crafty Creatures by Jane Bull is a great sewing book  for kids. Jane Bull has thought of many fun projects such as;

- How to make a Pony                                          

- How to make a Giraffe                                              
- How to make an Elephant

And more projects that I will write about soon.

I recommend you buy this book, it is a must-have in a sewing book collection.
   

How to make a Lucy's Monster

This little monster is so cute and great for kids. It has a soft body [ made out of polar fleece ] and an adorable expression. A Lucy's Monster is simple to make and is a must have in your toy collection.

Difficulty rating: Easy
Time: 2-2 and a half hours hand sewn approximately.

What you need:

- Template
- Sewing tool box [ includes 2 large black buttons, black embroidery floss, and red thread ]
- Stuffing
- Polar fleece [ colour of your choice ]
- White felt for the eyes

How to make the face

1. Cut out the template below and pin onto the polar fleece. Cut the fabric.
2. Attach the eyes to the head with a blanket stitch, using the black embroidery floss.
3. Position the buttons onto the center of each eye and sew down with the black embroidery floss.
4. Sew a stitch for the mouth with the black embroidery floss. Try to make it into a small dot.

How to make the body

1. Turn the body right side out so the face  is facing down.
2. Pin the body together.
3. Sew a back stitch around the body with a seam allowance of half a centimeter. Start just below one of the arms and finish at the top of the leg, so you have a gap of a few centimeters.
4. Turn the body inside out.
5. Stuff the body. Make sure you stuff the body tightly, especially the arms and legs.
6. Stitch the gap closed with a slip stitch of hemming stitch.

Your Lucy's Monster is finished!

Template: Shown below

140% may be a size to big for your Lucy's Monster so you might want to only increase the size by 60% or so.

How to make a Polar Bear Feltie

This polar bear is so cute! Felties are really easy to make and can be made into brooches, key rings, or just little toys.


Difficulty: Easy
Time: 1 and a half hours approximately                      
                                                                             
What you need:

- White felt
- Black embroidery floss
- Pink pencil
- Black pencil
- White embroidery floss
- Template [ shown below ]
- A small amount of stuffing
- Sewing tool box

How to make the face:

1. Trace the template below and pin onto felt. Cut.
2. Separate the black embroidery floss into strands of 3.
3. Using 3 strands, sew the polar bear's eyes on with a french knot onto the face/head. If you can not do this stitch, sew a small dot and go over it a few times to make it thick. Make sure each eye is close to the edge of the face.
4. Add some eyelashes by doing a straight stitch on top of the eye.
5. Repeat step for other eye.
6. With 3 strands of black embroidery thread, sew a nose by doing a straight stitch. Repeat step but with each stitch getting smaller than the other.
7. Add a mouth by sewing 2 straight stitches that are slightly curved.

How to make the ears:

1. Sew the ears onto the face with a straight stitch.

How to make the head:

1.Align both head pieces together.
2. Using 2 strands of white embroidery floss, sew a small over stitch or blanket stitch over the 2 head pieces. Leave room at the bottom for the width of the body.
3. Stuff carefully with tiny pieces of stuffing.

How to make the body:

1. Attach the arms to the back of the body, with 1 strand of white embroidery floss.
2. Sew the pouch on to the front of the body with 1 strand of embroidery floss. Make sure the thread goes through both layers of felt.
3. Stick your finger in the pouch to make space for the baby.
4. Align both body pieces and sew with a blanket stitch or over stitch. Do not sew the top of the body.
5. Carefully stuff the body through the top of the head.

How to attach the body to the head:

1. Insert the top of the body into the gap of the head. Pin in place.
2. Use a small over stitch to attach the body to the head, going through the front of the head and the front of the body.
3. Repeat step on opposite side, going through the back of the head and the back of the body.

How to make the baby:

1. Sew on the baby's eyes and mouth with 3 strands of black embroidery thread. Create a french knot for the eyes and a tiny X for the mouth.
2. Sew around the baby's body with 1 strand of white embroidery floss.
3. Place him/her into the pouch.

Finishing touches:

1. Add some cheek colour by gently using the pink pencil onto the polar bear's cheeks.
2. Add some claws with the black pencil onto the arms.
3. Colour in the most of the polar bear's ears.

Your Polar Bear is now finished!

You can make your feltie in a brooch, by attaching a safety pin or brooch back.

Or you can make it into a key ring, by leaving a gap at the top of the head, threading a key ring through some strong ribbon, folding the ribbon in half and inserting it into the gap at the top of the head. Stitch the gap closed with an over stitch or blanket stitch.

Template [ sizes are roughly to scale ]

You may want to increase the sizing by a few milimeters or to your satisfaction ]

How to do Blanket Stitch

Blanket stitch is so confusing to put in words, so to make it easier, here is a video below.

Some things to know about Blanket Stitch:

- It is a decorative stitch
- It can be done in different ways
- Blanket stitch is best done using embroidery thread