Customer Reviews

Feltcraft: Making Dolls, Gifts and Toys

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I'd seen this book in catalogs, but it wasn't until I had one in my hands and flipped through it that I understood all the hoopla and praise. It's so full of easy felt projects, quite suitable for beginning sewers, dollmakers, and most especially children. I teach sewing to children and I use this book all the time! They love the tiny dolls and stuffed animals. If you can't find 100% wool felt or stuffing, it doesn't matter; the polyester type in craft stores will work just as well. There are so many rainy day projects in this book, you'd have to live in a rain forest to go through them all! I highly recommend. And if you like this book, check out my website for more recommendations: thesilverpenny.com.

This book is definitely worth adding to your craft library. It calls for 100% wool felt, but I have had very good results using acrylic felt (since 100% wool felt is expensive and hard to find). At Halloween time my 10 year-old daughter and I made the cute little Gnomes in all sizes and colors. We displayed them on the television with props and referred to them as trick-or-treaters. We also made the "sitting cat", "horse" and "man made with pipe cleaners" for a school diorama project. When we made the six-sided felt balls, we stuffed them with polyester stuffing and weighting pellets and had a kind of "hacky-sack" type toy. We've also done the finger crochet which can be used for various projects. There are also patterns for finger puppets, tapestries, mobiles, animals, fairies, hazelnut children, necklaces, and wooden doll pegs dressed in felt. This book has appeal for kids and adults alike.

This craft book is wonderful for parents and children who wish to make natural toys that inspire creative play. In this world of video games, Pokemon, Barney, and Happy Meals, here is a lovely return to simple, down-home crafting. I made a six-sided felt ball in less than two hours; there are also instructions for doll figures, gnomes, fairies, etc. Some of the translation is a little quirky (this is a Dutch book,) and it is hard to get hold of 100% wool felt and carded wool, but with a little sleuthing, you can go right back to log cabin days and have a ball! Easy for the beginning crafter.