Handmade Artist Teddy Bears - PayItForward FreePattern

What about ye folks, it's Lee here.  So, here I am to show you these 3 wee cuties.  I know they are all the same...well, they all look slightly different in their faces as they are handmade, lol.  Again, this is a free pattern from Lisa Pay from PayItForward on YouTube.  Again, I did a few adaptions in that I made cloths for these wee bears as apposed to the cute wee poncho that Lisa made.

Of course, as usual, I will put my shopping list below for as many of the items I used that I can remember, lol.

These bears were a little different from the others I've tried from Lisa.  These artistic bears definitely felt like a more professional make, if that makes sense, lol. But they were actually incredibly easy to put together. These bears have cotter joints and articulating limbs.  So their little arms and legs move independently as apposed to being sewn to the bodies.   Here I'm showing what the bears looked like just before getting their dungarees and shirts.  

For the dungarees, I used Lisa's dungarees/overalls pattern but I graded it up to fit these bears are these are much bigger than the other wee bears/dolls.  I've never graded a pattern before, so it was an experience.  But I only had one dodgy toile pair that I made that didn't fit, but I was able to see what needed fixed and I managed to get the dungarees to fit them all pretty well.  They aren't perfect....but then nothing I make ever is, lol.  My wee Mamma said that my little mistakes can be "my thing"....lol.

I wanted the bears to have little shirts to wear but because the dungarees were so patterned and detailed, I decided to go with a plain black shirt.  It's just plain black cotton.....and I made it with my own pattern!  What????  Yep....me.....who barely knows how to open a pattern.....made her own design and it turned out great......not perfectly professional, but pretty damn good for what I needed.  

In order for the the shirt to fit properly, I made the pattern open at the front.  I couldn't make the top to go over their heads because in comparison to their shoulders, the heads are pretty large.  So to make a top to go over the head would mean that the opening would be very large and ultimately hang off the shoulders.  So I made it that the shirt opens at the front for ease of putting on and I sewed a tiny thin strip of velcro to each front opening seam.  I didn't want to add buttons as they would be too bulky underneath the dungarees.  It was a bit of trial and error with the shirt design as, as you can see from the photo above, these wee guys have chubby little tummies.  But I made it work......and any flaws are secretly hidden beneath the dungarees, teehee.

These bears are surprisingly easy to make.....other than having to correct silly mistakes that were completely my fault....see photo below......**facepalm**

Can you see my mistake?  Yep.....the arms/hands are on the wrong way around.  Each of the buttoned paws are meant to be the palms of the paws....so on the inside.  And I put them on wrong on all 3 bears!  I couldn't believe I had made such a stupid mistake and so very close to the end of the making of them.  And my big issue was, I had already added the arms with the cotter joints in place AND stuffed each bear and sewn them up.  What a disaster!  I didn't want to have to take them all apart.  So I fudged it the best way I know how, teehee. 

I cut off the buttons firstly from each bear.  Then, I took the paw template and made it slightly bigger than the original paws and remade the paws but without stuffing....then, I placed the "new" paws over the old one like a pair of gloves and hand sewed as best I could, an invisible stitch around the wrist.  It actually worked pretty well...but was definitely one of the reasons that I wanted to add a little shirt onto each bear.  Now, the new paws are slightly bigger now, but you can barely notice the mistake and I think I rescued my mishap pretty well.  My Scrubby suggested removing the buttons and just adding them onto the palms, but that would have meant that the outside of the paw was a different colour and it wouldn't have looked right.  Plus I had glued and sewed the paw pads down and no doubt, they would have left residue of glue behind.....So my paw gloves remedy was the best solution and I was actually pretty happy with the outcome.

And just look at those cute, oversized feet....I think they are so stinking adorable.  Cute little toe-beans, lol.

As their limbs move so beautifully, they look great sitting.....

Or standing.

Here is each little bear's face.  Because the artist bears are larger than others I've made, I found these so much easier to make.  Getting the smaller sections under my machine was so much easier which meant I didn't really have to do any hand sewing (which we all know, I am not a fan of, teehee) of the actual structure of the bears....other than a tiny bit of hand sewing to close up seams.  Their little noses were hand sewn on over a felt template that was glued to their faces and then I added a coat of pva glue to them, just so the sewing threads had no issues with moving or slipping over time.  The glue dries clear and gives the noses a bit of rigidity. 

I thoroughly enjoyed making each one of these....mistakes and all, lol

And I know that they will put a smile on my 2 Nieces and nephew's little faces.    Because of the type of joints that are used and the fact that they are so tightly packed with stuffing, I wouldn't class these bears as a "cuddle" type bear.  Lisa even states this in her tutorial.  She classes them more as display bears.  So as these bears are probably more for display purposes, I think they'd be perfect for sitting at a Teddy Bear's picnic that your child could have or sitting beside your little one during their bedtime story or watching over them as they sleep, maybe sitting on a book shelf....you wouldn't want to be flinging them around the place....even though the cotter joints are strong and tightly installed.  In my opinion they are probably a bit too stiff and with the tighter packing, a bit too hard to be a "bring to bed" bear or a "cuddle" bear.  But then, what do I know.  The kids can enjoy them whatever way they wish.  

SHOPPING LIST

As of typing, the links to these items are available.  However, I cannot guarantee that the links will always work.  Therefore, I suggest a quick Google search and that should help you out.

Doll safety eyes - Ebay

Hollow Fibre Toy Stuffing - Ebay

Teddy brown felt - Ebay - other colours of felt from same seller

Cotton Medium woven interfacing - Ebay

25mm Cotter Joints - Ebay

Fabrics - from my stash but was probably all bought on Ebay

Buttons - again from my stash

Would you like to buy me a coffee?  Every penny helps me keep this blog going and goes towards the payment for my domain renewal every year.  I don't run Ads on my blog so every little helps.  No pressure though....none at all.

Click HERE or the image above to go directly to my ko-fi page.  Cheers big ears!

That's it from me for now folks.....Toodles Noodles....Lee aka Crafty Loops xx

Altered laundry basket

 
This past Christmas, my wee Mamma wanted a new laundry basket.  She recently did a few bits and pieces in her bedroom and wanted something to go with her duck egg blue colour scheme and if I could find some way to fit butterflies into the theme too, that would be great.  Well, I searched and I searched and could not find anything that would go with that theme, at all.  So, I decided to jimmy rig and alter one myself, lol....not sure if that made it any better mind you, teehee.

I bought this one on Amazon (click link, if you want one, lol) as it had a removable fabric liner that I could add to.

I then purchased this stunning Laura Ashley curtain fabric on Ebay.  It was just a 1/2 metre remnant but it was a perfect amount for what I needed.  Not only was it duck egg blue, but it had butterflies on it!

On a piece of the scrap fabric left over, I decided to sew around one of the butterflies to make this little padded dangle butterfly to add to the front of the basket.  I couldn't resist adding some bling to the wee butterfly too.

I removed the inner liner fabric and sewed the Laura Ashley fabric to it, making sure I orientated it the correct way, as it would be folded over the top of the basket.  I left a little gap for the closure and added the wee handmade butterfly dangle.

I think it turned out cuter than what it originally looked like.  My wee Mamma loved it and that's the most important thing.

I hope everyone had a fantastic festive season and a very Happy New Year to you all.  Here's hoping 2022 is a great one!

That's it from me for now folks.  Until the next time......

Toodles Noodles .....Lee aka Crafty Loops xx

Would you like to buy me a coffee?  Every penny helps me keep this blog going and helps towards the payment for my domain renewal every year.  I don't run Ads on my blog so every little helps.  No pressure though....none at all.

CLICK HERE FOR MY KO-FI PAGE.  Cheers big ears xx

Handmade DIY Ragdolls - PayItForward

So, I know I said I was giving these wee kitties to my nieces and nephew, but I wasn't completely satisfied with the "Safety" eyes and noses on them.  Now, they probably would have been fine for the 2 girls as they are almost 6, but my wee nephew is only 1 and if I have an ounce of doubt about the safety of anything I make, I will not give it as a gift.  Just a note though.....the issues I had with the kitties was not down to the design of the dolls....it was my own issue with the safety eyes and noses....Lisa's designs and tutorials are perfect in every way...I just wanted to make that very clear, lol

I decided to go with a different design of Lisa Pay's (PayItForward on YT), her wee Ragdoll design.  It is so incredible and so easy to make....much less hand sewing, teehee.

I know this is probably a bit gruesome with me holding just the head in my hand, but I want you to see their cute wee faces.  The wee girls have brown eyes.  Lexi, my wee niece has brown eyes but I wasn't able to find hazel eyes for Jessica....but the brown is light on the eyes, which might not be obvious from the photos.  

The cute wee yoyo flowers space buns are adorable on the little girl ragdolls.  I added these lovely buttons to the centre.

Here's the other wee cutie patootie....

With her little space buns and a different type of button.

Here's the little boy.  He's actually the exact same pattern as the wee girls, just without the space buns.  It amazes me how leaving the hair off makes such a difference.  I gave this little guy blue eyes as my wee nephew, Alfie, has beautiful white blonde hair with stunning big baby blue eyes.

This houndstooth fabric is so soft and lovely to work with.  I think my wee emo sister will love this, so I will give this one to her wee daughter, Lexi.

Ugh!  The dungarees are so cute....I wish I could make a pair of these for myself.

This Disney Fabric with the Aristocats is so cute too.  I hope my wee bambinos will love and cherish these for many years to come.

That's it for 2021 folks.  I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for sticking with me on this blog (And a big thank you to Tilly for always leaving such lovely comments).  I know I've been pretty sporadic on this blog but I'm trying to get better at posting....I promise.  Here is wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, please be safe and let's hope 2022 brings us much joy, happiness and healthiness.

Toodles Noodles.....Lee aka Crafty Loops xo

SHOPPING LIST

As of typing, the links to these items are available.  However, I cannot guarantee that the links will always work.  Therefore, I suggest a quick Google search and that should help you out.

Doll safety eyes - Ebay

Hollow Fibre Toy Stuffing - Ebay

Medium Cotton woven interfacing - Ebay

Felt for dolls faces & arms - Ebay

Fabrics - from my stash but was probably all bought on Ebay

Buttons - again from my stash

Would you like to buy me a coffee?  Every penny helps me keep this blog going and helps towards the payment for my domain renewal every year.  I don't run Ads on my blog so every little helps.  No pressure though....none at all.

Click HERE or the image above to go straight to my Ko-fi page.  Cheers big ears!

ASMR Bookbinding - Greatly requested

 This won't be to everyone's taste......I do understand that.  But I have been asked on many occasion if I would do an ASMR type video showing bookbinding with just the noise of me making.  And I am always happy to oblige....even if it takes me years to do it, lol.

So here it is.  For those of you who do like ASMR, I'm not sure how effective this video will be but I hope you enjoy it anyway.  I don't expect anyone to watch this if its not your type of thing.  But for those who do like the sound of pages being folded, cut and sewn, well, this is for you.  Put your headphones on for the best results.  Enjoy!

And if I don't see you before Christmas......have a great one!  I hope 2022 brings much more joy and happiness to us all and especially much more good health.  Get your vaccines people, lol.

That's it from me for now.  Toodles Noodles.....Lee aka Crafty Loops xo

Would you like to support my little old blog by buying me a coffee?  Here is the link to my Ko-Fi page.  No pressure at all though.  Thank you! xx

Handmade Paw Patrol Baby Bag/DIY Baby Changing Bag

One of my brother's recently asked me if I wouldn't mind making him a changing bag, come "chuck everything a toddler might need" bag.  And of course, I said yes.  His requests consisted of Paw Patrol or something Disney, big enough to carry nappies, cloths, toys, bottles, juice etc., and something he could easily throw over his shoulder to carry as he'd have his hands full most of the time.  So this is what I came up with.

As I'm sure you have gathered by now, from my many bags and backpacks I've shared of late (click here, 2, 3, 4 & 5), I am a big fan of Debbie Shore's designs and her incredible YouTube channel sharing how to make her designs.  Well, I have adapted her Large Tote Bag to suit the needs of my Brother and his ever growing bambino.  

So this bag is just under twice as big as Debbie's original stated size.  The handles are a bit longer and there is also an adjustable shoulder strap so he can throw it across his body when he has his arms full with the wee munchkin.  This is my dodgy attempt at showing you the adjustable strap ....not my finest photo ever, lol.

My brother asked me could I add a longer, adjustable strap to the bag to make it easier for him to carry the bag and the baby.  So I added 2 little D-rings with a strip of fabric and an adjustable and removeable strap to the bag (links to the shopping list below).  It was very easy to add to the bag.  

This Paw Patrol fabric was a polycotton rather than full 100% cotton that I usually use.  The 2 fabrics, I purchased off a seller on Ebay (listed below or click on the fabric above) and they were unusual sizes, not your normal fat quarter or per metre fabric.  I was a bit surprised at just how large the actual print was on both bits of fabric.  The images are massive.  And with the images on each piece being rather large, this actually meant that it was quite hard to work with as I was trying to cut massive images into smaller cuts.  The polycotton itself wasn't difficult to sew, but I wanted to get the character images on the bag as well as the font.  But because they were so large, it was a bit of a jigsaw piece.  It meant that I used more fabric than I would have normally, as I was cutting into the fabric at strange spots just to try and get the images and lettering to be prominent.  It's almost like this fabric was for an actual duvet cover rather than say, a quilting cotton.  So if I ever make another one in future, I will make sure I stick with the 100% cotton fabric that is cut in normal measurements, as that fabric seems to have the smaller images on them.  But we live, we learn.  And the bag still turned out really cute.  Thank goodness I was making a pretty large bag because any smaller and the images would have been cut beyond recognition.

The side pockets are expandable to fit juice boxes or the wee munckin's bottles.

I added the zip pocket at the front, just as Debbie did in her design but, this pocket was obviously bigger. Because I had to make deliberate cuts in the fabric, I actually ran out of it and didn't have enough to do the inside pockets.  So I added a cheeky little piece of Disney's Aristocats fabric to the inside as a funny little juxtaposition to the dogs on the outside.

The closure is the same zipper style closure that Debbie designed.

It opens up to be a massive big bag.  There is a tonne of room on the inside and should have plenty of space for nappies, cloths, toys etc..  Hopefully this bag will last for years to come.  It would be perfect as an overnight bag.  And it can be stuck in the washing machine...just unhook the adjustable strap and it goes through the washing machine with no issues. 

The inside got another inside zipper pocket so my brother could store other bits and bobs.

And the pocket opposite is divided into 2 and any mobile phone should fit in it comfortably and securely.

As usual I will put a shopping list towards the bottom for the things I bought for this project.  That's it from me for now folks.  I will probably have another post up at the weekend and that might be my last for 2021.....we shall see.  I might be able to squeeze another wee project in between now and the end of the year....you never know.

Toodles Noodles.....Lee aka Crafty Loops xo

SHOPPING LIST

As of typing, the links to these items are available.  However, I cannot guarantee that the links will always work.  Therefore, I suggest a quick Google search and that should help you out.

Vlieseline/Vilene Volume Fleece Fusible interfacing H640 - Amazon This is the interfacing Debbie Shore recommends

Grey zips - purchased on Ebay.  The exact ones are now gone but click the link here and the seller has many more zips available for you to choose from.

Adjustable Padded Shoulder Bag Strap - Ebay for only £3.99

Paw Patrol Marshall Light Blue Fabric All Over - Polycotton - Ebay

Paw Patrol Marshall Everest Blue Fabric All Over - Polycotton - Ebay

D-rings for adding the adjustable strap - D-Ring on Ebay

Would you like to buy me a coffee?  Every penny helps me keep this blog going and helps for the domain renewal every year.  I don't run Ads on my blog so every little helps.  No pressure though....none at all.

Handmade cats - Pay It Forward Pattern

 

Last year, as Christmas gifts for my wee Nephew and 2 Nieces, I made them a Teddy Bear and Bunnies.  I used a pattern from Lisa Pay and followed her tutorial from her YouTube channel.  This year, I decided to make her little Kitty pattern.  Her tutorial on YouTube is absolutely fantastic, click here.  There was a bit more hand sewing involved in this pattern and hand sewing is never my thing, lol.  But, I managed it......just about, teehee.

I actually based the colours on my own furbaby, Nimbus.  She is a massive Norwegian Forest Cat and she is grey and white with a little pink heart nose.  Don't let the wee red heart around her neck deceive you, my cat has the personality of a grumpy old woman....but we love her, all the same.

Yes, my cat tries to squeeze her excessively large furry body into the tinniest box she can find, teehee

I decided to make the Dunagrees pattern that Lisa shares, rather than making little skirts.  I think dunagrees are perfect for a cat.  Somehow, I feel it's what my cat would chose, lol.

On one pair, I used this Disney Aristocats fabric.  It is so cute.

Rather than sew the noses on (remember....hand sewing is not my forte), I purchased these wee pink noses (link below).  I think they look so cute and remind me of Nimbus's wee pink heart nose.  Although, they do make the cats look a little more mouse like, lol. Each one has a quirky wee smile, which is probably contrary to my grumpy little cat's demeanour.  But I couldn't very well put a scowl on their faces now, could I?....It would scare the children, Teehee.  

Hopefully my wee bambinos will like their cats and they can add her to their collection of animals I make them....I think this has become a tradition now.  I will put a shopping list below for the items I know you can find now.

That's it from me folks.  See you next time.

Toodles Noodles......Lee aka Crafty Loops xx

SHOPPING LIST

These links were valid and working at the time of publishing.  I cannot guarantee that they will always work or the items will always be available.  But a simple Google Search should help you out.

Toy stuffing - Ebay

Grey ditsy Floral Fabric - Ebay

Duck Egg Polka dot fabric - Ebay

Pink dolls noses - Ebay

Doll joints - Ebay  I used the joints for adding the head

Disney fabric was from a Fat Quarter bundle that I bought from a random seller, but I'm sure you could find similar on Ebay

Would you like to buy me a coffee?  Every penny helps me keep this blog going and helps for the domain renewal every year.  I don't run Ads on my blog so every little helps.  No pressure though....none at all.

You can click on the image above or HERE to go to my Ko-Fi page.  Thank you so much!