The Peanut Baby Sew-Along is in full swing and you have two more weeks to join the fun (and possibly win a cool prize, too). This sew-along is being organized by my Facebook group, the While She Naps Softie Designer’s Forum. The group is now 230 members strong and made up of women from all…
The Pattern that Changed My Life: Diane Gilleland
Each Wednesday throughout the summer we’ll hear from a designer about a pattern or book that caused them to head in a new direction and helped form their career. This is the second post in the series. You can read all of them right here. Diane Gilleland is one of my favorite craft bloggers of…
Summertime Hand-Stitching Projects
I think summer is the ideal time to begin new hand-stitching projects. It’s too beautiful outside to be sitting at the sewing machine all day. Instead it’s time to sit on the porch, or in the grass, and soak up the sun. If you’re like me, though, you also need something creative to work on…
The Pattern that Changed My Life: Sara Lawson
On a rainy evening in 2007 I walked into a used bookstore in Waltham, Massachusetts and picked up a dusty craft book. The yellow cover was torn in the corner and nearly all the pictures were black and white. The book was published in 1971, four years before I was born, but to me it…
Studio Update, An Upcoming Class, and a Sew-Along
Did you know that I moderate a private Facebook group for doll and toy designers? It’s The While She Naps Softie Designers Forum and we have over 200 members. I love this group so much. It’s a place to ask questions, get new ideas, and support fellow makers. If you design sewing patterns for softies…
Casting Your Own Safety Eyes
The eyes are the first thing we notice when we see a stuffed animal or doll. Adorable eyes can make even the simplest shape appealing (and, conversely, unattractive eyes can kinda ruin an otherwise awesome toy). Many softie makers embroider eyes, or paint them on, or cut them from felt and stitch them in place,…
A Compilation of Online Classes on Doll and Toy Making
Online video instruction is an ideal way to teach sewing. Watching an expert do the work, and explain how it’s done, is the best way to master a hands-on skill. When you want to learn something as tactile as sewing, nothing is better than being able to actually see someone stitch a seam. Putting that…
Penny the Fish: A Free Pattern
Penny is a soft and huggable fish. She’s fun and easy to sew and would make a great summer birthday gift for a child you know, or maybe for yourself (it’s okay to play with stuffed animals even when you’re a grown-up). The finished fish stuffed animal is 10.5″ long. To make Penny you’ll need:…
Maya the Mermaid and a Finished Doll Quilt
A few months ago I was searching for a hand sewing project I could do in the evenings and weekends while relaxing with my family. I gave English Paper Piecing a try and fell in love. Here's why EPP is perfect for me: You don't have to cut anything in a straight line with a…
Soft Rattle Balls to Sew: Free Tutorial
Sew a basket full of soft rattle balls in a rainbow of colors (or do all black and white!). These are a great toddler toy, and they’re also fun juggling balls for older kids. To make a soft rattle ball you’ll need: two 8″ x 5″ scraps of fabric (I used fleece, but almost any…
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