I love toys inspired by fairy tales (and I’ve got the Pinterest board to prove it!). Characters from fairy tales and nursery rhymes are a natural subject for toys, and give kids and parents a chance to retell the stories we love so much. When I saw Heidi Boyd’s new book, Fairy Tale Sewing: 20…
Awesome Handmade Toys: Jenny Maj of Fluffmonger
Jenny Maj is an artist and plush maker living in Greensboro, North Carolina. She is a member of my private Facebook group for soft toy designers and earlier this month announced that she’d opened a shop on Etsy called Fluffmonger to sell her plush toys. When I saw the images Jenny had created for her…
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…
Softie Kits to Sew: A Round Up
One of the first softies I ever made was a fleece bunny and carrot from a kit my mom sent me in a care package when I was in my early 20’s and living on my own. My mom is a big buyer of kits. I made the bunny and it was the first softie…
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…
Tips for Designing Reversible Toys
Toys are fun! The goal in designing a toy is to make something so appealing that people young and old will want to sit down and play with it. Toys spark our imagination. One of the interesting challenges of being a toy designer is coming up with something that will evoke that emotional response. A…
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…
Book Review: Creature Camp by Wendi Gratz
Designer and sewing teacher Wendi Gratz has a new book out with Stash Books called Creature Camp: 18 Softies to Draw, Sew & Stuff. Wendi is known for her clear easy-to-follow sewing instruction. She creates videos and tutorials demonstrating sewing techniques especially designed for beginners. Wendi has also taught hundreds of kids to sew during…
Selecting Fabrics for Sewing Softies
I love sewing softies. I love that softies are quick to make and are a great first sewing project if you’re just getting comfortable with a sewing machine. Ducky Rattle made from my Animal Rattles pattern I love that at the end of each project I have a little creature on my desk looking up…
Adding an Interactive Element to a Softie
Softies are fun no matter what, but they are even more fun when they’re interactive. Yesterday I sewed one of my Squeaky Snakes from super-soft minky with a bright pink felt tongue. I love the coiled shape, but the pattern actually includes three snake shapes: a basic straight snake a curvy snake and this coiled…