Sew Cute Toys

Karine Thiboult is a journalist, designer, photo stylist and author who blogs under the pen name Mademoiselle Tika. Karine lives in France.After studying at the Beaux-Arts in Rennes, Karine joined a major Parisian fashion design school. She then became an interior design and fashion journalist.Karine is the author of several books on crafts and pastimes, including French knitting, stamping and printing, and decorating with pompoms and tassels.Follow Karine on Instagram @mademoiselletika

• A few tips... 6Toys for young children 12Little elephant 16, Mini reindeer 18, Marmot plushie 22, Mr Cat 24, Cuddly monster 26 Comfort toys for older children and adults 30Baby bear 34, Fox family 36, Dreamy cat 40, Hungry sloth 43, Woolly friends 48, Raccoon pillow 50 Practical comfort toys 52Musical star 56, Jungle teething ring 58, Bear pyjama bag 62, Squeaky bunny 64, Wolf heat pack 66 Character dolls 70Bob the superhero 74, Madame unicorn 77, Elegant Anna 82, Miss Cat 85, Pretty Geisha 90, Little Isaure 93 List of suppliers & acknowledgements 96

I have one word to describe most of the projects in this book – simplistic. There are some lovely patterns in this book, the projects are all well illustrated and very easy to follow mainly because instructions for construction are not too complicated, and the facial features require simple embroidery stitches with many faces following similar patterns. Also some patterns require a range of simple skills in sewing, embroidery and knitting and the Tips pages give all the details on how to tackle these skills as well as explaining all the tools and materials needed. The photos are lovely and clear so you know exactly what you’re working towards and the text is in a crisp clear font. The toys are grouped into four Sections of the book ranging from Toys for Young Children, Comfort Toys to Character Dolls. Character Dolls look to be aimed at older children or adults because I really liked the patterns on offer in this section. The way the faces are to be embroidered and the type of doll to be made are really delightful – Elegant Anna and Pretty Geisha are two dolls I am tempted to make for myself. There are some cute toys in the Toys for Young Children section and they are so simple to construct, for example the Little Elephant project is pretty much two pattern pieces sewn together, and this pattern doesn’t necessarily need to be enlarged. Which brings me to the one downside of this book. The majority of the pattern pieces drawn in the book need to be enlarged before starting on the project. The patterns call for enlargement from anywhere between 180% to 400% and if, like me, you have a simple home printer/copier without an enlargement functionality there are only two projects, the Baby Bear and the Bear Pyjama Bag, that can be made without enlargement. Unless, of course, you are happy to make the projects to the pattern sizes as drawn in the book, as I would be with the Little Elephant project. I think for 24 projects this book gives value for money but there may be an added cost in getting the pattern pieces enlarged.