The thing that goes best with a fresh new year, is a fresh set of free patterns and tutorials for lovers of stuffed cloth, whether dolls or softies are your favourite. Here are some great new patterns that will get your New Year started right.
If you are new to the Magic Bean, every Friday I do a round-up of free craft tutorials on a certain theme. So stop by every Friday for your weekly dose of free crafts. Or browse old posts for your New Year by combing through the "Free Craft Tutorials & Patterns" category (just click the link) or use the Google Search function on the top left of my blog to search for something specific.
Sam Cotteril, author of Fanciful Felties from MummySam: Sew People to Meet, Places to Go & Things to Do (Stash Books)
If you are a big steampunk fan then you'll love this free pattern for Marveleta the Steampunk Lady as excerpted from the book Steampunk Softies: Scientifically-Minded Dolls from a Past That Never Was
Here's a cool idea from Creative Pilgrimage: An Exploration of Artful Gatherings and Discovery of Innovative Art Techniques
Get 3 free patterns from the fabulously quirky imagination of cloth doll artist Jill Maas. Click the link and scroll down the page until you find the Brazen Birds, Morrison Mouse and Noeline the pin doll. You need to e-mail to get the patterns sent to you, but they are free.
Sue Daniel has created this adorable free Kitty Kat pin cushion pattern that is available on Doll Makers Journey.
On the blog Matsutake learn how to make a softie into a working lamp with a tutorial. You can even download the free fox softie pattern while you are there.
Sharon Mitchell has a lovely free pattern for a wee mouse called Little Bit. Click here to the get the free mouse pattern and click here to see a photo of the finished mouse.
If you use Tibetan lambskin for hair on your dolls, you might be interested to know exactly how to dye your own. Watch the following video, that I found via Edwina Sutherland's blog to find out how to do it:
Patti Culea has a brand new 5 hour long doll making DVD out called Patti Medaris Culea Patterns - Cloth Doll Making with Patti Medaris Culea Two-Disc DVD Set (Worldwide Play). Watch these excerpts, featured on You Tube to learn a few techniques and to get an idea of what a wealth of knowledge the full DVD offers:
I've got my fingers crossed that I'll be getting this DVD for my birthday. And my toes crossed. And my legs, my eyes and anything else that can be crossed.
I hope that your 2012 has started off with a creative bang. If not, what are you waiting for? Dive into one of these free patterns.
Thank you so much for those links to the free patterns. I thought I was going to have to add a bunch of patterns to my gift wish list, but this is so much better! Who doesn't want free things right? I'll definitely be coming back every Friday!
Posted by: Leslie | January 06, 2012 at 05:27 PM