Woodland Creatures

Ah, there's nothing like a last minute Christmas gift panic to really get the festive spirit going, is there? I present to you Mr Fox and Miss Doe, finished in the absolute nick of time before the big day. They don't have names yet, as I want to give Bella and Angus that pleasure when they unwrap them. 

The animals were entirely their own choosing. I bought the patterns from Alicia Paulson's shop, and I would really recommend buying the patterns over the kits as they're such good value and you can use whatever fabric you like. Also, I ordered a kit for a friend for Christmas and was charged £12 import duty. £12!! Outrageous. The only thing I would say is make sure you use really good quality, pure wool felt. I meant to order this but think I actually ended up with acrylic, which looks fine but is nowhere near as strong. It meant I couldn't stuff either toy nearly as much as I wanted to as it just splits. Grrr. I've learnt my lesson.

Anyway, here is Mr Fox. I think he is my favourite.

His scarf is alpaca yarn, nice and soft.

His shirt is made from an old shirt of mine that I cut up long ago. A shirt made from a shirt, I like that. 

And his jeans are an old pair of mine, also relegated to the fabric drawer when they wore out. I had a bit of trouble getting the needle through three layers of the denim on the pockets, but otherwise they're good.

Brown felt lace-up boots complete his dapper outfit. I want to make him a jumper now.

And here is Miss Doe. 

Her headscarf is knitted in the same alpaca yarn as Fox's scarf. I had some, err, difficulties, with this pattern and my mother-in-law helped me enormously with it. 

Her dress is made from a piece of Liberty fabric I've had for ages with a repeating parrot design. I'd have gone for something more floral, but Bella was insistent this was the fabric she wanted for the dress.

I love her boots most. They were such fun to make. I'd quite like some slippers like this I think.

All in all, a very enjoyable project. Machine sewing the tiny clothes was fiddly, although not impossible, but hand sewing the dolls and boots was my favourite part by far. I love making things for my children, I really, really do. 

We are now at my parents' house, temporarily free from boxes and the disruption of a house move, and enjoying time with family. Contracts have now been exchanged (phew!) and the whole process moves slowly forward. I love this time of year; in the next five days we'll celebrate both my sisters' birthdays, my nephews birthday, and of course Christmas Day. I hope you are all enjoying this sweet time in the festive period.