Menten Theodore - Snappy Critters: Easy-to-Make Plush Toys

Snappy Critters Easy-to-Make Plush Toys Ted Menten DOVER PUBLICATIONS, INC. Mineola, New York WARNING: Children should only do the projects described in this book under adult supervision. The projects require working with pins and small objects, such as beads and snaps, that pose dangers and are potential choking hazards for small children. Copyright Copyright 2012 by Ted Menten All rights reserved. Bibliographical Note Snappy Critters: Easy-to-Make Plush Toys is a new work,
first published by Dover Publications, Inc., in 2012. International Standard Book Number eISBN-13: 978-0-486-78463-2 Manufactured in the United States by Courier Corporation 48171901 www.doverpublications.com CONTENTS Welcome to Snappyville At the edge of the green woods and across the pond from cliffs of the great mountain is the tiny village of Snappyville.

The inhabitants of this community call themselves the Snappys because they are all very different but are all created the same wayjust like human beings! Here in Snappyville there are all sorts of plush critters who often have brothers and sisters as well as cousins. There are Betty and Bobby Bunny who love to eat carrots and hide colorful eggs at Easter time. Down the lane is Karol Kitty and her cousin Tilly Tiger. In the tiny house with blue shutters lives Martin Mouse and across the street is the large white house of his neighbor Leonard Lion. The Snappys love to play together and celebrate all the holidays. They make valentines, shamrocks, and Christmas stockings as well as delightful Easter eggs.

Some of the Snappys wear plaid outfits while others wear scarves or circus ruffs around their necks. Snappyville is full of fun and fantasy just waiting to be explored. All it takes is some imagination plus a needle and thread. What is a Snappy? A Snappy is an easy-to-make jointed stuffed toy animal. Each Snappy is about seven inches tall not counting their ears. They are called Snappys because their joints are made with dressmaker snaps.

A Snappy can be made from almost any fabric, from expensive mohair to inexpensive terry cloth. And, of course, there are the four F materialsfur, felt, flannel, and fleece. All of these fabrics will be discussed in a later chapter. The techniques used to make a Snappy are quick and easy but might be unfamiliar to sewers who have never made a stuffed toy before or are accustomed to the more traditional techniques. There are illustrated step-by-step instructions with photographs that explain, in detail, each step in the process. There are almost endless possibilities for creating your own unique Snappy companion.

They are a fun project for schools, as well as doll and teddy bear clubs. I taught a Snappy class online to over 200 students worldwide and a delightful time was had by all the students. That class was the inspiration for this book. Fabric Personalities When you are ready to create your first Snappy it is important to consider what sort of animal it will be based on and what fabric will work best to express that critters persona. FLEECE has become a very popular fabric for making toy animals. It is soft and dense and very easy to sew.

HEAVY WOOL and FLANNEL offer a similar effect to fleece but the surface is not as fuzzy. FELT is easy to sew and can be wire brushed to add texture to the surface. MOHAIR is the traditional fabric used for over a hundred years to create plush toys. It is a bit more expensive than the other fabrics. Fun Fabrics for a Snappy There are many fabrics that can be used to create a delightful Snappy Critter. Basically, there are two categorieswoven and non-woven.

For instance, mohair fabric is a woven fabric. Fleece and flannel would fall into the non-woven category because they generally have a stretch quality that needs to be stabilized. Felt needs to be stabilized because it can stretch and has the potential to weaken and split apart. Lightweight cottons need to be stabilized for added strength. In order to stabilize fabrics it is necessary to back them with lightweight WOVEN iron-on interfacing. It is ESSENTIAL that it be a woven interfacing in order for it to stabilize a fabric.

A non-woven interfacing will not stabilize a fabric that stretches when it is stuffed. The iron-on woven interfacing is available in most fabric shops. And it has a secondary function. It provides a clean surface to trace out your patterns. Certain fabrics, like fleece and terry cloth are the same on both sides so the iron-on woven interfacing helps to flatten the back and makes a stable surface to trace out the patterns. Most of the time, mohair with a light color backing does not require any interfacing.

However, if the backing is a dark color then it is best to use the interfacing as a light surface to trace out the patterns. Picking a Fabric Many types of fabric can be used to make a Snappy. There are also animal print fabrics available, but the trick is to find a print in the right scale. Later on we will discuss how to create animal prints if you cannot find one in the right scale and colors. There are several major differences between faux fur and mohair, and basic fuzzy fabrics like fleece and terry cloth. Looking at the swatches from the front does not show much direction either. If you fold the swatch from top to bottom you can see that the fur tends to stand straight out. If you fold the swatch from side to side you can see that the fur tends to lay in a downward direction. Supplies & Tools This is a list of supplies needed to make a Snappy: Plush fabric or mohair Woven interfacing Felt for ear lining Pom-poms Dress snaps #1 or #2 Tiny 1/8-inch beads for eyes Fiber-fill for stuffing Pipe cleaner for tails