![[return to the blue blog]](images/blueroom/blue_sheep_box.jpg)
the knitsmithy the blue blog - archives works in progress finished projects free patterns contact: alison [at] knitsmiths [dot] us |
|
october 2, 2007
turtle buddy!
Wee one has a new stuffed friend - it's turtle buddy from Amy Karol's Bend-the-Rules Sewing
I love his funny little turtle butt. But man oh man, was it hard to turn that tiny tail piece right side out! Oddly enough, the entire pattern was both more and less difficult than I was expecting. Amy has bent the rules alright, so anyone with sewing experience, be sure to follow her rules. Don't go tracing your pattern pieces and then cutting them all out before reading the pattern like I almost did! Karol uses this clever technique of sewing two layers together along the pattern outline, which goes faster and makes things much less fiddly but it means that the pattern pieces don't actually contain any seam allowances. But not all the pieces are done like this: the body pieces are cut out and sewn together normally with a 1/4" seam allowance. So naturally I got all confused and was never quite sure I was doing things correctly. And then I had all these questions, like how much should I stuff the pieces, and how far in should I sew the basting line, and where exactly should I position the legs and tail and head, and how big of a stuff/turning hole should I leave open in the bottom? There are are lots of helpful drawings in the pattern, but not a lot of specific details. Again this may only be a problem for folks like me with enough sewing experience to expect these sorts of instructions, but not enough experience to know that you don't really need them. After making the thing, I can see that if you just use your best judgment on all those things, it's gonna look adorable!
Isn't it cute how the wonky seam line gives him a funny little frown?! It's so cool making things from this book and seeing how they come together. My favorite part was after the top and bottom were stitched together (right sides together, of course) with the head and all the legs all tucked inside, you turn the whole thing right-side out by pulling all the limbs through the turning hole - it was just so turtley! posted by alison at 9:52 am | in
sew baby
,
softies
,
stuffies
Comments
Very cute - love the eyes :) Posted by: Pia at October 2, 2007 10:15 AMsuper cute!!! on your recommendation, i bought this book (and a sewing machine!). i've made the baby bibs (talk about wonky seams...) and have started the dog collar. this turtle may be in my future. :) Posted by: Leslie at October 2, 2007 10:41 AMI just bought this book and found it just as you describe. Not really a beginning book (not enough, particularly in the drawings), and a little too bent for someone who knows some sewing. I found the directions confusing, too. The book is great for inspiration and good if you go in with an open mind. Posted by: Stephanie at October 2, 2007 11:02 AMThat is adorable. Posted by: Stephanie at October 2, 2007 11:17 AMYour last sentence about flipping him all right-side out, really makes me want to sew my own turtle. Just so that I can experience for my self the fun turtleyness. Posted by: Jen at October 2, 2007 11:32 AMLooks awesom, wee one is very lucky! Posted by: Kristin at October 2, 2007 11:48 AMcutie-pie turtle!!!! love it! Posted by: Donna at October 2, 2007 12:10 PMAwww, I love that little turtle-y guy. What fun! Posted by: carrie at October 2, 2007 12:13 PMWhat a cute turtle! Posted by: Laurie at October 2, 2007 12:28 PMThe best thing in the world for turning fiddly little pieces like that tail right side out is bamboo knitting needles. They come in whatever size you need, pointy enough to get the corners out, not pointy enough to poke a hole through, and smooth enough not to catch on the seams. I use them all the time... actually, it's the only reason I keep straight needles around anymore... I'm more a circular knitter. Posted by: Cate at October 2, 2007 12:31 PMSo cute! I love turtles. Posted by: Chelsea at October 2, 2007 12:42 PMGenius, Cate, why didn't I think of that?!! Posted by: ALISON at October 2, 2007 12:55 PMAwesome and adorable! Posted by: Andrea at October 2, 2007 2:00 PMAdorable--you've given it life! And who knows--in 30 years, you still might have it, to remind you of these days. I still have (somewhere!) a frog that I designed, sewed, and stuffed when I was 13 or so. Suggestions: On the next one, give it a name and embroider it on the body. Put a brand new penny in a small metal or plastic container and bury it in the stuffing, and your buddy will make noise. (Rattles...not just for babies!) Posted by: Linda at October 2, 2007 2:29 PMI love how the seam at the mouth gives him an adorable personality! Posted by: Lindsey at October 2, 2007 2:32 PMI have made that turtle too. For me, it was great practice for sewing around little curves and learning how to close stuffed animals. Yours turned out so very cute! Posted by: Renee at October 2, 2007 2:45 PMI used to make and sell dolls and have a tool I got at Fabricland. It is long and has a hook at the end. You put it inside and hook the fabric at the end (of the tail or arm or whatever) and then pull down and the part goes inside out. It is so quick and easy and I don't know how I could have made all those appendages without it. I don't know what it is called but I think a fabric store should carry it. Posted by: Melina at October 2, 2007 2:49 PMI just thought of another trick. I used wooden or bamboo chopsticks with the blunter end to push the stuffing down. Posted by: Melina at October 2, 2007 2:53 PMSo cute! I love it's eyes. Posted by: Sarah at October 2, 2007 4:39 PMI think this turtle was the project that sold me on the book. So cute! Posted by: heather t at October 2, 2007 6:56 PMI love the turtle. Sewing is the perfect partner craft for knitting isn't it. When you want quicker satisfaction than knitting can give at times, sewing's your gal. Posted by: beatknit at October 2, 2007 9:22 PMI just bought this book too and can hardly wait to start working out of it. As an avid knitter, I'm so glad to see you are getting into the sewing too! Beside Amy's blog have you seen this one? http://artsycraftybabe.typepad.com/ I have recently turned to books for inspiration too. Like you I have found that they don't seem to follow traditional paper pattern instructions. I totally bodged up a pattern from trying to uderstand the 'new' techniques...I probably need more practice!!! Lovely...but he looks a bit sad, maybe you can sew on a smile ? Posted by: Orli at October 7, 2007 4:49 AM |
. This pattern looked so cute and I just happened to have a fat quarter of this Kaffe Fassett print that seemed perfect for a turtle. Two hours later and it's a turtle!
