I recently decided to have a go at making softies, and boy is it fun! I think I’m hooked. The hardest part is deciding on the face, but once you stitch it on, they really come to life!
I made a doll for my best friend’s daughter’s First Birthday and had so much fun making it that I decided to make up a boy version for Roman! I top-stitched little pockets and a fly onto his pants to give him some little ‘jeans’ and they’re so cute!
We asked Roman what it should be called…he said ‘Nana’, so hubby made the executive decision that it should be named Andy. A bit more suitable than Nana, I think!
The pattern I used for both of the dolls is the Violet doll from the book Hop Skip Jump by Fiona Dalton. It’s a beautiful book and I’m looking forward to making up some of the animals from it too. Have you made any of the sofites from the book?
Once I had made up and stuffed the dolls I took a photo of the blank face on the iPad and then used a drawing app to play around with ideas for the face. It’s tricky deciding because there are so many options, but it’s fun at the same time.
It took a while to get my head around the idea of embroidering the face on AFTER the doll is stuffed and sewn up…I mean how do you hide your knots? Watching this YouTube video from Bit Of Whimsy made it all clear for me though and it was easy and most importantly, the knots are neatly hidden. I can’t imagine how I would have done them if I made up my own method!
I think you will be seeing a few more soft toys on the blog this year, so stay tuned.
Nicol Bates says
They are so cute, I need to attempt my first softie doll for a dolly drive for children in hospital.
thingsforboys says
I want to make a few for the dolly drive too, Nicol! They are such a fun project.
Laura says
They look fantastic, I’ll remember those tips if I ever make another softie. That last photo is so cute. Good dodge with the name.
Nicol Bates says
I am going to try the free doll pattern they have on the TSL Dolly Drive Facebook page first and see how horribly it turns out, I normally get my mum to help me when I do something for the first time (very new to sewing) but she is on holidays…might end up being an alien softie. 🙂
thingsforboys says
the good thing is, kids aren’t picky, but I’m sure you’ll be fine. There’s plenty of us on TSL to help you out if you get stuck!
Narelle @ Cook Clean Craft says
Andy has the most adorable face! Love the softies. My little girl has a mouse without a face because I never got around to finishing it off and she claimed it. I’m not so good with embroidery!
thingsforboys says
My best friend thinks he looks like Ray Martin! I think it’s the hair 😉
Melanie Routhier says
I love these! I’m always on the lookout for boy softies, they are really hard to come by.
thingsforboys says
They are aren’t they?! I love the Superhero ones too.
A little bit Country says
These are gorgeous, I would love to be able to make these for my boys.
Anonymous says
These are so cute! I also love your bunny plush. I totally understand hoping kids become attached to the softies you pick out: I have boys and my youngest did not like any of his softies until he was in preschool and “made” his own. (Before stuffing a softie, he decorated it with fabric markers.) They are now inseparable. Who knows when it will happen?
thingsforboys says
I love the idea of kids decorating their own softies! I will have to remember that in a few years.
Abby Glassenberg says
I love the idea of taking a picture and then using a drawing program to play around with the facial features. That’s excellent!
Stephanie Decker says
Wow. They are soo cute and well made!!
Michelle : Lucky Lantern says
These are so sweet! I hadn’t seen that softie book before – I must check it out!
Frances Bean Jardine says
Lovely! Plz give me your pattern, i can’t find any really nice ones :-/
thingsforboys says
The pattern is found in the book Hop Skip Jump by Fiona Dalton. The bookdepository link is above. It is full of gorgeous patterns!
Anonymous says
Hello I would love to give these a go Im going to buy the pattern now 🙂 Can I ask what fabric you used for the face and clothes of the girl doll 🙂 its way too cute and would match my kitchen perfectly!! Please can you tell me if the fabric shop has an online store I can buy the lovely fabric from thank you
thingsforboys says
For the faces I used a plain seeded homespun fabric, it looks a lot like calico. For the clothes of the girl doll I used a quilting range from Spotlight. It doesn’t seem to have a name on the selvage. Unfortunately, they don’t have an online store. Sorry I couldn’t be more help.
Cody says
These are so cute!