Cool temperatures and turning leaves are reminders that it is
time to start thinking about Christmas crafts.
It may seem early, but if you are a crafter making gifts for
craft fairs and loved ones, you have probably already started. Finding new items each year can be a
challenge. Over the next couple of weeks I will be looking for ideas. In that effort, I looked back at some of the toys made in previous years. These favorites were fun to make and fun to
give. If you are a family follower, you
may recognize some of the items. If you
are a crafter, perhaps you will find a spark that generates an idea for your
Christmas craft.
Runo Dolls
I made four of these dolls over the years. They are about 30” tall. Their heads are stuffed tightly, while the body and limbs are soft. Shoes and clothes, including long bloomers, are removable. The pattern can be found online at Doll Making by Runo. The instructions are a bit difficult to follow,
but the patterns are free and the results are rewarding.
Nola Hart Dolls
I
first saw these dolls when a dear friend and gifted crafter made them to sell
in her Etsy store. The pattern by Nola
Hart was published in the November/December 2009 issue of
Cloth-Paper-Scissors. I made five
dolls, about 12" tall. They were labor-intensive, but
fun to make, and our young girls loved them.
American Girl Armoires
American Girl dolls provide endless possibilities for gifts. I enjoyed many hours of crafting fun while making these closets. The first closet was a kit purchased online. Fusible webbing was used to cover the cardboard pieces in fabric.
By the time our twin granddaughters were ready for American girl closets, the kit was no longer available. Instead, I used wooden toy boxes available in art and craft stores. I measured, cut and covered cardboard with fabric to fit the inside of the closet. Experience with the earlier kit made this easier than it otherwise might have been.
Stuffed Animals
Simplicity Pattern 2202 was used to make these stuffed felt animals for nieces. They were about 12” tall. Probably not suitable for very young children because the felt cannot easily be washed. 
Crocheted Creatures
These funny little crocheted creatures were popular with both our boys and girls. Although I made them in 2008, the free pattern is still available on Lion Brand Yarns website, Project No.80289AD. The pattern indicates the yarns used have been discontinued, but any fuzzy yarn would work. It is a good pattern for beginners and they are great gifts for little kids. 
I am still working on traditional sewing projects, but nothing ready for posting. I also started a new thread sketch. I hope to have something new to share in a couple of weeks. Thank you for dropping in. I hope you will come back again.
