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eee , Soe re ! Ls oN i , 4 4 'Springuime G Gifts? L Fabrics and materials Fabrics Fabrics with a slightly coarse weave are better for making stuffed figures than thin fine fabrics, They are easier to mould, and at the same time firmes, making a nicer shape. Linen Gibrics are used fora bot of these stuffed figures while a fine terry oth is used for thesheep and some ofthe bunnies Linen has also boon used for the clothes and as the base fabric For anger household items such as tea ‘costes, wall hangings, etc. Any-clotbes, appliqué work and figures that ate not to be stuffed, can be made from cations, polyester: cottons in fact all kinds of fabrics, ‘As well asthe fabric sections department stores and specialized fabric shaps, you will lso find alot of different patterned fabrics in shops that sell patchwork and quilting fabrics. You could alse tey ‘curtain and upholstery shops where ‘you will often find a good selection ‘of checked and striped fabrics, Making faces “The faceson many of the figures are created using a combination of paint, inkpad and embroidery. You will alse need pins with different sized heads and a paintbrush. Hair The curly hair used.on the good. witches, itavallable in many colours in craftand hobby shops, Fusible interfacing Fusible interfacing is available in ‘varius thicknesses, but we uses heavyweight fusible imertacing, which és almost as thick as table cotton, and a lightweight fusible interfacing. Hoth have adhesive on ‘one side and they are frond on to fabric to bond it and give it bendy. ‘Other materials ‘You can buy polyester toy stutfing and layered wadding ta stuff ar pad the figuresand ather items. Collect ‘natural materials for wreaths, and look for plywood hearts and plywood biruhonsses, steel wire, peal beads, paper, card, ribbons, raffia and model paint. These ean be found in mast hobby shops. ‘Alist of shops and mail order suppliers is given afier the patterns atthe end af the book. 3 Plywood birdhouses decarate this Easter wreath, A collection of fabrics, brie paints anf other useful items onan! in craft and bby shops How to make a good stuffed figure \Gerveral inserncrions for stuf figures and sips for gevtlng good resales Fabrics used for the stuffed figures in this book * Lambs: Brown linen and verry cloth, * Bunnies: Light or dark brown linen, or terry cloth, ~ Hares: White or sand- coloured linen. * Chickens/hens: Light or dark brown linen for the body. Terracotta linen or sojtom for beaks and legs. + Eggs Various kinds of fabric, + Large geese: White or sand- coloured linen for the body. Terracotta linen or ‘oiton for beak anal legs. + Small geese: Linen or ‘cotton for the body. ‘Thinner fabrics for beaks and legs. + Witches: Darko light brown linen, + Hearts: Various kinds of Bb: Read more about fabrics on pages. 1 1 1 1 ' ' 1 i t i i 1 ' 1 ' 1 ' ' Useful tools + Fabric markers such asa fine pen with washable ink ‘or awell-sharpened pencil to trace the patter oa ta the fabric. Use light colours ‘on dark fabries and dark ‘colours on light fabrics. + Apair of small pointed: fabric scissors, * A transparent sewing machine foot will make it ‘easier to sce and follow the pattern drawn on the fabric. + Awooden flower stick isa ery usefil tool for turning the fabric inside out and for stufling the figures. Polish the end with sandpaper to avoid splinters caching in the fabrle. Method 1. Trace the pattern and sew ‘There are several ways of transferring the pattem, but templates made from cand of acetate shect are a good solution. Place the sheet of acetate cwver the pattern and «raw the outline of the pieces with a waterproof per. For card, put transfer paper between the pattern sheet and the card and trace round the outline to transfer it ‘on tothe card, Ifyou havea scanner ‘or photocopier, you can capy the pattern sheets and gluc them onto ‘card. If the pieces overlap, make several copies of the same sheet, ‘Write the name of the pattern piece ‘on the tensplate, thes: cut out the acelaieor card pattern very accurately with sharp scissors, Draw round the pattern picees on the fabric bat do mot cut them out ‘until you have stitched them. For two identical pieces fold the fabric double, right sides together, and then draw the pattern, Do not place the pieces too close together. Mark all ‘openings or sting of teeing the fabric inside out. Most openings are marked bya broken line along the seam. Ifthe opening is marked inside the pattern piece, there will b ho: scam opening, The line you draw is the stitching line. Using a 1.8-2nm ‘sn stitch lemgth, stitch accurately round the pieces by hand or machine, se figure A. 2. Cutting out ‘Cutour the pieces with a narrow seam allowance, Sram (iin) is «trough. You should cut extra seam allowance of 7-81amn (Ain) where there are openings in the seam, see figure B. Where the opening for turning inside aut is marked inside the pattern piece, you shoald cat according to the marking through one layer of fabric only. Cut notebes in the seam allawance around the pattern piese where the scam curves inwards, see figure B, 3. Turn inside out A sanded wooden flower stick isa good tool for turning pieces inside out and stuffing. As the seam allowance is arrow, the pieces have tobe turned carefully Side the wooden stick alosig the seam alter ‘wining them inside out in arderta make all the shape details stand out. 4. Press Fold in the extra seam allowance at the openings and finger press. This ‘does nat apply to the exira seam allowance a the top of the arms and Jegs.as they will be tacked into the body. Press the pieces before stuffing ‘them, except figures or boxy parts made from terry cloth, see figure, 5. Stuffing Insert the stuffing loosely into tse figure, making sure that it does not form a hump until itis well in place. For small details ike the witches? noses and thuimbs, etc, shape-a small piece of stuffing and push it in place before stuffing the res of the igure. Use the stick to push the stuffing,

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