Heidi Boyd - Stitched Whimsy: A Playful Pairing of Felt & Fabric

When I was a child, I designed and hand stitched stuffed animals for my little brothers. Im not sure if they appreciated my handmade gifts, but I keenly remember how much I enjoyed making them. I never stopped creating, and years of professional crafting have familiarized me with an astounding variety of crafting materials. This book offered the unique opportunity to integrate my love of sewing with beading, needle felting and mixed-media crafting. It was an absolute joy to create, and I sincerely hope it brings you many happy hours of stitching.

Prepare yourself for an overload of cuteness. Sewing up the projects in this book is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. I have as much fun stitching up these designs as I do gifting them and selling them at craft fairs. When greeted with vibrant colors in fun designs, people cant help but chuckle and grin. They instinctively reach out to touch the soft fabric pairings. The small size and sweet facial expressions of softies like the Happy Hedgehogs on page 68 beg to be held, hugged and loved.

Non-traditional fabric combinations are the key to the easy construction and textural appeal of these whimsical designs. Gorgeous prints zing with pattern and color while fleece and felt add softness. Both fleece and felt have the advantage of no-fray edges, eliminating sewing steps. Wool felt also is the superstar of many of the creations; its available in a stunning array of colors and coordinates with any fabric selection. Its heft gives structure to the projects and also allows you to needle felt wool roving directly into the fiber. Almost every project needs less than a yard of fabric. The perfect fabric makes all the difference. Enjoy the process and take time to choose what will work best for each project.

Sewing up any of the designs is quick and simple, making the book perfect for beginning sewers as well. I machine stitched almost everything with the simple straight-stitched seams. Basic embroidery stitches are used to add faces and encircle appliqud felt. Beauty is in the details, and Ive included instructions and tips to help you embellish your whimsical creations with felt flowers, beads, buttons and sequins.

Whether you choose to cook up slices of bright cherry pie or create sleepy owls with layered flower eyes, your efforts are sure to spread whimsical fun to your family and friends.