Freezer paper changed my life as a designer. Seriously! I know that’s a sort of dramatic statement, but I’m standing by it. I first heard about freezer paper from Mimi Kirchner. In 2006 she published this post showing how she sews really detailed doll hands and fingers by machine and from that point on I’ve…
How to Attach Softie Parts By Machine
It’s best to attach parts like ears or a tail to your softies by machine, versus by hand, especially if you’ll be giving the toy to a young child. Machine sewn seams are strong which means that the parts are less likely to come loose over time or after several washings. And they’re perfectly even,…
How to Attach a Softie’s Head to Its Body
I love ladder stitch. It’s ideal for attaching parts to a softie or doll. The seam it creates is sturdy and virtually invisible. This is the stitch I use to attach the head to the body in my Lovey Dovey patterns. I made this 2-minute video to show you how I do it. I’ve found…
How to Satin Stitch Features on Your Softie
Stitching the features on your softie can be the most nerve-wracking part of the whole process. Do it right and the toy looks professional and adorable. Do it poorly and…well, it’s disappointing. I made a cute little video to show you how I satin stitch the eyes and noses on my softies. This is my…
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,…
How to Applique on Fleece
Fleece is a little bit fuzzy. It's got a short plush pile with little fiber nubs that make it really soft and cuddly and perfect for toys. You might think that the fuzzy pile would make it difficult to applique on fleece, but it's not hard at all once you know a few tricks. For…
A New Sort of Softie: “In the Hoop” Patterns for Embroidery Machines
For about a year now I've been moderating a wonderful private Facebook group for softie designers. It's called the While She Naps Softie Designers Forum and we currently have just over 100 members. One of our new members is Ann Mackowski. Ann joined last week and when she introduced herself she explained that her business…
Insertion Tool for Safety Eyes
My friend and fellow plushmaker, Kristin Mayberry, sent me this email last week: "I know you love your hemostats and stuffing fork. I love them too! Have you seen this nifty tool? Another seller on Etsy makes this tool himself. It’s brilliant! I have two sizes and it makes installing plastic safety eyes so much…
How Sew Small Softie Parts Together (the Easy Way)
Pip the Pig is making his debut today as the first Abby Glassenberg Design pattern of 2014. Happy New Year and welcome, Pip! In celebration of Pip's pattern release, I want to share an easy way to sew small softie parts together. This is the technique I use to sew Pip's hooves. The pink hoof…
Best Tutorials of 2013
As you may know, I used to be a teacher. I still have a lot of fondness for writing lesson plans and on the blog that translates to creating tutorials. Pictures, instructions, and a neat finished project – what could be better? Here are some of the fun tutorial posts and free patterns I've created…
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