whileshenaps.com

Sewing, blogging, and creative business.

My New Book – Stuffed Animals: From Concept to Construction

I don't like the big reveal. I like to share my ideas and my projects with you as I work them through and to give you a sense of the creative struggles and triumphs of my day to day work. From time to time I work on a project that I need to keep pretty quiet until it is all done. My new book was one of those projects and now I'm so excited to share it with you.

This is the book I was searching for when I began sewing softies. It's a comprehensive guide to soft toy design. A project book and a reference book all in one.

Stuffed Animals has 16 brand new projects that build in complexity from
the very simplest of softies to designs that feature all kinds of awesome construction
techniques. After each project are a series of lessons, 52 in total, which break down the design process step-by-step. See how to draw gussets and darts, use joints, add pockets and zippered
mouths, and much more.

Elephant by Abby Glassenberg
Need to design a tail or a snout? Want to try shoe button eyes
or excelsior stuffing? This book shows you how. My goal is to help you grow your own creativity by giving you every tool you would need turn your ideas into finished softies.

Teddy Bear and Book
This book is my baby. I've been dreaming of writing it for over five years. I wrote the book proposal one month after my first book was released, when our third daughter was only two months old. This is a book I feel I was meant to write and I truly hope
you love it.

We have four additional short video featurettes highlighting particular projects and techniques from the book. Look for these videos popping up on blogs throughout the week to learn more and to get a flavor of what Stuffed Animals is all about.

The book officially ships on May 7. Place your order for Stuffed Animals: From Concept to Construction now and it will be on your doorstep as soon as it's released. Thank you so very much.

Comments

  1. iHanna says

    Oh wow, what a beautiful book Abby! BIG congratulations for finishing such an awesome project to help softie makers around the world realize their dreams!
    Yay you!

  3. abbyjane says

    Thank you, Ana, and thank you also for testing the Bumblebee pattern while I was working on the manuscript! Hooray for awesome pattern testers!

  7. Jenny Smith says

    Yay! Congratulations and good job on the video! Hopefully I will be able to find it here in L.A.~ It’s always so great to see how other designer’s brains’ work.

  8. Saeriu says

    That elephant is adorable! I can’t wait to purchase the book and see what other cute things I can make!

  11. Hillieforsythe@hotmail.com says

    Wow, congratulations Abby! Best wishes for a successful launch of the book.
    I loved seeing the little snippets on your video.
    Hillie

  13. Old School Acres says

    Congratulations, Abby! I have bought every book you’ve recommended over the years. Guess I better get this one, too! I know it will be a good one 🙂
    Laurie

  17. Andrea says

    I am so excited about this book! I feel like I have learned so much from you just from reading your blog and can’t wait to try out the projects in the book. Thank you for sharing your talents and congrats on the book!

  18. Joni says

    I’ve already ordered the book and looking forward to delving into it! Congrats on writing the book of your dreams!

  23. Caroline B says

    Congratulations – must be amazing to see your dream come to fruition. I’ve pre-ordered the book as I feel it is something I will get a lot of use out of in the future!

  26. abbyjane says

    Thank you so much, Kim! My goal here was to create a reference book that you would want to pull from your shelf in years to come when you're looking to try something new or figure out the answer to a design conundrum. I hope you enjoy the book!

  27. Kristy says

    Just found your site and am so happy! So much helpful information! We are sewing stuffed toys for our charity project this month at Hopeful Threads, and I’ve just shared some of your awesome tips on my facebook and pinterest pages. THANK YOU! Knowing how to do it right makes it all the more fun….since you will love your finished products so much more! 🙂

  30. Sara says

    I’m really looking forward to getting your book and am excited about it! Great promo video too. I will definitely be buying it. Can’t wait to see it 🙂
    You are right nothing like it exists, it’s a strange gap in the market and I’m so glad you have filled it. It must have taken an awful lot of time and energy. Thanks for doing it. Hope lots of people buy it – they should!

  31. abbyjane says

    Hi Sara,
    I've had the idea for this book for such a long time because to me it seemed like it filled a gap in the market of soft toy books, and sewing books in general. I really meant it when I said that this was the book I was searching for when I started sewing toys. I had an incredible time writing it and I hope you really enjoy it.

  32. Jody Herbert says

    I’m so excited that your book has been finished! I can’t wait to get a copy (and have already pre-ordered it). I love making and designing toys and can’t wait to read your book and follow your lessons and try out all those tips and techniques! Congratulations on finishing your book.

  36. June says

    I just ordered your book after reading the review on FreshStiches. I can’t wait to get and start following your blog!

  38. QBee says

    Just wanted to say your book arrived Friday, and I am in love! I haven’t been able to put it down, and I can’t wait to start sewing through it as well. Thank you for creating such a wonderful resource on softies!!

  40. Erica says

    I just ordered your Stuffed Animal book. I am so excited to receive it in the mail! Thank you so much for all your hard work. Also, great podcasts!

  41. Priscilla says

    I’m loving this book! I have a question about the elephant: do you stuff the ears? It doesn’t look like it. Thank you!

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