You just can’t help loving these soft, multicoloured, cuddly animals made of velour, fur fabric, cotton, felt or fleece. The teddy, giant mouse, hare, ape and their friends are not just for cuddling and playing with; some also make themselves useful, for example as a hot water bottle cover, cushion, piggy bank, seat or pyjama case. A cute grasping toy and a happy caterpillar will ensure that babies are contented in their cots, and the stately owl Advent calendar simply takes off her apron when the festivities are over and becomes an eye-catching ornament in any playroom or living room.
Every design is accompanied by a brilliant photo, a list of the materials needed and detailed step-by-step instructions. An extra pattern sheet includes all the necessary pieces and makes copying them child’s play. The best thing is to start making your own cuddly zoo right now.
Cute cuddly friends for adults and children
You may download all the pattern pieces that go with this e-book as PDF files using the following link:
www.naumann-goebel.com/animals
Further information about printing and using your sewing pattern may also be found on the above-mentioned page.
Place the cutting paper underneath the pattern piece, then slip a sheet of dressmaker’s tracing paper between the two, with the carbon side face down. Using a tracing wheel or a pencil, trace along all the pattern lines in the same colour, or the ones that correspond to your size. Next, transfer all the other markings – such as darts, fabric grain and fold lines. When copying the pattern pieces, make sure that the sheets of cutting paper are spaced in such a way that the individual pattern pieces are positioned separately on the paper without overlapping.
Cut out each pattern piece from the sheet of paper exactly along the outer lines you have drawn. Finally, make a note on the paper indicating which pattern piece it is and how many times it should be cut from the fabric. Where necessary, mark any edges to be aligned with the fabric fold. Repeat this procedure for all the pattern pieces.
… a remnant? Any scrap of fabric measuring less than 15 cm × 15 cm is considered to be a remnant.
… level of difficulty? The level of difficulty ascribed to each pattern is indicated by small symbols. A single symbol indicates ’easy‘, signifying designs which are relatively easy to sew, even for beginners. Patterns accompanied by two symbols are of intermediate difficulty. Three symbols indicate a more complex and time-consuming design which should be attempted by more experienced sewing fans only.
… an arrow → on the pattern sheet? Each pattern piece includes an arrow indicating the direction of the nap or grain of fabric.
Foreword
Sewing machines
Sewing techniques and tips
Cuddly toys for the very young
Elephant grasping-toy
Caterpillar dummy-chain
Meerkat rattle
Walrus tooth-cushion
Multicoloured bird mobile
Toys to play with and cuddle
Cuddly teddy
Mimi the megamouse
Kissing hedgehogs
Zebra and donkey
Harry the hare
Andy the ape
Betty the bat
Look what I can do! Useful animals
Hippo cushion with cherry stones
Sheep hot water bottle cover
Dino the pyjama-eating dinosaur
Baby wild boar piggy bank
Tortoise seat
Lucy lion glove-puppet
Crab desk-tidy
Bright sponge sea-creatures
Owl advent calendar
Glossary
Cuddly animals bring a smile to the faces of adults and children alike. It is not only a pleasure to give an animal you have made yourself as a present, there is also a lot of fun to be had from making these soft little creatures.
We enjoyed designing and making the animals in this book so much that when we had finished, we did not want to stop coming up with even more little darlings in fabric and faux fur – because as soon as you sew the eyes on your cuddly animal, it comes alive and you take it to your heart. Incidentally, the fabrics we have chosen are only suggestions. Rummage around to your heart’s content in your fabric box or in shops and on the internet and experiment with different patterns and colours. It will very quickly turn into your very own unique animal – in your favourite colour or maybe even to match the decoration of your home.
We wish you a lot of fun and pleasure from making your new little darlings and giving them away or keeping them for yourself.
Rabea Rauer and Yvonne Reidelbach
To sew successfully you need a sewing machine that works well and selects many settings automatically. This is especially helpful for beginners with no experience to rely on, but also makes life considerably easier for advanced toymakers.
The basic requirements for a new sewing machine are that it should be very easy to handle and operate. Thanks to computer technology, it offers 225 sewing programmes, seven different buttonholes and a wide range of stitches, making it attractive even for those who only have a small budget available.
It is easy to select stitches using the selector buttons. Infinitely variable stitch width and length can be set – even while sewing – using sliders. Modern sewing machines may also have an automatic threader, a quick-start spool and automatic tension adjustment – which are a great advantage for beginners.
The removable extension table, in which various accessories such as additional presser feet, bobbins etc. can be kept handy, makes it easy to manoeuvre items like sleeves and trouser legs under the foot.
1 LCD display, shows the stitch data.
2 Multi-function keys, for selecting patterns, setting the stitch width and length etc. or confirming changes to settings or returning to previous settings.
3 Keys for utility stitches, mirror-image patterns and twin needles.
4 Arrow and cursor keys, for moving the display of pattern groups, single patterns and the cursor.
5 Direct selection keys for selecting stitch-patterns.
6 Hand wheel, allows you to sew single stitches by turning the wheel with your hand.
7 Horizontal thread guide.
8 Bobbin winder spool pin.
9 Upper thread tension dial.
10 Reverse key: while the key is held down, the machine will sew the selected stitch in reverse.
11 Automatic needle-threader makes threading up easier.
12 At the back is a switch you press to release the presser foot.
13 Lever for lowering/raising the presser foot at the start/end of every seam.
14 The extension table keeps your sewing accessories handy. The lower-thread bobbin is inserted behind it.
a Place the spool of thread on the horizontal spool pin.
b Draw the thread from back to front over the pretension control.
c Draw the thread on down the left-hand side over the thread tensioner and down the front.
d Draw the thread downwards to the thread guide above the needle.
e Thread the yarn through the eye of the needle and pull to the left under the presser foot.