It's the Thought That Counts

I have a 70's pattern book that has some pretty groovy threads in, and some pretty awful ones too.  One of the patterns is for a very cute Angel Top which I enjoy making for friends with little girls.  One of my good friend's twins recently (read several months ago) turned one.  They are a boy and a girl and I was keen to make the Angel top for the little girl.  It's a pattern I've made many time, but it's incredible how I can still get things wrong.  My only mistake was turning the sleeves up a little too much, but given that I can't fit it to the baby it's all guess work anyway.

The book shows you the patterns on a grid for you to copy them onto your own grid paper.  What my experience has taught me is I don't do this very well and it's far better to judge the various lines and markings by eye rather than rely on my pattern.  This I did well. 

My finished product

I also wanted to make something for her brother but I've always found it much harder to make things that are appealing to boys.  I had seen a guide to making soft toys from fabric remnants in Burda magazine so thought I'd give this a go.  I was a bit prohibited by not feeling comfortable using things like buttons for eyes in a toy for a one year old.  I was even more prohibited by never having made one before and having all my mistakes to learn from in the future.

I didn't have any foam fill so decided to stuff it was shredded fabric remnants, this being eco-friendly and all, but it's a bit lumpy and bumpy.... and also a bit freaky looking.  If my friend's boy was any older I wouldn't send it, but I just wanted him to have something for him emerge from the package too.  Lucky the Mum is a good friend!  My younger son who is attracted to cute things like a moth to a flame wants one too, so it can't be all bad.