Project Seven: Felt Toy Car

I wanted to make a toy car for my nephew for his first birthday, but I couldn't find any good patterns online.  This is the first prototype of my own design, which I will keep improving each time I make it.

I wasn't sure how 'realistic' to make it, as a lot of the patterns were quite stylised and looked...odd.

I think the next prototype will have some detail of the car doors, will be wider, and the wheels larger.

But I think the proportions of this are cute in their own way!

I would also like to try making them out of fabric, particularly a stiffer fabric like denim or canvas, as they'll hold their shape better and reduce the 'puffy' look that this one has.

I will also try using a fabric other than felt for the number plate, or I'll reinforce it with fusible interfacing - as it was very difficult (as you can see) to keep the stitching straight and uniform!

However, I'm really quite happy with the car, just nit-picking! And I'll upload some new photos once I've done another prototype. Once I'm happy with it I'll make the pattern available - its a really easy project that requires minimal fabric and machine stitching. We need more boy patterns!

Project Six: Toy Hen & Chicks

Pattern: Melly & Me "Clucky"

Clucky was a really fun pattern to make. Selecting the fabrics was probably the best part! With so many little pieces and little fiddly sewing, turning and stuffing steps, its not for the faint-hearted - but looks so great, it was worth the time spent.

As suggested in the pattern, I used the adaption for children under three, which involved stitching the eyes and wings rather than using buttons and beads.

Although its a big project, I would definitely make this again - I think it makes a great gift, and is an excellent way to put your scrap fabric collection to good use!

Next time I might tone down one or two of the funky fabrics so that they're not all competing for attention as much. Particularly the chick's bodies, as the fabrics I used made the shape of the body difficult to discern and the eyes difficult to see on some.

Materials & Equipment required: 5 fabrics (although I used 8), fusible interfacing, toy stuffing, turning and stuffing tools, black embroidery thread, white and orange felt. Template plastic or heavy cardboard for base. Sewing machine as well as needles and thread for hand sewing. Threads to match all 5 fabrics. Also, for children over 3: 10 buttons, 8 seed beads.

Project Five: Nappy Bag

This is my favourite thing I've made so far, mainly because its something I use every day. Its a very practical bag, with customizable pockets on the inside for all the things that I want to carry around.

The fabric is a heavy weight cotton, and I've used thick wadded interfacing on the exterior panels.

The pattern directions were quite difficult to follow, and the bag also uses a deceptively large amount of fabric (around 5 meters of the exterior and lining fabric, plus interfacings etc). So unless your fabric of choice is reasonably priced it can be quite expensive to make.

Pattern: http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/products/patterns_display.php?id=16

However, that being said, I love the bag. Its easy to carry and also fits perfectly over the handle bars of the pram. I look forward to seeing my husband out and about with it over his shoulder when he has our daughter! Just kidding, I'm going to have to make a daddy diaper bag for him that is a little more manly.

Same bag in a blue colourway

Project Four: Cloth Shoes

This cloth shoe pattern is very cute - although not for the beginner! I've used a Japanese two sided reversible fabric, but as each piece of the shoe is interfaced, the reversible fabric was no advantage, and had to be used like regular one sided cloth. It is slightly tricky to assemble, particularly if using stiff fabric and strong interfacing like I did.


Only basic machine sewing skills are required, but nimble fingers required for assembly!

Pattern: http://stardustshoes.blogspot.com/2006/10/cloth-shoe-pattern.html

I would recommend a couple of modifications for smaller feet, although the pattern says 0-6 months, its definitely the larger end of that scale.

Project Extra: Matching Baby Boy Neck Tie

With the leftover scraps from the shoes, you can quickly knock up this matching neck tie to complete the outfit.

I threaded hat elastic through the top of the tie, run it around under the collar like a necklace and tied a hidden knot at the back.

Project Three: Pirate Bib

This is a fantastic easy bib design that uses a regular bath towel as backing, and a cute print on front. One towel & 60cm of fabric yields 10 bibs! Fantastic idea for fundraisers and street stalls as they work out very cheap, even with imported Japanese prints like this pirate print.

Project Two: Shoulder Tie Dress with Bloomers

I designed this dress pattern to try and use up these 30cm pieces of Japanese fabric that I had in my stash. I LOVE Japanese linen prints but they are so expensive that I only ever buy small pieces. This dress only uses half the width of the fabric of a 30cm strip.

I also liked this design because it starts on a newborn as a dress, and works its way up to being a T-shirt on a 1+ year old. Its winter here, so my newborn wears this as a tunic with long sleeves and stockings underneath, and the bloomers will work in the summer when its more of a long T-shirt.

Its such a simple, quick design that you can really go to town on the embellishments - a great way to use all the funky ribbons and rick-rack that are now available.

Project One: Heather Bailey 'Bitty Booties'

www.heatherbaileydesign.com/BittyBooties.pdf

These are really cute, really easy little baby booties that just require a few scraps of felt. They can be decorated with felt pieces (like I've done), embroidery, fabric patches, buttons, rick rack etc. The pattern is a free download from Heather Bailey and has two sizes offered for babies. I sewed mine by hand, blanket stitch looks much better by hand! Although I did attach the soles using the machine (for strength), this could also have been done by hand.

Would love to see what anyone else out there has done with this pattern! Upload any pics of your own creations!