Soft Toy Course – Machine Sewing

Over the three sessions, we will work our way through the pattern and create your very own soft toy!

We will discover how to read patterns, join pieces together, insert stuffing and add features, as well as what tailors tacks and basting are and how and when to use them!

This course is suitable for anybody aged 8 through to adults, who is able to thread a sewing machine and use it to sew in a straight line! The after school version of this course is designed specifically for children aged 8 – 16 years old and is not open to adults.

You can choose to make a super-soft fleecy bunny, bear, dog, lamb, racoon, monkey, fox, owl or reindeer!

You need to bring your own fabric, but we will provide everything else you need including one complete pattern. Basic stuffing, interfacing, bondaweb and coloured threads are included in the cost of the course, but if you want something special then bring it with you!

The type and amount of fabric that you need to bring with you will depend on which toy you choose to make:

1. Fleecy Bunny or Bear
Bring 1.5m of soft fleece – we find that the “Polarvide” fleece blankets from IKEA are perfect (and if you’re clever about laying out, you can make two toys from one blanket!)

2. Fabric Dog, Bunny, Monkey, Bear or Lamb or 3. Owl, Fox, Reindeer, Racoon or Bunny
Bring two half meters of 100% cotton fabric – one for the body and one for the head and limbs, plus some remnants or scraps you would like to use for the features.

The fabric for the last two patterns needs to be 100% Cotton to ensure the quality when using bondaweb and interfacing, as polycotton can struggle with the heat.

You will be using our Janome sewing machines during the session and instruction will be available if they look or work differently to your machine – don’t worry though, it’s like driving a car – you just need to adjust the seat and find the indicators and Bob(bin)’s your Uncle!

You will take home your finished toy, and depending on how speedy you are at sewing, you may even have chance to start another!

You will also go away with the knowledge and confidence to be able to read patterns, sew around corners and add features to bring your cute creatures to life!