Over at Crochet Lovers Victoria, we had a Valentines Day Competition...
The idea was to design and crochet a gift for a loved one, and to incorporate a heart somewhere in the design.
As always, I left it until the last minute. Not because I wanted to, but just because I couldn't think of anything interesting enough to enter.
In the end, I decided on a very mainstream piece... and designed my interpretation of the standard Valentines Day Bear.
Of course he is made using reclaimed yarns... the eyes are beads from a recycled necklace, and the nose is cut from a felted jumper.
I have a bit of a thing about stuffing though... it has to be new. I've experimented with recycled stuffings from inside old toys, cushions, etc... but I'm never happy with the quality of it. It seems to have deteriorated over time, and almost have a crumbly, powdery texture to it - that I just don't like, and refuse to use.
I know that there is the idea of using wool/fabric scraps as stuffing... but I just don't like the results I get from them.
Totally open to ideas though.
If you have a fabulous stuffing idea, let me know!
And if I ever come across one... of course you guys will be the first to know...
Meanwhile... this little guy won me the competition, and is now for sale in my madeit store.
I will be perfecting the pattern, and once it has been through the testing process - it will be available for sale as a PDF and also as part of a kit (including yarns, beads and felt for making your own bear)
I would think that we are looking at a time frame of around 8 weeks...
13 comments:
Sooo cute! I love his tummy :-) Well done for winning.
For stuffing, I tend to use new as well - polyester fibrefill. When my eldest made a soft toy, we used shredded t-shirts, which he was happy with, but it is a bit lumpy. I'd like to used natural fibres, like wool, but the budget can't take it at the moment ;-)
Just noticed the coments thingy below! Yaaay!
I like how everything about him says 'valentine' and yet it's only that little heart shape instead of the mouth that's actually related to the idea of love. He is very cute!
My girls and I have have started using rice for stuffing. It at least is biodegradable. Beans also work well.
hey sam...
I hate the lumpy look too... it seems such a shame to put so much effort into a project, and then ruin it by using an unsuitable stuffing!
yay! you found the comment subscription... please let me know if it works :)
hey misha...
thanks... I was aiming for something that would be fairly understated... in fact, I started out making him in a bold red and stark white - but he ended up looking too trashy and commercial... so the beige/burgundy combination came up much nicer
hey tonia...
rice and beans? hmmm.... will store that away for future reference - probably not for crochet or knit toys (too easy for it to escape through all those little holes) but defininately for any fabric projects
quick question - when using rice/beans... are you able to wash the toy afterwards? I find that toys need to be washable... and just wondering if that is possible, or whether the filling would expand... or get soggy, mouldy, etc.
comment subscription works - tick - and it's very posh :-)
I'm happy now, lol.
Don't think you could wash the beans - we had bean bags that were left out in the rain. They were a bit unpleasantly squishy afterwards.
woo hoo!!!! very happy that the subscription thingy is working!
as for the bean bags... UNPLEASANTLY SQUISHY???? ughhhhhhhh... not pretty
For stuffing, have you ever tried cut-up pantyhose/stockings? (not your good ones, though, use the ones with the catches and runs in them!) It makes a washable stuffing, and it's easily air-dried too.
This little bear is very sweet indeed.
You know we haven't washed any of our products yet, but I just researched it online, and found that it can be washed on cold, and air dryed.
hey deb...
thanks... I've often wondered about pantyhose... but I don't wear them all that often, so there aren't many around here needing recycled
the odd pair that I end up with get used to clean the soap scum from the shower (very effective)
and if I ever came across a bagful, I think I would be more curious about crocheting or knitting with them :)
hey tonia...
thanks for getting back to me - very interesting about the cold water - good to know
Ive got a suggestion for stuffing, fleece scraps, it is soooo fluffy, I used it in a stuffed kitty for my 4yr old, I never felt a snugglier plush toy, I used a long rolled up piece to stuff the body, and cut lengths for the head and leg stuffing... super cushy
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