If you haven’t been by lately you may have missed the announcement that my blog and the free softie sewing patterns are now being hosted on my website, www.thedragoncharmer.com. I would love for you to resubscribe there as I cannot import my subscribers even though I’m still using WordPress to host my site.
Thank you!
My blog has moved and all my web addresses have been roped in to lead to one place! I’m hoping that you will follow me with the move and resubscribe to my blog posts at www.thedragoncharmer.com. I’ll be listing the first free softie pattern this afternoon!
Yesterday was my birthday. I was overwhelmed by how many of you sent me happy greetings. My way of thanking you is this little, just under 3″, piggy pattern!
I made him from short, dense mohair and hand dyed felt with two small glass beads for eyes. He is thread jointed with waxed linen for a longer lasting joint. Have fun with him!
Direcctions:
1. Drag and print the pattern below. Trace onto heavy paper and cut the pieces out.
2 On the back of your mohair fabric trace one body, flip and trace a second. Trace two arms, flip and trace two more. Trace 1 ear, flip and trace a second. Trace 1 leg, flip and trace another. (When you flip the pattern piece you are making a mirror image!)
2. Out of felt, cut two little piggy ears (one flipped) and one little piggy nose.
3. Pin and stitch (1/8″ seam allowance) the body pieces together–do not stitch the sides with the dotted lines! This is the nose opening and the turning opening on the belly for this piece.
4. Pin two arms together, stitch. Stitch remaining arms together.
5. Pin one fur ear to one felt ear. Stitch together, leaving dotted opening open.
6. Fold leg in half, stitch from dotted line at top to dart-like shape under his hoof. Repeat for second leg. Clip all curves!
7. Turn pieces right side out. I highly suggest a set of brass turning tubes from Dollmakersjourney.com. You can find them here. (Scroll down almost to the bottom of the page to find the turning tubes!)
8. Stuff! Close turning openings with a ladder stitch. Close nose opening with a few stitches–it doesn’t need to be tight, just hold the stuffing in.
9. With matching upholstery thread, stitch ears on. With waxed linen thread, sew legs and arms onto the body.
10. With black embroidery floss, sew eyes on. Exit your needel out of the nose opening. Poke needle through felt nose piece where the nostril will go. NOw take a stitch in the nose and exit your needle out of the felt nose piece for the other nostril. This step effectively attaches he felt nose piece to the body nose piece and makes nostrils at the same time!
Finish as you like!
Thanks for sharing my birthday!
Mini Piggy patern
It’s here! The final Softie of the Week sewing pattern. I hope you like this cute little butterfly. I made her from black wool and a tea dyed cotton, but I’d love to see her made in bright colors! If you have enjoyed these free softie patterns, I hope you will consider joining my mailing list, here. You will receive a quarterly newsletter with new pattern information, newsletter only specials, discounts, and information about exciting events and free projects!
Happy creating!
So, a few directions:
1. Click on the pattern below and drag to your desktop. Print it and cut the pattern pieces out.
2. Cut two bodies from your choice of body fabric. From the body fabric make two antennae, approx. 4″ long by 1/2″ wide. Sew the antennae and turn right side out. Tie a knot in the end.
3. Cut 1 face. Center the face in the middle of one body piece at head. Zig zag stitch around face. Embroider nose and give her a pair of eyes. You can embroider, felt or use buttons for the eyes. Pin antennae to top of head.
4.Baste antennae. Pin body pieces together with right sides together and sew around body from turning flap to turning flap. Turn right side out. Stuff and close opening with a ladder stitch.
5. Cut two wings on the fold. Sew with a 1/4″ seam. There is no turning opening. Make a slit in the center of one wing and turn wings right side out.
6. Top stitch on the wing a decorative curvy pattern–the topstitching should be done on the side of the wing with the slit. Pinch wing together and put a couple of stay stitches in. Sew to back of butterfly body.
7. If you want you can use some upholstery thread to segment the body.
8. Love her!
Hi everyone! I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed the softie patterns. I’ve gotten lots of good responses and a few photos. I would love to see more of your creations, so keep sending those pics in!
There are only 2 softies left for Softie of the Week! But don’t fret– if you want more free patterns, just sign up for my quarterly newsletter at www.thedragoncharmer.com. You’ll receive news about shows, exhibits and other fun stuff, pattern and hand dyed material discounts & specials, sneak peeks at new patterns and critters, and yes! a free softie pattern twice a year. Oh, and if you join soon, you’ll be the first to find out what kind of critter I’m designing for Fairfield Poly-fil Company! It will debut in October on their website.
You can also follow me on Twitter @JenniferCarson or find me on Facebook, Jennifer Carson, the Dragon Charmer.
Now on to the fun stuff!
I made Rufflewing out of wool scraps. She’s very easy and would make a great ornament or fall decoration on your mantelpiece or table, heck, she’s even small enough to grace a fall wreath for your door–hmmm, that gives me an idea! First a few directions!
1. Click on the pattern below and drag to your desktop. Print it out.
2. Cut the pattern pieces out. For the body, cut two out of main fabric adding a 1/4″ seam. For the face cut one out of coordinating fabric, same with beak. Cut one belly from contrasting fabric and cut six wings from same fabric. I used wool so that I could pull the strings on the edge of the wings to simulate feathers, but homespun fabrics will do that nicely too.
2.Pin and sew face to one body. Stitch close to edge or hand-stitch for an even more primitive look. Stitch beak to face. Stitch belly to body. Match body pieces with right sides together. Stitch around body, leaving the turning opening (between the two notches) unsewn.Turn right side out. Stuff. I put poly pellets in the bottom to help her stand upright.
3. Layer 3 wing parts together and stitch about 1/4″ away from the edge. Repeat for other wing. Pull threads on edge to give the wing a feathery look.
. Stitch wings to body, before tying off, take a couple of gathering stitches down one wing and back up, pull gently. This will make the wing bend. Repeat for other wing. I added buttons at the top of the wing, but you certainly don’t have to. = )
5. Embellish as you desire. I embroidered eyes and toes, but kept him rustic looking. follow your own muse! You may enlarge the pattern if you so desire.
6. Love her!
I know, summer has just begun in the far north east, and I’m already thinking about fall! Groan at me all you like, but fall is my favorite time of the year so naturally I have to give you guys a fall-ish design. Plus, these guys turn out so cute. I’d love to make a whole pumpkin patch of them.
To get started on your pumpkin patch, a few directions:
1. Drag the pattern below to your desktop and print .
2. Cut four heads out. I used hand-dyed wool, but follow your own muse!
3.Sew two head piece together, on one side only. Sew another two pieces together, this time leaving the spot between the two notches on the side open for turning.
3. Match the two pieces together and stitch all around, leaving the space between the notches at the top of the head open for the stem. Turn right side out.
4. Cut one stem from fabric with arrow side on a fold. Sew top and other side of stem. Turn right side out and stuff.
5.Insert stem into pumkin head at top and hand stitch in place.
6. Stuff your pumpkin as you desire.
7. Embroider face as you desire.
8. Ladder stitch opening closed.
9. Add any other details you like. I added some bakers twine and a cool glass leaf bead with some copper wire. These pumpkins are safe for children if you don’t add anything extra (like the leaf).
10. Love them!
If you have an idea for a free softie pattern let me know! Also, don ‘t forget to sign up for my quarterly email newsletter with special offers and discounts, sneak peeks and exciting news about new patterns, shows , books and events coming up! Sign up at my website, www.thedragoncharmer.com.
As I was strolling on our woodsy path this weekend, I spotted a discarded item. I just happened to have my camera with me and snapped a picture of a doll that was curiously forgotten on the path. I left it there for the poor ogre tot that will surely be missing it, and feel a bit of compassion for the sleepless night the tot’s mama is sure to have without the ogre-made lovey!
A poor ogre tot dropped her doll on our woodsy path.
Of course, being intrigued by the hand made ogre doll, I decided to replicate it for you. I used a scrap of hand dyed wool, but follow your own muse. I also used hand-dyed wool embroidery floss. You can find it in my Etsy store. Happy Creating!
A few instructions:
1.Drag the pattern to your desktop and print it out.
2. Cut out the pattern pieces and pin to your fabric. Cut out of your fabric with a 1/4″ seam allowance on all pieces.
3. Sew ears by folding lengthwise and stitching outer seam. I made one in a different color so you could see the stitching. Clip the curve. The next part is a little tricky– turn ear right side out, then push half the ear into the other half, so you wind up with no seams showing. See pics below!
folded and stitched
4.Baste ears to head. I wanted to keep the look of an ogre momma having made the doll for her tot, so I
didn’t make it perfect.
5. Pin and stitch head pieces together with right side together. Clip seams and cut a slit in the back of the head. Turn right side out.
6.Pin and stitch arms and legs. Turn right side out. Stuff lightly.
7.Pin and stitch body pieces together. Cut a vertical slit in the body back and turn right side out. Stuff lightly.
turned right side out
8.Stuff head as desired. Attach eyes and sew mouth. Insert the neck into the slit in the back of the head. Ladder stitch n place.
9. Roll the opening edges of arms and legs to inside just a bit. Ladder stitch to the body.
10. For the ogre’s shirt I used a scrap of knit. Cut one on folded edge. Cut head hole out. Stitch under arms. Turn right side out and slip over ogre’s head.
Love him!
finished ear
use your turning tubes to reinsert one half of the ear into the other
Ever have one of those weekends where you can’t seem to get what you need to accomplished? That was my weekend! Between baseball games, end of school year parties,Father’s Day and building a fish pond, getting a new softie out was delayed. But here he is, a really easy one that could be embellished in lots of different ways. I’d love to do some beading on one. How will you embellish your starfish?
Now, for the winner of the spread the word contest…(drum roll, please)…. SANDRA STRAIT, who spread the word by re-tweeting my post. Her twitter name is molossus1. Thanks for helping me spread the word! For being the contest winner you will receive a free sewing pattern of your choice and an extra special “Got Creativity?” mouse pad. Sandra, please email me with your mailing address and your choice of pattern through my website, http://www.thedragoncharmer.com.
our new fish pond!
Now for those directions:
1. Trace pattern pieces onto a piece of freezer paper and cut them out. With a warm iron, press the body piece onto the wrong side of your doubled fabric. Cut out.
2. Press the starfish face piece onto a different fabric. I used wool felt, but follow your own muse! Cut the face out and pin to the right side of one body piece. Top-stitch close to edge and toward points.
4.Embroider the face.
5. With right sides together, pin and stitch body pieces together, leaving the turning flap unstitched.
6.Clip curves and points, turn right side out.
7. Stuff as desired. Ladder stitch the opening closed.
8.Love him!
I love any kind of dog-type animal: wolves, dogs, foxes. So when it came to designing this week’s softie, naturally I made one. This cute Fox in socks has an embroidered nose and eyes. The rest of him is made from various cotton materials I had in my fabric stash. I’d love to see the foxes you make from the pattern! In fact he turned out so cute, I think I’ll even make a bunch of them (once my American Democracy class is over–blech!).
This is the last week to enter the Spread the Word contest too! Winner will be announced in next week’s blog post! To see official rules, please visit the Lil’ Yellow softie of the week page. Also, feel free to share this pattern with friends and family! Happy creating!
As always, a few instructions = )
1. Drag the photo below onto your desktop and print the pattern out.
2.Cut pattern pieces out of your paper and pin pieces to doubled fabric.
3. Cut pieces out about a 1/4″ away from the pattern edge to give yourself a seam allowance. From white cut 4 “socks”, 2 face overlays and 2 tail tips. From your chosen body color cut 2 face pieces, 2 body pieces, 2 ears and 8 legs. From a scrap of pink cut 2 ears.
4. Pin face overlay pieces to face and top-stitch on inside curve. Pin Socks onto 4 leg pieces and top-stitch across top. Pin tail tip to tail and top-stitch across top.
4. Pin one pink ear to one body fabric ear and stitch, leaving straight edge open. Repeat for second ear. Turn ears inside out and top-stitch around edge. Pin to face front between black triangles and baste in place.
5. Match and pin head pieces together and stitch all around–there is no turning opening for the head. Clip curves and cut a nickel-sized hole in the back head piece. Turn head right side out, stuff.
6. Pin and stitch legs together. Turn right side out. Pour a few poly pellets in the feet for weight. Pin legs to right side of body at notches. The feet with the socks should be at the front. Baste in place. Match and pin body pieces together, pulling the feet out of the way through the turning opening (the dotted line). Stitch together,, back stitching at turning opening edges.
7. Clip curves and corners. Turn fox body right side out. Stuff as desired. Close turning opening with a ladder stitch.
8.Embroider the nose and eyes.
9. Insert the tip of the neck into the opening at the back of the fox head. Ladder stitch the head to the neck and bury thread end.
10. Love him!
In honor of summer finally arriving in the northeast this week (and what an arrival it was–55 one day 84 the next and no end in sight), I designed a seahorse pattern for you. I’ve always found seahorses to be very interesting and magical creatures. 
This little gal is made from a pale batik with vintage button eyes and funky glitter knitting yarn for the bumps and spines down her back. If you use the iridescent type of fabric for her belly and fins, you will want to use a double layer for strength!
A few instructions!
1. Drag the pattern below onto your desktop and print out.
2. Cut two bodies from your body fabric.
3. With right sides together, trace and stitch one back fin on doubled fabric and two ear fins. Clip curves and turn right side out.
4.Top stitch a decorative pattern on back fin and pin in place–at dark
notch on back.
5. Turn straight edge of ear fins into the inside for a nice edge. Topstitch ear.
6. Pin belly pieces to body pieces matching notches, and with wrong side of belly on the right side of body. Stitch outer edge and ridges across belly. Do one at a time and refer to the first belly piece when stitching the ridges on the second. Or draw a curved line with a water soluble pencil or air eraseable marker before stitching. Add some character with goofy lines or contrasting thread!
7.Stitch body together, leaving the back between the two large notches unsewn for turning.
8. Turn softie right side out. Stuff as you desire. Stitch opening closed with a blind stitch.
10. Hand sew eyes and ear fins and other embelishments.
Finally–love her! And please remember that if you are making softies for a small child, to always keep safety in mind!
Remember to help me spread the word about my free softie patterns and you could win a prize! (see lil’ yellow softie post for rules and prizes!) Happy creating!
Drag and print!
