A Sewing Life.

Start the New Year with a New Sewing Hobby

asewinglife@gmail.com (Lisa Walters) — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 15:21:32 GMT

Start the New Year with a New Sewing Hobby

Every New Year we make the same promises to ourselves that we are going to change our lives for the better and, if you’re anything like me, the resolutions normally last for a week. Sometimes, they don’t even last that long. But this year, how about doing something that will not be a chore and will not involve you giving things up, in fact, quite the opposite. You don’t have to stop eating cake or chocolate and you definitely don’t have to make yourself go to the gym.

This year, make your New Year's resolution to be kind to yourself and start a new hobby, a sewing hobby to be exact. It involves you adding something into your life instead of taking it away, introducing more joy, creativity and relaxation into your life.

If you’re going to start a new sewing hobby, you will want to know how to go about it. Here goes…..

Start Simple

The best way to start is with a really simple project that you can get an easy win with. Something where you don’t have to commit much time or money and you can have a little taste of it to see if it’s something that you’re going to enjoy. We would suggest doing a hand sewing project first of all because you can buy everything you need for under £10.

Choose a Pattern

If this is your first time hand sewing, there are lots of free patterns on-line for beginners. This will save you some money. We have made a free beginners stuffed animal sewing pattern for a mini bear which is perfect. Click here and subscribe and you will be instantly sent the digital pattern.

Fabric

You will need to choose some fabric. This can be exciting and overwhelming all at the same time because the choice is huge and at this stage you may not know what to choose. The best way is to always choose a fabric that you love otherwise you’ll lose interest in the project.

Felt

If you choose to use the free mini bear pattern from A Sewing Life, I would recommend that you make it out of felt which is absolutely the best fabric for beginners to use. You will only need a very small amount of felt as the mini bear is so small (the pattern gives you exact measurements) and you will probably only need to buy a small square of felt in a shop or on-line.

The most common felt is 100% acrylic which is very cheap and for this project, it’s o.k. However, once you move onto your next project, I would recommend buying a wool mix felt which has a nicer feel to it.

If you would like some more detailed information about felt click here .

Basic Equipment

You can get by with the most basic pieces of equipment that are readily available online or in fabric shops. You will need a sewing needle, matching thread (I recommend Guttermann All Purpose) and sharp scissors. If you use the mini bear pattern from A Sewing Life you will also need some embroidery thread to add features to the face and a very, very small amount of toy stuffing. If you would like some more information about the basic sewing essentials click here .

What Benefits will a Sewing Hobby give me?

There are so many benefits from having sewing as a hobby and each person gets something different from it. I like to think that you will get out of it exactly what you need; if you’re yearning for creativity, it’s there; if you need to reduce stress, sewing fits the bill; if you’re looking for a community, join a sewing class or an on-line sewing group.

More Benefits

Sewing will help you slow down and relax by concentrating on the repetitive nature of stitching. If you start with small, simple projects, you will be surprised at how proud you feel with what you make. With most creative hobbies, the joy is as much in the journey as it is in the destination.

What shall I do now?

Keep the commitment manageable and decide to do one small sewing project like the mini bear.
Subscribe and download our free pattern
Give yourself a hour to order/buy the basic sewing equipment.
Look through the felt choices and pick a colour/design that you love.

What Next?

Start the project when you know that you have a lovely couple of hours free to do nothing else but sew. Enjoy :)

If you have enjoyed this blog post, please share it on social media.

Have a look through some of the other patterns available and start planning your next project

How Can I be Creative?

asewinglife@gmail.com (Lisa Walters) — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 19:23:17 GMT

How Can I be Creative?

What is creativity?

There are many definitions and everyone will have their own personal interpretation of what creativity means to them.There are many fantastic definitions of creativity. Albert Einstein famously said ' Creativity is Intelligence having fun'.

Below is a quote by Maya Angelou, a celebrated American poet, memoirist and civil rights activist who said 'You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.

Another definition of creativity is that it involves the use of imagination or original ideas to create something. Being creative means having the ability to perceive the world in new ways, to find hidden patterns, make connections, and to find new innovative solutions. Creativity involves thinking about something in a different way and then producing something out of it.

Now that we know what creativity is, how do we become more creative?

1.Overcome a Fear of Failure

As human beings, we have an innate fear of failure. However, that fear holds us back from doing so many things. It is interesting to consider that everyone's idea of failure is different. What one person considers a failure, another may consider a success. So, dealing with failure means being able to re-frame it. Look at it differently and change your idea of what failure is. Success is very often borne out of failure.

2. Commit Time to Being Creative

The majority of people have very busy lives. We always have something to do or somewhere to go. Dedicating time to creative activities can sometimes be seen as a luxury and can often be one of the things that gets put to one side when time is short. However, as we know, giving time to an activity that will cause us joy is never frivolous, it's almost a necessity. Be kind to yourself and give yourself some well deserved me-time.

3. Know that Creativity is a Process not a Singular Event

It's all about the journey, not the destination. It's not always as important what the project looks like at the end, it's more about the benefits that have been enjoyed during the process.

4. Set Yourself up to be Creative

Sometimes things need to be set up in order to allow creative projects to happen. Maybe you need to have a space free of clutter? Maybe you need to allocate yourself a certain day and time to have some me-time to enjoy your creative project? Recognising what these things are is positive because you can then put them into place to provide space in your life for your creative project.

5. Recognise that you are already Creative

Creativity comes in many different guises. It does not have to be painting a beautiful piece of artwork or something grand. Creativity can be something simple like arranging a small bunch of flowers or doing some doodling or sewing a little simple project.

6. Relaxation Improves Creativity

Being calm, relaxed and open will encourage creativity.

7. Find something to be Inspired by

Sometimes, we just need a little bit of inspiration in order to be able to be creative. This can come in many different forms and will be different for everyone. It may be spending time in the outdoors in nature. It may be looking at some art, watching a beautiful film or reading a book and letting your imagination run wild. it might be looking through different sewing ideas or lovely fabrics.It could be anything, but finding something that inspires you to be creative will be the start of something wonderful.

Meet Beatrice Fawn. An Adorable Fawn Stuffed Animal

asewinglife@gmail.com (Lisa Walters) — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 14:45:42 GMT

Meet Beatrice Fawn. An Adorable Fawn Stuffed Animal

All of the characters from Theodore Bear and Friends have a different personality and charm. They have designed to all sit together in a lovely group of friends. In this blog post we would like to introduce you to Beatrice Fawn, the most arts and craftsy of all the friends. Read on to find out more about her.

Visiting the beautiful castles of England is a peculiar yet wonderful hobby of Beatrice Fawn’s, an activity she usually follows with a spot of farmer’s market shopping … piling a wicker basket with splendid herbs, crunchy loaves, and organic vegetables. Beatrice carries a scent of lavender and citrus, a mix achieved by her habit of drying orange and lemon slices and hanging them as beautiful room decorations. The lavender is just an added treat from her washing powder!

Beatrice loves to knit, but crocheting is her absolute favourite. Small items of clothing and her ‘practice squares’ litter her bedroom, yet she loves the colour it brings to the room. Her candle-making habits are also quite remarkable: she lovingly selects a combination of smells before melting the wax into a hand-picked jar and finishing the product with a neat red bow. Beatrice wonders if this hobby might be shaped into a little job one day, selling her crafts to customers who will adore the care she pours into every goodie.

Who are the other characters?

If you would like to find out about the other characters who all have their own unique story and personality, click on the relevant links below:

For Theodore Bear, click here .

For Florence Piglet, click here .

For Bluebell Rabbit, click here .

For James Fox, click here .

Who Writes the Short Stories About the Characters?

They are all written by my daughter Grace Walters who has a love of the written word. She has written stories since she was little and has gone on with her love for English by studying English at Oxford University.

What Clothes Does Beatrice Wear?

Beatrice wears a beautiful dress that has got pretty cap sleeves and buttons up at the back. It has a lovely gathered skirt which makes it really swishy and cute.All of the clothes patterns are designed to fit all of the Theodore Bear and Friends characters so you can pick and choose which outfit you would like your Beatrice to wear.

How did Beatrice get her Name?

I've always like the name Beatrice and I wanted to use it for one of the characters. I felt that is suited Beatrice the Fawn because it is very soft and feminine with a hint of royalty to it.

Is Beatrice Easy to Make?

Yes, Beatrice is relatively easy to make. The pattern is designed to be made on a sewing machine so you need to be able to use a machine. You can also hand sew Beatrice if you would prefer to. If you would like some tips on hand sewing, click here .

What Next?

If you have enjoyed this post, pleas share it on social media.

If you would like to look through the Beatrice Fawn patterns, click here .

Meet Florence Piglet - an Excitable Piglet Stuffed Animal

asewinglife@gmail.com (Lisa Walters) — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 07:14:48 GMT

Meet Florence Piglet, an Energetic Piglet Stuffed Animal

Florence is the most excitable and energetic of the characters in Theodore Bear and Friends. She looks cute and yet practical in her flowery dungarees. Each of the characters in Theodore Bear and Friends has their own unique personality and story. Read on to find out about the lovely Florence......

Florence – or Flo, to her friends – is more often tripping over her own feet than she is fully upright! This will happen during one of the little walks she likes to take herself on, when she stumbles throughout the house scribbling ideas on a tattered notepad and mumbling and humming and taping her ideas to any remaining walk space. She enjoys letting her mind take a wander, and so often gets lost on her own journeys … even if she doesn’t see this as a bother.

Florence is never still and is always collecting. She picks up conkers and leaves and acorns and they make her smile, so she will collect them in a basket and carry on humming as she attempts to stay upright on her stroll. Having a soft spot for brightly coloured drinks, Flo is as bubbly and excitable as her beverages, a sweet creature who would never hurt a fly and can be trusted with every secret you have.

Who are the Other Characters?

Currently, as this blog post is being written, there are 5 characters in the Theodore Bear and Friends family. However, the family is expanding and more delightful characters are being added. It takes quite a while to design each new character and lots of decisions need to be made to ensure that they fit in with the others. They are designed as individuals but they definitely exist as a group. If you would like to read about the other characters, click the links below:

To read about Theodore Bear, click here .

To read about Beatrice Fawn, click here .

To read about Bluebell Rabbit, click here .

To read about James Fox, click here .

How did Florence get her Name?

Florence is my Nan's name. She was a sewer and when I was growing up she always had a sewing project on the go. Her back room always had lots of pins scattered all over the floor which me and my sister used to collect. It is quite fitting that Florence Piglet is also always collecting things. My Nan used to do sewing jobs for everyone in the neighbourhood, taking hems up, and down, mending zips and fixing holes. She was also an avid knitter and would knit all night in front of the TV without ever having to look at the knitting.

Is Florence Easy to Make?

Yes, she is, as long as you are able to use a sewing machine you will be able to make her. The instructions are really thorough, which is one of our trademarks. The difference is in the detail and our patterns include enough details that we make it really hard for you to ever get stuck.

But What if I do get Stuck?

Don't worry. We'll be there to help you. You can contact us via email at any time. Either send an email to lisa@asewinglife.com or click here to use the Contact Us page. We will be happy to hear from you, in fact it will be a lovely opportunity to connect with a customer who is making one of our patterns. If you're stuck on something, the odds are that someone else has had the same problem at some time so don't be shy, send us your questions. We would much rather that you send a question in so that you can continue your project rather than putting it off because you've got stuck. We also have a frequently asked questions page where some of your questions may be answered, click here .

What if I prefer to Hand Sew instead of Machine Sewing?

Not everyone is comfortable using a sewing machine and if you don't want to use one, you can hand sew Florence instead. Of course, it will take longer to complete Florence but that slow process brings many benefits for your well-being with it that you can read about here .

Do you have any characters designed just for Hand Sewing?

Yes, we have some characters who are designed to be hand sewn. All of the patterns can be hand or machine sewn but the instructions are written and photographed specifically for either hand or machine sewing. We have a free pattern of a mini bear that is a hand sewing project aimed at beginners. If you would like to subscribe and receive the free pattern, click here .

What Next?

If you have enjoyed this post, please share it on social media with your friends.

If you would like to look through the Florence sewing patterns and kits, click here .

When was the Teddy Bear Invented?

asewinglife@gmail.com (Lisa Walters) — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 07:14:43 GMT

When was the Teddy Bear Invented?

The teddy bear was inspired by President Theodore Roosevelt. In 1902, the president went on a hunting trip in Mississippi. The guides who were on the trip captured and clubbed a black bear cub and chained it to a tree for the president to shoot and kill. The president, who was a keen outdoorsman and hunter, refused to kill the bear claiming that he could not kill a poor defenceless animal because it was unsportsmanlike.

The event was widely reported in the press and it was depicted in a cartoon drawn by Clifford Berryman who was a popular political cartoonist of the time. He entitled the cartoon ' Drawing the Line in Mississippi'.

It is reported that the cartoon depicting the President refusing to shoot the bear was also a political reference to his handling of a boundary dispute between Mississippi and Louisiana.

A Candy Shop Owner

Morris Michtom and his wife Rosa were the owners of a candy shop in Brooklyn, New York. Rosa made stuffed animals and sold them in the shop. When the event with President Roosevelt happened they had an idea to make a small stuffed bear and put it in their shop window for sale. It was made of velvet and had shoe-button eyes. The bear sold within 1 day.

Teddy's Bear

Rosa asked the president's permission to use his name for the bear which he gave his blessing for. They named the bear Teddy's Bear. The Michtoms continued to sell as many bears as Rosa could make. Riding the wave of success, the Michtoms went on to establish a toy manufacturing business named 'The Ideal Novelty and Toy Company' in 1907.

In 1904 President Roosevelt went on to use the Michtom teddy bear as a symbol of his re-election campaign.

Margarete Steiff

Around the same time that Teddy's Bear originated, something else very similar was being developed by a German company. Margarete Steiff was a German seamstress who founded a company in 1880. She originally designed pin cushions to sell to her customers and she realised that the young children were playing with them as toys. From there, she designed other animal themed stuffed toys such as dogs and cats.

Toys Inspired by the Zoo

In 1987, Margarete's nephew joined the company and he started designing stuffed animals that were based on drawings that he made at the zoo. His designs gave the business a huge boost.

A Large Order of Stuffed Bears

When the American craze for Teddy's Bear happened, Steiffe released their own version made out of mohair with jointed limbs. An American buyer placed a huge order for the bears which became popular and started an international craze. In 1906 the Steiff bears were officially named Teddy Bears.

World Renowned Steiff Bears

Steiff continues to make teddy bears and other stuffed toys today . The name Steiff is synonymous with quality and some of their stuffed toys are collectors items, particularly their earlier bears.

Jointed Bears

The first Steiff bears were jointed which means that their arms, legs and sometimes the head are moveable. The Theodore Bear and Friends characters are also jointed but they are made using an easier system than the original bears. We have designed a system which uses buttons that are hidden inside the stuffed animals arms and legs.

What Next?

If you have enjoyed this post, please post it on social media.

If you would like to look at our selection of teddy bear patterns, click here .

Meet James Fox. A Dapper Stuffed Toy Fox Pattern

asewinglife@gmail.com (Lisa Walters) — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 11:30:57 GMT

Meet James Fox. A Dapper Stuffed Toy Fox Pattern

Each of the characters from Theodore Bear and Friends has a unique personality. In this blog post, we'd like to introduce you to James Fox, the trickiest, and yet most dapper, of all the characters.

What is James Like? Lets find out.....

All About James Fox.

If you have ever plonked yourself down on a chair, ready for a nice normal chat, only to hear the phfttttt sound of a squealing whoopie cushion, then you’ll know that the trickster James Fox has been around. His constant stream of clever quips and interesting nicknames mark him out as the group jester, and his friends’ cheeks often ache after the laughs he provides. The sneaky gleam which sparkles in his eyes will make it hard to ever get frustrated about his cheekiness, though!

There’s always a large vat of soup simmering on James’s stove, and he makes it extra spicy, of course. But he does often collect herbs from the local forest for his meals, which is a lovely treat for his dinner guests!

James has the unique habit of getting everywhere at an incredible speed, zipping back and forth lickety-split. One minute he’ll be snickering along gleefully at his latest prank, and the next there is an auburn blur as he speeds away, back again only when he is ready with the latest surprise. Watch yourself when Mr Fox is around, but make sure to take his jokes with a grin and a pinch of salt.

Who writes the short stories about James Fox?

Grace Walters, my lovely daughter writes the stories about the characters. She has been writing stories since she was little and her love for words has led her to Oxford University to study English Language and Literature.

Where does James get his Name From?

James is named after my dad. It was also the name of my Grandad. My Dad also has a stream of clever quips just like James Fox. As you can see, A Sewing Life has its roots in family life. Florence Piglet is also named after my Nan who was a seamstress and knitter. The threads of my family are sewn throughout A Sewing Life and I love that :)

What are the Other Characters like?

Each of the characters have a different personality and story. They all have their own quirks and characteristics that are totally unique tot hem. If you'd like to read more bout each of the characters, click the links below:

For Bluebell Rabbit click here .

For Theodore Bear, click here .

For Beatrice Fawn, click here .

For Florence Piglet, click here .

What clothes does James like to wear?

James looks really dapper in his trousers and waistcoat. The waistcoat is reversible which means that you can use a piece of lovely contrasting fabric. The pockets in the trousers can also be made in the contrasting fabric as well. All of the clothes in A Sewing Life can be worn by all of the characters. If you'd like to have a look through the clothes patterns, click here .

Is James Fox easy to make?

James Fox has some extra pattern pieces to give him his white chest and neck and his tail. For that reason he is the more complicated of the Theodore Bear and Friend characters. But, all of the characters are easy to make and the instructions are so thorough that it makes the process so easy. There is a colour photograph for every single step of the process which makes it almost impossible to get stuck. James has been designed to be made on a sewing machine but he has also been hand sewn by customers very successfully.

I want to make James Fox but if I get stuck, can I get help?

Absolutely, yes. Ask us any questions you like. Here is a link to the Contact Us page . There is also a F requently Asked Questions page where some of your questions may be already answered. We will be more than happy to answer any of your questions. We would much rather help you with any problems so that you can carry on enjoying your sewing project, rather than you get stuck and put it to one side.

What Next?

If you have enjoyed reading about James Fox, and you think that your friends would also enjoy it, please share this on social media.

If you would like to look through the James Fox patterns, click here .

Meet Theodore Bear. A Delightful Felt Soft Toy

asewinglife@gmail.com (Lisa Walters) — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 20:56:15 GMT

Meet Theodore Bear. A Delightful Felt Soft Toy

Who is Theodore Bear?

Theodore Bear is the main character from the group of stuffed animals that make up the group Theodore Bear and Friends. He is the central character which reflects the fact that the teddy bear has so much history and is so loved by children and adults alike.

Who are the Other Characters

There are currently 4 other characters in Theodore Bear and Friends who all exist together in a tightly knit group. They all have their own characters with their own individual stories. There will be more characters gradually added to the family. If you would like to read more about the other characters, click the links below:

For James Fox, click here .

For Bluebell Rabbit, click here .

For Beatrice Fawn, click here .

For Florence Florence piglet, click here .

Where does the name Theodore Bear come from?

Theodore Bear was named after President Theodore Roosevelt who inspired the very first teddy bear in 1902. The President, whilst on a hunting trip, refused to shoot a bear that that had been caught and strapped to a tree ready for him to kill.

The event became headline news and a shop owner in New York made a stuffed bear in honour of the President's actions and sold it. If you would like to read some more about the history of the teddy bear, click here .

It seemed natural that the perfect name for this bear should also be Theodore, going right back to the roots of where the teddy bear's name originally came from.

Why is Theodore Bear the main character in Theodore Bear and Friends?

Theodore was the first of the characters to be designed. He was always going to be the lead character with a circle of friends around him. It really always felt as though a teddy bear should be the main character because it was a teddy bear that started off the trend for people buying stuffed toys way back in 1902.

What is the short story about Theodore Bear?

Each of the characters in Theodore Bear and Friends has a short story written about them. The short stories are all written by Grace Walters, my daughter. She is a natural story writer and has been since she was little. She loves writing and English so much that she is now studying English language and literature at Oxford University.

Here is the short story written by Grace Walters, about Theodore Bear, bringing his wonderful character to life.

All About Theodore Bear. A short story about Theodore...........

Theodore Bear is a peaceful soul who will hum as he cracks open another dusty old book before bed every evening, at precisely nine o’clock. He will have spent the day wearing a mellow smile which he shares with everyone he passes. It has been a while since Theodore frowned, in fact.

When not guzzling another steaming pot of freshly brewed tea, you can find this bear scribbling his thoughts onto any surface he can get his paws on – notepads, the backs of receipts, or some kitchen roll if he’s in a spot of a rush. His friends tease that he should be called ‘Grandpa Bear’ instead of Theodore, but he simply chuckles and agrees: after all, he cannot deny that technology puzzles him greatly; that he loves an armchair and a roaring fire more than the television; and that his loves of landscape painting and mug collecting are a little … unique, to say the least.

To be cosy is a great joy to this bear, as you can tell. He does love to don a raincoat and plod out on a walk in the wind, but far prefers the feeling of coming home afterwards. Kicking off mud-speckled boots before sinking into his armchair, warm again at last, brings Theodore a happy glow which will not fade through the night. He is a happy little soul, every single day.

What clothes does Theodore like to wear?

Theodore was designed to wear the felt duffle coat. Click here to look at the pattern for the coat. It has a lovely contrast hood to add a bit of colour and 2 cute little pockets for Theodore to keep any little bits and bobs in. However, the clothes have all been designed to be interchangeable between Theodore Bear and Friends so that you can choose whichever outfit you like. Click here to browse through all of the clothes patterns.

Is Theodore Bear easy to make?

Theodore was designed to be machine sewn but some customers have chosen to hand sew him. If you have used a sewing machine before and are comfortable using it, you should be absolutely fine making Theodore. The instructions are very thorough and have a colour photograph for every step of the process so that if you are a visual learner and need to see a picture, instead of lots of writing, we've got you covered.

I want to make Theodore Bear but if I get stuck, can I get help?

Absolutely, yes. You can send us an email at any time to ask for help. In fact, we really want you to so that we have the opportunity to share our knowledge. Here is a link to the Contact Us page . There is also a F requently Asked Questions page where some of your questions may be already answered. Don't be shy, send your questions in.

What Next?

If you have enjoyed reading about Theodore Bear, and you think that your friends would also enjoy it, please share this on social media.

If you would like to look through the Theodore Bear patterns, click here .

Meet Bluebell Rabbit. A Hoppity Bunny Rabbit Stuffed Animal

asewinglife@gmail.com (Lisa Walters) — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 20:56:12 GMT

Meet Bluebell Rabbit. A Hoppity Bunny Rabbit Stuffed Animal

Bluebell Rabbit is the most hoppity of the characters from Theodore Bear and Friends. She is a delight to make using our kits or patterns.

Where does the name Bluebell Rabbit come from?

It took a while to choose Bluebell's name. I wanted it to be inspired by nature and something soft and beautiful like a flower. The felt that Bluebell is made from has a very slight silver-blue tone to it which leaned towards flowers of that colour tone. The way that the word Bluebell is pronounced is very soft and the 2 syllables are almost hoppity like a rabbit...Blue..bell. So that's where Bluebell got her name from.

Who writes the short stories about Bluebell Rabbit?

The short stories about the characters are all written by Grace Walters, my daughter. She is a natural story writer and has been since she was a little girl. She loves writing and English so much that she is now studying English language and literature at Oxford University.

Here is the short story written by Grace Walters, about Bluebell Rabbit, bringing her wonderful character to life.

All About Bluebell Rabbit. A short story about Bluebell...........

Bluebell Rabbit always her drinks through curly straws, hiccupping and giggling afterwards to make her friends laugh along. She will also insist to everyone she meets that skipping is the best way to travel anywhere. Pressing flowers and carefully sticky-taping them into albums is a fabulous way to spend the evening if you’re Bluebell, and she will probably be wearing her patterned apron, slightly smudged with whatever delicious creation she has just baked in the kitchen (even if half of the contents most likely spilled onto the tiled floor! Whoospie.)

Her voice is like a bubble of joy. Her outfits are carefully assembled every morning, lovingly laid out at the foot of her bed the evening before. She often accidentally rips a small hole in her adorable outfits – a product of her skipping habits and general clumsiness – but makes up for it with the small patches she stitches back in their place. Even though the stitches will be rough and she will doubtless rip them again soon enough, Bluebell’s love for all things whimsical means she hardly worries about the small things.

What clothes does Bluebell like to wear?

Bluebell is a delicate name but her character is quite hoppity and she needed an outfit that would suit that. So, shorts were the obvious answer to give her the ability to move around. She can of course wear any of the outfits from A Sewing Life as they have all been designed to be interchangeable between the characters. If you would like to look at some clothes patterns, click here .

Is Bluebell Rabbit easy to make?

Bluebell was designed to be machine sewn but if you do not know how to use a sewing machine you can hand sew her. All of the characters have moveable arms and legs but they are specially designed using buttons that are attached on the inside so that they are not seen. This gives the characters a really professional finish. The instructions are very thorough and have a colour photograph for every step of the process so that if you are a visual learner and need to see a picture, instead of lots of writing, we've got you covered.

I want to make Bluebell Rabbit but if I get stuck, can I get help?

Absolutely, yes. We're here to help you with any questions you might have to make sure that this sewing experience will be wonderful and not in the least bit stressful. Here is a link to the Contact Us page . There is also a F requently Asked Questions page where some of your questions may be already answered. Don't be shy, send your questions in.

Who are the Other Characters in Theodore Bear and Friends?

Each of the individual characters has their own personality and have all been carefully and thoughtfully designed to complement each other and sit together as a group of friends. They each have their own characteristics and they all have a complimentary aesthetic. They have a traditional feel and are made from beautiful soft felt. If you would like to know how some details about the other characters, click the links below:

For Theodore Bear click here .

For Beatrice Fawn, click here .

For Florence Piglet, click here .

For James Fox, click here .

What Next?

If you have enjoyed reading about Bluebell Rabbit, and you think that your friends would also enjoy it, please share this on social media.

If you would like to look through the Bluebell Rabbit patterns, click here .

Felt Stuffed Animal Patterns. How to Use Them & What You Need to Know before you Buy

asewinglife@gmail.com (Lisa Walters) — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 20:51:04 GMT

Felt Stuffed Animal Patterns

How to Use Them & What you Need to Know Before you Buy

What is a Felt Stuffed Animal Pattern?

A stuffed animal is any toy that is made in the form of an animal for example a bear, a rabbit or a dog etc. It can be made from any fabric at all but here we are looking at stuffed animals made of felt.

What other Fabric Can be Used Instead of Felt?

Well, the sky's the limit. There literally is no fabric that a stuffed toy cannot be made from. Admittedly, some fabrics are going to be easier to use than others and some have properties that make them better suited to be made into a stuffed animal, but because sewing is about being creative, there are no limitations.

Why is Felt so Good

There are many reasons why felt is such a good fabric to use for stuffed animals. Not least because it is such an easy fabric to work with. It doesn't fray, it hold its shape well when stuffed, it is long lasting and it feels lovely and soft. If you would like to read some fun facts about felt, click here .

How do I Choose a Pattern?

You could just dive in and choose whatever pattern takes your fancy but there are probably a number of questions that you might want to consider before you choose your pattern: Here are 6 questions that will help you come up with the best pattern for you:

1.How easy is the pattern? If you are a total beginner, start with something that doesn't look too difficult otherwise it will put you off and you will not finish it.

2. Hand sewn or machine sewn? Do you know how to use a sewing machine? If you are only just getting used to a sewing machine, consider making your first machine sewn pattern fairly simple. If you can't use a machine yet, consider going for a hand sewn project. Hand sewing is much easier to start with than machine sewing. If you would like an easy hand sewing project to start off with, that is completely free, click here .

3. How good are the instructions? There is a vast difference in the quality of instructions that are offered alongside a stuffed animal pattern. Sometimes there may be a free pattern so that you can see what the patterns are like and whether you like the style of instruction. That is exactly what we have done. There is a free sewing pattern, for total beginners, that customers can try for free before they go ahead and buy a pattern from us. That way, you will be able to have total confidence in the quality of the product before you part with your hard-earned money. Click here to subscribe and receive the free pattern.

4. What size will the finished stuffed animal be? It can sometimes be difficult to tell what size the finished item will be if it is not photographed with something to demonstrate scale. Therefore, always look through the description to see what the finished size is. You don't want to make a mini 5cm bear when you thought it was going to be 30cm.

5. What is the end use? If the stuffed animal will be given to a young child you will need to consider the safety aspect of the design. You do not want to make a stuffed animal that has small parts such as buttons that can fall off and cause a chocking hazard.

6. Am I buying from a reputable company? There are lots of fabulous small businesses selling digital patterns now and hopefully you will buy from a reputable one. Have a good look around the website and get a feel for the ethos of the company. Do they have a Contact pag e ? Can you get hold of a real person if you have a problem? Have they offered you the option of asking them for help if you get stuck? Do they have an About U s page telling you about them? All of these questions will help you decide if it is a business that you want to buy from. A Sewing Life offers all of these things :)

Hopefully, this blog post will have given you some things to think about before you purchase a pattern. Equipping you to make sure that the pattern will work for you and you will be able to enjoy a successful sewing project.

What Next?

If you would like to look through some of our felt stuffed animal patterns click here .

If you have enjoyed this article, please share it with your friends on social media.

The Best Sewing Project Kits for Adults

asewinglife@gmail.com (Lisa Walters) — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 16:51:32 GMT

The Best Sewing Project Kits for Adults

There are so many sewing project kits for adults that have come on the market in recent years that are an absolute delight. Of course, with absolutely no hint of bias what-so-ever, we must declare that our kits are probably the best :)

What is a Sewing Kit?

A Sewing Kit will contain everything that you need to make a particular sewing project. Our sewing kits contain everything needed to make 1 of the 5 different characters from Theodore Bear and Friends. The characters available are Theodore Bear, Florence Piglet, Bluebell Rabbit, James fox and Beatrice Fawn. If you would like to read about each of the characters to see which of them you would like to make first, click the links:

For Theodore Bear, click here.

For James fox, click here .

For Florence Piglet, click here .

For Beatrice Fawn, click here .

For Bluebell Rabbit, click here .

What is in the sewing kit?

The kits contain a high quality wool blend felt. Pretty wooden buttons, sewing and embroidery needles, glass headed pins, sewing thread, embroidery thread, buttons for eyes and the pattern and instructions to make the character.

The instructions are extremely comprehensive with colour photographs showing every step making it so easy to follow.

Is it Cheaper to Buy my Own Materials?

By the time you have purchased all of the separate pieces of the kit that you will need, you will probably have spent more than the cost of the kit. The kits only contain exactly what you need i.e 1 needle and 2 small buttons for the eyes. This saves you from buying packets of equipment when you only need 1. It is much more economical and environmentally-friendly as you're only purchasing what you need rather than buying extra supplies that you'll possibly never use.

What if I Want to Use my Own Fabric?

If you want to use your own fabric then you wouldn't need a sewing kit. However, it might be a nice idea to purchase a kit, sew the character out of the pieces that come in the kit and then you can re-use the pattern and make another one out of your own fabric.

The Theodore Bear characters have all been made with a high quality wool blend felt. If you prefer to use the pattern and use your own fabric, click here to look at the patterns available .

Who would Use a Sewing Kit?

A Sewing Kit is a perfect gift for you to buy for yourself or anyone else who likes sewing. The lovely thing about this gift is that you're giving the recipient the gift of time. You're giving them a reason to take some 'me-time' and sit and complete the project. This is a really important thing to do for yourself and for others. If you would like to read some more about the benefits of sewing on mental health, click here .

Get Rid of Overwhelm

Sometimes, you might want to be creative and start a sewing project but feel overwhelmed at the number of decisions that need to be made to get started. Buying a sewing kit cuts out the overwhelm and allows you to just get started. A kit contains everything that you need to complete a project without having to buy lots of pieces of different equipment and think about fabric choices. It makes the journey to getting started very easy.

What Next?

If you have enjoyed reading this blog post, please share it with your friends on social media. If you would like to browse through our sewing kits, click here .

Use Sewing as Therapy to Help Deal with Anxiety

asewinglife@gmail.com (Lisa Walters) — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 14:10:42 GMT

Use Sewing as Therapy to Help Deal with Anxiety

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, and can be anything from moderate to severe. Our mental health involves our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It is our cognitive, behavioural and emotional responses to how we think, feel and behave. It has an impact on just about every part of our everyday life.

World Health Organisation (WHO)

According to the WHO, “Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”

Mental Health has Become More Widely Discussed

Mental health is discussed much more widely now and is much more part of people's everyday conversations but what does it really describe and how do we know how our own personal mental health is? People have always been aware that they need to look after their physical health and now they are realising that their mental health is also just as important.

Symptoms of Poor Mental Health

There are many signs that your mental health may be suffering and they can include anxiety, depression. loss of appetite, fear, panic attacks, low mood, sadness, feeling lonely, feeling angry. Someone suffering with their mental health may experience some or all of these feelings and emotions.

Whilst there are occasions where people's mental health may become so unbalanced that they require medical intervention and advice from medically trained professionals, there are other circumstances where individuals can help maintain well balanced mental health by seeking out opportunities for personal fulfillment.

Sewing to help Well-being

Sewing can be one of the many past-times that individuals can practice in order to help maintain mental well-being.

How can Sewing Help?

There are many ways that sewing can help to maintain good mental health:

Sewing can give you a purpose. Choosing a simple project to sew, such as the mini bear project that we offer, can be something to enjoy. The process of selecting some fabric and making something with your own hands is very enjoyable. It does not have to be a masterpiece, just something that you have created.

Sewing will focus your attention on the present. Being present in the moment and not having to think about your everyday worries and concerns is very good for mental health. Even if that only happens for a very short amount of time, it is giving your mind some time to switch off and relax whilst focusing on your sewing task.

Concentrating on the repetitive nature of the sewing tasks is very relaxing and almost meditative . This can lower your stress levels and slow your breathing down. If you would like some more information about how sewing can be a meditative hobby, click here .

Sewing gives you the opportunity to have some 'me-time' . This might seem trivial but actually it is really important to allow ourselves the time to sit and spend time doing something that we enjoy for no other reason than we like it and it makes us feel good. It does us good to be indulgent and treat ourselves well and give ourselves permission to spend time on a fun activity.

Sewing gets us away from screens. Even if you are not a social media addict and don't feel that you look at screens much, you might be surprised when you add up the number of hours that you look at a computer screen at work or a TV screen at home. Sewing allows us to enjoy an activity that is no way related to a screen. Looking at a screen can cause sensory overload and although scrolling through social media can seem relaxing, it can actually just feel like 'white-noise' and can cause stress and dissatisfaction. Sewing does the opposite.

There are lots and lots more benefits to sewing to help with anxiety, if you'd like to read some more, click here .

What Next?

If you have enjoyed this blog post, please share it with your friends on social media.If you are interested to see how sewing could help you Visit our sewing patterns to select a sewing project that you can put into action and feel some benefits to your well-being..

Things to make with Felt

asewinglife@gmail.com (Lisa Walters) — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 12:34:01 GMT

Things to Make with Felt

Felt is such a wonderful fabric. It is one of the oldest known fabrics and has been used in lots of different industries over the years. It continues to be used today across an array of sectors. It is a perfect fabric to be used for sewing projects.

What is Felt

Felt is a fabric which is made from either man-made or natural fibres. The fibres are heated, compressed and agitated until they interlock together to form a fabric. The natural fabrics will typically be wool, the man-made fabrics include acrylic, viscose, rayon. Fabrics are often made from a mixture of fibres.

Felt for Sewing Projects

Felt is an absolutely perfect fabric to use for sewing projects. It has so many qualities which make it such a joy to use for sewing. It is particularly good for beginners. Most of the sewing patterns in A Sewing Life are made using felt. If you'd like to take a look through them, click here . Of course, this is not the only fabric you can use, it's just that it lends itself so well to these patterns that have been carefully designed using felt.

Why is Felt so Good?

Because of the way that felt is manufactured, by agitating the fibres and interlocking them together, it has a different structure to other woven or knitted fabrics. Other fabrics will generally fray a little at the edges when they are cut. Some fabrics will fray more than others, dependent on their structure and what they are made from. However, felt will not fray at all when it is cut. That makes it a wonderful fabric to work with because it means that the raw edges can be left and do not need to be turned under to stop them fraying.

Hand Sewing with Felt

Because the edges do not fray, felt is perfect to use for hand sewing projects. An example of a hand sewing project that is perfect for beginners is our mini bear pattern which is free when you subscribe. If you would like to receive the pattern click here . Not having to think about turning edges under and dealing with frayed edges makes the sewing project so much easier.

Machine Sewn Felt Projects

Felt can also be used for machine sewn projects and can be treated the same as any other fabric where the seams are turned under. Felt is a perfect fabric for making the stuffed animals in A Sewing Life. Felt is soft so it has a nice handle to it. It also holds it structure very well so it is easy to stuff the toy. It has a lovely texture and when it contains wool and is in a heather, marl colour, it has a lovely heritage feel to it. If you would like some more information about how to make a felt toy, click here .

Other Felt Projects

The list of projects that can be made using felt are endless. There are so many craft projects that involve felt. They don't have to involve sewing, felt can also be glued which opens up the opportunities for making projects even more. Below are a few examples of projects made using felt.

Felt Project Ideas

Some of the things that can be made from felt include felt flowers, stuffed toys, bags, purses, felt Christmas ornaments, hanging mobiles, felt succulents, hair accessories, animal masks, felt food, felt children's toys. There is an endless list of projects that can be made from felt. It's such a versatile fabric that there is no end of things it can be turned into.

What Next?

If you have enjoyed this blog post please share it on social media for your friends to enjoy. If you would like to look at our sewing patterns to make felt toys click here .

Make Sewing Your Meditative Hobby and Feel the Benefits

asewinglife@gmail.com (Lisa Walters) — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 21:19:13 GMT

Make Sewing Your Meditative Hobby

To understand how to make sewing your meditative hobby, it is first necessary to understand what meditation is and why it is good for us and then see how sewing can fit into that.

What is Meditation?

There are many definitions of what meditation is and there are lots of different types of meditation. Therefore, this article is merely one viewpoint among a sea of many others, all equally as valid. Meditation can be described as a set of techniques that, when practised, can bring a heightened sense of awareness and focused attention. The techniques can change conciousness and have a wide range of psychological benefits on well-being.

Is Meditation Religious?

Nearly every religion has it's own form of meditation. For example Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism and Islam all have their own meditative practices. However, you do not have to be religious to practice meditation. It can be practiced independent of any religious or spiritual beliefs or practices .

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness has come more into the mainstream arena over recent years as more and more people have become aware of the benefits of practicing some kind of meditative practice. Mindfulness is the state of being aware and fully involved in the present moment and making yourself more open, aware and accepting. There are different forms of mindfulness but the most commonly recognised form is one of sitting quietly in a space and concentrating on your breathing.

The benefits of Mindfulness

There are many benefits of mindfulness, both physiological and psychological. Some of the physiological benefits can be a slower breathing rate, change in brain wave patterns and reduced stress. The psychological, emotional and health benefits can include better management of anxiety and an improved sleep pattern. These changes then bring a positive effect on your emotional well-being and mental health.

How is Sewing Meditative?

Although the common view of meditation or mindfulness is one of someone sat quietly with their eyes closed, that is not the only way that you can enjoy the benefits of a meditative practice.

Sewing is a hobby that involves concentration on the task in hand and being purposeful about what you are doing .

It allows you to be present in the moment and block out what is happening around you and think only of the task in hand. Many of the tasks in sewing are very soothing and repetitive. This is particularly the case with hand sewing which is very slow and methodical and involves careful repetition of a task. It involves complete concentration on the task at hand which in itself is a quiet form of meditation.

If you would like to read about some more of the benefits of sewing click here .

When moving from one task to another within the sewing journey, for example, from carefully cutting the fabric out, to pinning the fabric together, to stitching the seams together, it involves focus and attention to detail. It allows you to be totally present in the moment.

Time Flies

From personal experience, something strange seems to happen to time when I sew. I have always felt that when I spend time sewing, I lose a sense of time. Time just seems to pass by and I am not aware of how long I have been there for. It is probably one of the few things in life where that happens for me which is probably one of the reasons that I have always returned to sewing throughout my life.

There have been times when I've strayed away from sewing, not having enough time to fit it in around a busy job or a young family, but I always, without fail, come back to it. It has a comforting familiarity to it and I would have been experiencing it's meditative benefits before I even really knew what that meant.

If you would like to enjoy the benefits of a sewing project, click here to browse through our sewing patterns and kits.

What next?

I hope that you have enjoyed this blog post. If you have, please share it with your friends on social media.

If you would like to join our mailing list to keep updated with other articles and news, click here . You will also receive a free beginners hand sewing pattern that you can try out.

7 Fun Facts About Felt

asewinglife@gmail.com (Lisa Walters) — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 21:18:53 GMT

7 Fun Facts About Felt

Felt is a wonderful material that dates back to ancient times and still has so many uses in today's society that you may not be aware of. We use felt in most of our patterns at A Sewing Life to make our stuffed animals. Take a look at some of our patterns here . Here are a few interesting facts about the lovely fabric felt.......

1.Felt is the Oldest known Fabric

Felt is actually one of the oldest forms of fabric known to man-kind. It was around before both knitting and weaving. There is evidence of different forms of felt being found dating back to the Iron Ages.

2.The Origin of Felt

This is a tricky one because different cultures have different stories about the origins of felt. One of the most common stories is from Saint Clement and St Christopher. Reportedly, when men were fleeing persecution, they packed their sandals with wool to prevent their feet from getting blisters. The effect of the wool fibres rubbing together, combined with the heat and moisture of their sweat, caused the wool to fuse together and effectively created felt socks.

Another common story is that felt originates from Noah's Ark. The ark was lined with wool and the combination of the animal's urine and the compression of the animals walking over the wool, caused it to mat together and form a wool carpet. There are other stories but these are 2 of the most common and well reported.

3. DIY Home Felting

If you have a wool jumper that you don't wear anymore, put it in the washing machine on a hot wash and it will simulate the processes used in manufacturing to effectively 'felt' your jumper. The jumper will shrink and all of the fibres will mat together and form felt. You can then cut the fabric up and use it in craft projects and it will not fray. It is better to use an item of clothing that is 100% wool because if there are any other fibres in there, they will react slightly differently.

If you don't wear the item of clothing anyway and you're willing to try things, have a go and see what happens. If you don't want this to happen to any of your lovely wool jumpers that you like wearing, you should always wash them on a cold wash or by hand. It's the process of the hot water, soap and agitation that cases the wool to felt.

4. How Felt was Involved in the Phrase 'As Mad as a Hatter'

During the 18th and 19th Century, hatters used to make felt out of animal fur. They used a process which was called 'carroting' where they soaked the animal skins in an orange solution to separate the skin from the fur. This was then matted together to form a felt.

Unfortunately, the orange coloured solution contained mercury. The solution and its vapours caused widespread cases of mercury poisoning among the hatters. Hence the phrase 'as mad as a hatter'. In 1941, the use of mercury in the felt industry was banned by the US Public Health Authority.

5. Wet Felting

A common process to make felt is called Wet Felting. This process is typically used with a wool blend felt. The wool fibres are stimulated by friction and kept wet with soapy water. The wet fibres are moved backwards and forwards to cause them to interlock and create a felt fabric. If you'd like to find out some more information about what felt is best for different sewing projects, click here .

6. Fuzzy Felt

In the 1950's a toy was introduced for children that stood the test of time and is still enjoyed by children today. It was called Fuzzy Felt and consisted of a piece of flocked board which had small cut out felt pieces that could be placed on the board to create pictures. There were many different scenes to choose from such as a farmyard, a school house etc.

Fuzzy Felt was invented by Lois Allan during World War II and it was manufactured in her cottage until 1972 when it moved to bigger premises. To date, over 29 million sets of Fuzzy Felt have been sold world wide. Its popularity peaked in the 1970's and it is now considered an iconic children's toy.

7. Musical Instruments

Felt is used inside many musical instruments. For example, in a piano, drums and accordions

What Next?

Now that you have heard some fun facts about felt, if you'd like to start making some stuffed animals out of felt, click here to look through our range of patterns so that you can choose a project.

If you have enjoyed this blog post, please share it with your friends on social media.

Can I Machine Wash Felt Toys?

asewinglife@gmail.com (Lisa Walters) — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 21:18:40 GMT

Can I Machine Wash Felt Toys?

Toys made from felt are lovely for lots of reasons. They're not plastic, they have a wonderful soft handle and they are often hand made which means that they've been made with love. Sometimes felt toys are made to sit on a shelf and be looked at and enjoyed and they never really get dirty. However, sometimes they are made to be played with and given to children who will inevitably get them dirty. This blog post will look at how you can keep your felt toys in tip top condition so that they can be played with and loved for as long as possible.

Why do I have to be Careful with Felt Toys?

Felt is made by compressing, heating and meshing wool or synthetic fibres together. This process involves heat, water and agitation and gives felt its distinctive appearance and qualities. However, it does make it a little bit more difficult to clean felt because the cleaning process typically involves heat, water and agitation which can ruin the felt.

Can I make my own Felt Toy?

Yes you can. It can be really easy to make a felt soft toy. We have a free pattern for a mini felt bear which is really easy to make and a perfect project for beginners. If you click here you will be able to read the tutorial about how to make the mini stuffed toy and then when you subscribe, you'll receive the free pattern with the full instructions. When you've read through this blog you'll also have all of the information that you need when the mini bear gets dirty and needs to be cleaned.

Why Would Heat Ruin the Felt?

Because the fibres have already been treated by heat, water and agitation, they have formed themselves into a fabric. The nature of this fabric means that if these processes are applied to the felt again, it will continue to shrink together and become even more tightly interwoven and become even more felted. If the felt has been made into a felt toy, the last thing you want to happen is for the toy to shrink and the felt to become thick and distorted from it's original shape.

What do you do when the Felt Teddy Bear gets Dirty?............

Surface Cleaning is Best

If possible, the best way to clean the dirt off a felt toy is to surface clean it. That means, clean the dirt off the surface without having to submerge the toy into water. First of all leave the dirt to dry. When it is completely dry you can either use a small hand hoover that is not too powerful or very carefully use a soft brush to gently brush the dirt off. Do not brush too hard or you will make the felt bobble and you could wear some of the felt away into a hole.

Hand Washing is the Next Best Option

If surface cleaning does not work, the next best thing is to hand wash the felt toy. Fill a bowl of water with cool or cold water. Do not use hot water under any circumstances because that will distort the felt. Add a very, very tiny amount of gentle detergent, preferably one that is intended to be used to wash wool items. Very gently submerge the felt toy into the water and gently squeeze the water out. If there is dirt in a particular spot then gently rub it off. Squeeze the toy again several times.. Hang the toy up so that all of the water can drain out and let it air dry. The felt may feel a little bit stiffer when it dries but with a little bit of handling, it will soften up again.

Add a Lemon

If the toy has something spilled on it such as milk that will smell if left, squeeze a lemon into the bowl of hand-washing water. The anti-bacterial and antiseptic properties of the lemon will get rid of any germs and leave a nice smell. If the felt contains wool, the wool has natural anti-bacterial properties but not enough to be able to leave the toy with a large amount of dirt on it.

Finally, use the Washing Machine

If the toy is really dirty and can't be cleaned by surface washing or hand washing, use the washing machine. It will need to go on the most gentle setting on a cool wash. Only use mild detergent that is intended for wool products and do not use the tumble drier under any circumstances as that will shrink the felt and ruin it.

What Next?

If you have enjoyed this blog post, please share it with your friends on social media. Subscribe and you will receive a free beginners felt toy pattern and also get all of our news and stories.

How to Choose the Best Felt for Sewing Projects

asewinglife@gmail.com (Lisa Walters) — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 14:21:41 GMT

How to Choose the Best Felt for Sewing Projects

There is a huge choice of felt available on the market and it can be very overwhelming to know which one to choose for which project. So, let's look a bit deeper into the different types of felt and their uses.

What is Felt?

Felt is made by compressing and matting fibres together using heat, moisture and pressure. During the processes, the fibres are permanently locked together and form a very strong felt fabric.

Felt is a wonderful fabric that is strong, hard wearing and does not fray. In ancient times felt was used to make rugs, clothing, shoes and many other items. In modern times it continues to be used universally across many industries such as manufacturing and clothing and it is a perfect material to make soft toys.

What is Felt Made From?

Felt can be made from man-made and/or natural fibres and each has slightly different qualities. The natural fibres used are wool or animal fur. Examples of man-made fibres are petroleum based acrylic or wood pulp based rayon. It is very common for felt to be made from a combination of several different fibres which can be both man-made and natural.

How do I choose which felt to use?

There will be several factors which will help you to decide what type of felt to use. These include your budget and what the end purpose of your sewing project is.

Craft Felt

If you are on a tight budget, the cheapest type of felt to buy is craft felt which is widely available in craft stores and is very cheap. It is 100% synthetic and is made from acrylic, polyester, rayon or viscose.

Benefits of Craft Felt

The upside to this felt is it's wide availability, its price and its availability in a huge array of colours and prints. It is often sold in thin squares, sometimes it is available with an adhesive backing which makes it great for craft projects where pieces need to be cut out and glued together.

Negatives of Craft Felt

The downside of this felt is that it is not the best quality, it can be quite stiff and it pills quite easily. This kind of felt is recommended for any projects that are quick and easy and potentially will not be used for long periods i.e holiday crafts, kids projects or school projects.

Wool Blend Felt

Felt that is made out of man made fibers and blended with wool is called wool blend felt. The 2 common types of wool blend felt are: 20% wool/80% rayon and 35% wool/65%rayon.

Benefits of Wool Blend Felt

The wool content gives the felt a softer, more luxurious feel and it has a smooth handle. Wool blend felt is available in a full range of colours. When the wool is added, it allows the different fibres to be mixed in which can create heather, marl-effect colours. These colours give a softer, old-fashioned, antique appearance and lend more of a traditional feel to the finished project.

A Sewing Life Uses Wool Blend Felt

Most of the stuffed animals in A Sewing Life are made using a marl wool blend felt which give them their traditional, whimsical look. If you would like to see some of the felt toys made using this felt, click here . The sewing kits all contain wool blend felt, mostly in marl colours. Take a look at the kits here .

100% Wool Felt

Felt that is made from 100% wool tends to be thicker than other felt and it can have a rougher texture where you can sometimes see the natural fibres more. It is suitable for projects that require a thicker, more sturdy fabric such as bags, baskets and home accessories. This tends to be the most expensive of the different types of felt.

How Thick Should Felt be?

Another difference in the felt is the thickness. Generally, if you are using a standard craft felt it will be approximately 1-2mm thick and this is acceptable to use for most craft projects. You can also purchase felt which is slightly thicker, up to 5mm and that would be used in a project where you need something a bit stiffer that holds it shape more.

How can I judge the Quality Before I Buy?

It is very difficult to tell what a felt will feel like when you buy on-line so it is always advisable to buy the smallest piece possible to see what it is like and then order more when you are sure of it's quality. Alternatively, visit a craft store or a haberdashery where you will be able to handle the felt and ask for advice.

What Next?

If you enjoyed this blog post, please share it with your friends on social media. Now that you have a better understanding of which felt to use, take a look through some of our sewing pattern s , made using wool blend felt and pick your favourite to start your next sewing project.

How to Make a Felt Toy

asewinglife@gmail.com (Lisa Walters) — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 14:21:30 GMT

How to Make a Felt Toy

What is felt?

Before making a felt toy it’s best to understand what felt is. Felt is a man-made material that is made by compressing and matting fibres together. Huge amounts of pressure are applied so that the fibres are permanently interwoven together and the felt is formed. Felt can be made from natural fibres such as wool, or synthetic fibres such as acrylic or rayon. It can also be a blend of several different types of fibre which is quite common.

What type of felt should I use?

There are many different types of felt of varying quality. The type of felt that you use will be dependent on what you are wanting to achieve from your soft toy.

Budget v's Quality. The Cheaper Option

Your budget will also be a factor. Generally, 100% acrylic felt is the cheapest felt to use and is readily available online and in craft stores. It comes in a wide selection of colours and can have printed patterns on it. However, a word of caution, this type of felt does not have the softest handle and it will pill (bobble) more easily and will not last well. Therefore, if you are making something that you are investing a lot of time and energy into, acrylic felt may be a bit of let down for you. However, if you just want to make a quick, cheap project, this is probably the felt for you.

Budget V's Quality. The Better Quality Option

If you want a better quality felt that has a softer handle that won’t pill, I would recommend using a wool blend felt which will give you a much nicer quality end product. If you would like to read some more detailed information about which felt to choose for different types of sewing projects, click here .

What type of toy shall I make?

There are lots of lovely decisions that you need to make before you decide on which type of toy to make. This is an enjoyable part of the process choosing fabric, colour, style etc. Be lead by your heart and not your head with these decisions. Choose a toy that you fall in love with so that when you spend time sewing it, you will enjoy it even more. If you want to look through some of our felt toy patterns, click here .

Hand or machine sew?

Decide what kind of look you want to go for. Hand sewn toys have a hand finished look and machine sewn toys can have a look more similar to a shop bought item. Machine sewing is quicker and requires knowledge of using a sewing machine. Hand sewing requires less prior knowledge and simply learning whip stitch is all that’s needed to get going.

Hand Sewing

Hand sewing will take longer to complete the project but that is part of the joy of it. It is almost like a meditation which makes it so relaxing. If you are a complete beginner, it may be easier to choose a hand sewing project initially so that you can see if you like it and then you may want to progress onto a machine sewn project at a later date once you have bought a sewing machine.

Perfect Beginners Felt Toy

We have the perfect felt toy pattern for a beginner; a mini felt bear. Simply click here and you can subscribe and receive the free pattern immediately so that you can get going straight away with this really simple felt toy sewing project.

Digital or paper pattern?

There are now many soft toy patterns that can be bought as digital downloads. This means that you will be emailed a file to download and you print the pattern off yourself. They are really easy to use and can be reprinted as many times as you like so you can reuse the same pattern multiple times.

Many Small Business Use Digital Patterns

Digital patterns are often produced by small independent businesses so buying from them supports small businesses. Paper patterns are produced by the larger companies like Simplicity and have patterns that you cut out of tissue paper so you do not need to print them out yourself. If you would like some more detailed information about printed and digital patterns, click here .

What kind of stuffing?

Toy stuffing is mostly polyester and can be called toy stuffing, polyester stuffing or hollow fibre stuffing. They are all very similar and will all be fine to stuff toys. Sometimes if you have a large toy to stuff you can use small fabric or felt scraps but it is better to put them in the middle and surround them with toy stuffing, otherwise, they give a lumpy finish.

Add Weight to your Toy

If you want to add some weight to your toy, try adding some dried rice (not cooked rice) inside the toy. It can be wrapped up inside something like a very lightweight scrap of fabric or a piece of an old pair of stockings/tights to stop the rice from escaping.

What to do next?

If you found this post interesting and think that others may also enjoy it, please share it on any social media platforms.

If you would like to subscribe and receive our free mini felt bear pattern, click here .

10 Reasons Why Sewing is Good for You

asewinglife@gmail.com (Lisa Walters) — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 18:14:29 GMT

10 Reasons Why Sewing is Good for You

There are so many ways that sewing is good for you and it brings many benefits with it. Read on to find out about how you can improve your mental health and well-being through sewing.

1. Encourages creativity

Being creative is joyful. The wonderful thing about sewing is that you can create whatever you want to and if you so wish, no-one ever needs to see what you have created. Knowing that you don’t have to share your sewing project if you don’t want to, lends a certain freedom of creativity that lets you be free to express yourself without fear of judgement. If you would like to see our range of wonderfully creative sewing kits, click here .

2. Good for your mental health

A sewing hobby provides so many ways to help you relax, be creative, be mindful and it is a great way to improve your mental health and well-being. Many people have used sewing to help them through depression and mental illness. If you would like to read some more about how sewing can help support your mental health, click here .

3. Is a great way to relax

Sewing is an easy way to relax at home. Creating something out of nothing is a lovely feeling. Take your time, have a cup of tea, peruse some lovely fabrics and sewing patterns and select your next sewing project. Relax and enjoy the process. It’s all about the journey, not just the destination.

4. Increases your confidence

Sewing is relatively easy to start as a craft hobby and does not need lots of expensive equipment and materials. Because there are plenty of easy sewing ideas that you can start off with, you will find that your confidence will build quite quickly. The nice thing about sewing is that any mistakes can be passed off as adding character so there really is no way to fail.

5. Gives you a feeling of accomplishment

When you have completed a sewing project, no matter how small, there is a lovely feeling of accomplishment. It is surprising how much pleasure you will get from looking at a finished project and knowing that you have created it. If you would like to browse our collection of sewing patterns and sewing kits to get you going with your next sewing project, click here .

6. Is a great way to join a like-minded community

People who craft are generally friendly and giving and love nothing more than to talk about their craft and share their sewing projects with others. They love sharing their sewing hobby and craft with others and having experienced how much they enjoy it themselves, want to share it with others. There are so many groups on-line now to join that you will be sure to find one that suits you. Social media gives people the opportunity to share their interest and skills with like-minded people.

7. Takes you away from screens

Let’s face it, anything that takes you away from screens nowadays has got to be good. As fabulous as technology is, taking yourself away from it and immersing yourself in your creative ideas with a table full of fabric, thread and assorted accessories is a pure joy.

8. Allows you to ‘be present’

When you sew, you concentrate on the sewing project that you are working on and don’t think about the normal day-to-day worries. Concentrating on the flow of your sewing means that you can cut yourself off from the daily stress of multi-tasking and your never-ending list of things to do. A creative hobby like sewing allows you to totally switch off.

9. Gives you ‘me-time’

What’s not to love about having some me-time? Giving yourself permission to be alone and indulge in your love of sewing and creating is a real pleasure not to be missed. Indulging in a sewing craft project will give you the opportunity to relax your mind. If you would like to read more about how to make sewing your meditative hobby, click here .

10. Improves hand-eye co-ordination

The action of sewing means that you have to co-ordinate what you are doing with your hands and your eyes. This is a very important skill and the constant sewing and threading helps improve your fine motor skills. As you get older, this becomes more important.

What to do next?

If you found this post interesting and think that others may also enjoy it, please share it on any social media platforms.

If you would like to join the mailing list and receive a free pattern subscribe here .

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