Have you seen any of those ugly dolls that seem to be all the rage? If not, no worries (try googling them ;) ). They’re interesting and ugly AND it’s easy to make your own version! If you know how to sew, go for it—if not, we will make a version of an ugly doll using the knotting technique from yesterday.
I think ugly dolls get their name because only their owners could love them :) , so how much more will someone love one of these dolls if you make it for them?!
The great thing is you should have some leftover fleece from yesterday so you can make a matching stuffed buddy to go with the blanket and pillow. Plus, you already know the technique so you’ll be a whiz at this.
It’s also important to know that a bigger buddy is easier to make than a small buddy so don’t be afraid to go a bit bigger (it’ll be a lot smaller than you think once done).
So, if you have a litter of little ones coming your way for the holidays, this project is pretty inexpensive and each will be completely unique so that each child feels like their cuddly critter was made just for him or her!
Cuddly Critters:
Materials and Supplies:
~ about 1/2 yard of 2 different colors of fleece
~ 1 lb. Polyfill or Fiberfill
~ Tape
~ Scissors
~ Copy paper
~ Pencil
~Sharpie
~ 1 or 2 buttons
~Hot glue gun or thread and needle
Directions:
1. Take two pieces of copy paper and tape them together to form a piece that’s 11” x 17”.
2. Determine the shape of the cuddly critter. This can be anything you want. Remember, ugly dolls are, well, ugly. They don’t have to be pretty, they don’t have to be symmetrical (one side looking like the other), they don’t have to be exactly what you want. The finished project will be PERFECT, no matter what! Remember, the uglier the better!
3. Draw your shape onto the paper. It doesn’t have to be an ugly monster—it could be a circle (to turn into a face), heart, letter, flower, etc. Just try not to have severe angles—go with curves and waves--because it'll be easier to make fringe when you don't have tight corners.
4. Cut the paper shape out and place it in the center of the fleece so that you have roughly the same amount of fleece all around the edges (for fringe).
Remember from yesterday: fleece doesn’t exactly have a front and back like normal material but if there’s writing--that needs to be on the outside. Also, one side might have a bit brighter coloring so just look it over and decide what you want on the outside.
The paper should go against the "inside" or "back" of the fleece.
5. Trace the shape onto the fleece with the Sharpie. You might get pencil to show up, too.
6. Place the second piece of fleece under the first.
7. When you cut out the shape, you’re not going to follow the Sharpie line. Don’t be worried, I’m not going crazy! You will be cutting around the shape 3 to 5 inches away (the fringe!). This way, you won’t have Sharpie showing on the fringe—keep it nice and clean looking. Then, when you do start cutting out the fringe, you cut to the line drawn so your final shape is perfect.
8. Making sure the outsides of the fleece are facing each other (inside out), begin to cut fringe. I make this fringe a bit thinner, about 1 inch. Again, use your eye!
9. Put the outsides back on the outside. The drawn shape should be hidden now.
10. Begin knotting. Remember, you can do this a few different ways. I like lots of crazy hair-like fringe so I do the square knots (see my critter at the top of this post).
11. Leave one part unknotted (four or five fringe knots) so you can do two things.
1) If this is for little ones, sew the buttons on for eyes. If you’re worried about there being a choking hazard, you can sew on a piece of fleece or draw the eye (or eyes) on with the Sharpie. If it’s for someone a bit older, you can hot glue the button on.
2) Stuff the critter! It can be as thin or fat as you want.
12. Finish knotting.
Extra gift idea?
Don't forget to name the little critter!
Did you know you can get little sound buttons to put inside stuffed animals? You can get these at Michael’s and Hobby Lobby and record a sweet message to someone.
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