Handmade Animal Dolls: 20 Simple Sewing Patterns for Stylish Toys Kindle Edition

I love this book! Mellisa has written clear well thought out instructions. I have made 10 dolls (6 or 7 different patterns) and they have all turned out beautifully and I am not an expert seamstress. I have never done felting before and it could not be easier, you simply take a small piece of felt and start poking. Her tips and suggested materials are spot on. These animals will make someone very happy and it makes me happy making them.‘

I absolutely love the animal designs in this book. And, the instructions are great. However, be aware that if you have a Kindle version there is absolutely no way to print the patterns! I did not want to give the book a bad review due to something that is not the authors fault. However, I would not recommend the digital version as the book is pretty useless to me without the printed patterns.

Love everything about this book. She could not have made it easier. Lots of great tips, step by step instructions with photos, beautiful pictures of each doll, full sized patterns. Love it. A few people have mentioned the lack of needle felting instruction. She actually covers it pretty succinctly. It requires a felting needle and wool roving and a felting mat. It literally could not be easier. You poke the wool into shape. That’s it. And if you don’t want to needle felt the eyes and nose of your animal.. make them with felt or fabric or embroidery or a button. There are loads of needle felting tutorials on YouTube if you’ve never done it before. I can’t wait to make all of these sweet animals. I have lots of doll making books..this is one of my favorites already!

My 10- and 13-year-olds both love this book. Both kids have taken sewing classes before and know the basics. The instructions were easy enough for them to sew from the book on their own. They made several animals from this book with pretty much no help from me and all their animals are absolutely adorable. The bear in the photo is what my 10-year old made with just minimal help (I helped with turning legs and arms and felted -- yes, the dreaded felting! -- his eyes). BTW, when they work on their own, they usually use buttons for eyes or just cut out felt circles and sew them on. There are plenty of possibilites for those who don't know how to or don't want to felt. Only saying this because it came up in the comments several times. All in all, we are very happy with this book and can see it being used over and over again in the future.

THE DESIGNS ARE SO CUTE AND EASY TO FOLLOW. I MADE THE TURTLE AND LIKED SO MUCH THE FINAL RESULT. GOOD BOOK, LOTS OF NICE IDEAS.

I would classify myself as a solid intermediate sewist. I was really looking forward to getting this book and giving a few of the animals a try. I have sewn garments, bags, wallets, quilts ...but never an animal. The very first pages (page 9 to be exact) "Gathering tools and Materials" talk about the technique of felting and many if not most of the animals in this book are felted. Now, I've sewn with felt but I have never "felted", but hey...I'm willing to give it a try. On page 10 she writes..and I quote "If you've never needle felted before, below is the basic information you need to know" and then she shows some felting needles...talks about a felting block (a tool used when felting) and some of her favorite felts to use but NOWHERE does she EVER discuss how it is you go about felting. Okay, maybe if I go to the first toy project in the chapter "Starting Simple", she will explain it...ah but I digress...Pages 10-12 are on techniques...you would think the felting would be here...nope. I find the whole section a bit confusing and in the wrong spot. I mean most of it is basic sewing techniques...it just feels like we are jumping ahead before we even figure out a pattern to work with first. I'm not sure where I would put it...may relevant techniques inserted at appropriate times within the instructions of the beginner projects...just feels out of synch...Next is the beginner project Toby Turtle in the "Starting Simple" chapter. Looks easy enough..except there's that felting that I have no idea how to do.. Lots of numbered colored pictures but wait...they start at number four! Where's the first 3? Okay, it's all about the templates on pages 151 and 152 so maybe they are labeled 1,2 &3? Nope. And where is the picture for #14? Well, it talks about a technique on page 13 (this is page 21), so I go back to page 13 expecting to see a picture of the turtle...nope....It's a shame, nice templates and what SHOULD be fairly simple projects...she will scare away any poor beginner who will vow never to entertain the thought of sewing ever again. Those like me who are fairly confident sewists will finally figure it out, but no help from the author of this book. It needs a good editor to revamp these issues...Now I'm gonna do a search on felting, cause I really wanna make that turtle..

Amazing book! Enchanting dolls, interesting designs. I love this book. I have made four of the dolls in less than a month of having this book in-hand, each doll more sweet than the last. I will likely make every doll in this book.

Fun book heave already made the raccoon

I bought this book a week ago and it has already given me a lot of pleasure, as well as challenging my creativity and patience. I have had a trial-run by making the fox, to understand the process of construction, the type of materials that work best, and to adapt the pattern to my own choices – eg hand-sewn felt nose and eyes, rather than needle-felted. Next, I will make another fox – better and more quickly. Much care has gone into the design of the book as well as the animal dolls – it must have been a labour of love. The book is not perfect but it is excellent and I would buy from this author again. If you enjoy crafting and learning – buy this book.

I like the fact that the patterns are full sized. I hat having to reproduce them to make the the correct size.

I really love this book and there is no messing around enlarging patterns. Brilliant book.

Ok for the beginner, but the advanced maker will find these lacking , but nicely presented

This book is really great. I have the material to start a fox and look forward to it. The pattern pieces are full size and seem to have good instructions.