The Making of Soft Toys - Including a Set of Full-Sized Patterns for Animals and Birds

By Elliot C. Edlmann

This is a vintage guide to making a variety of lovely soft toys by hand, ranging from cute ducklings to teddy bears. A timeless handbook full of simple instructions and helpful diagrams, “The Making of Soft Toys” is recommended for all with a love of handicrafts and fun, money-saving ideas! Contents Include: “Introductory”, “Materials and Types of Toys", "Joints and Finishings", "Instructions for Making Up the Patterns:- Aberdeen Jock", "Flying Duckling", "Derry Duckling", "Peggy Penguin", "Mary's Lamb", "Tabby Kitten", "Bunny Rabbit", "Sammy Sealyham", "Bill Spaniel", "Teddy Bear", and “Peter Puppy”. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: Apr 16, 2013
• ISBN: 9781447492108

Book preview

THE MAKING OF

SOFT TOYS

INTRODUCTORY

CHILDREN in all ages, all countries, and all climates, have always demanded toys. Many toys of great antiquity, some of them as old as 2,000 years B.C., have been unearthed by archaeologists,—pathetic treasures buried with their little owners, and representing in miniature the common objects seen in daily life,—models of the animals of the country, as well as dolls, tiny sets of furniture, household utensils, etc. Most of the toys which have survived the ages are hard toys, of wood, earthenware, stone, metal, and some of ivory. Most probably soft toys were made at quite as early a date, but have perished in the course of time. The earliest soft toys yet discovered are a doll belonging to the third century B.C., made of linen and stuffed with papyrus, a wool ball of the same century, and leather balls stuffed with hair. So the soft-toy maker of the present day may feel that she is following one of the most ancient of home-crafts when she makes the soft cuddle-toys, as dear to the hearts of the children of our days as were the primitive toys loved and cherished by the children of those far-away centuries.

MATERIALS AND TYPES

OF TOYS

MATERIALS

The object of this book is to give some information as to how these toys may be made in the home. Soft-toy-making is a fascinating craft and can be carried on with very little outlay in the matter of tools,—and it is an excellent way of using up those odd lengths and left-over pieces of silk, velvet, etc., which are apt to lie by for years in the piece-box. Many of these make charming toys, and the toy-maker can exercise much ingenuity in this direction. For furry toys, specially-made fur-cloths can be obtained, closely resembling the skin of the animal represented. Toy-makers will find, as they become engrossed in their craft, so they become more observant of nature and never lose an opportunity of studying, for example, the set of a rabbit’s ears, the characteristics of different breeds of dogs, the shape of a duck’s foot, position of eyes, etc. Those who have not the opportunity of observing living animals will find great help in studying good pictures, particularly the excellent photographs which appear from time to time in the daily papers—Zoo photographs, and photographs taken at dog shows, cattle shows, cat