Countryside Softies: 28 Handmade Wool Creatures to Stitch

I got my copy a week ago, and after initially being in awe of how cute all the stuffed animals were, I started sewing! The instructions are thorough and easy to understand, with many different levels of instructions built in. I love the emphasis on re-using old clothes. So far I've made the Owl and Baby Owl, each took about and hour to an hour and a half, and I'm working on the swan now. They are darling, I'm amazed that they look just as good as the ones in the book, despite just using various scraps that I had from other projects. Tracing the patterns out of the book is great, because I will never lose the originals and can change up sizes as I need by copying larger or smaller. I can't emphasize enough how beautiful these softies are! Amy Adams really focuses on how there is no best or perfect way to sew a softy and that every stitch, no matter how crooked, gives the creature a uniqueness and shows the love that went into its creation.I would highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to make some precious stuffed animals!

I must own 30 books on doll making - and I do make a lot of dolls, most of which I design myself - but I am happy that I bought this one for my shelf. The hedgehog alone is worth it and the fox is super cute as well. Toys for adults or kids - and ways to use up all those old clothes that either have moth holes or don't fit or you moved to the tropics and don't know what to do with all those wool shirts and pants. I haven't tried any of them yet, but I will definitely make the hedgehog, I even like the word! We don't have hedgehogs, and I adore them. The other animals are also sweet and certainly doable. Beginners or experts will enjoy playing with these toys - and also making them.

Clear directions and pattern pieces.The cover says 28 softies to craft......well that is a bit deceiving as some of the softies are just a smaller version of the regular size. However, I am glad I ordered it!!

I had taken this book out of the library, and once I read it, I knew I wanted my own copy. I love the author's aesthetic, with the emphasis on the organic nature of the softies--uneven stitches, mixed colors and fabrics, and so forth.I am making the fox (on the cover) at the moment. The directions are very clear, the patterns simple, and it's so much fun! I highly recommend this book.

I think 5 stars is not enough for this one. I have already made 2 of the cute little critters and found them so easy to make. I am working on a whole forest of animals for a table top display. Good instruction and great for using up old sweaters, suit coats and more. I would recommend this one for the crafter who has to keep her hands busy in front of the TV as there is quite a bit of hand work, which I love. Thank you Amy Adams.

This is a very cute book of woodland type critters. The designs call for old wool sweaters so I picked some up at the thrift store, and felt.All designs are able to be sewn by hand and/or sewing machine.Each design could easily be made your own depending on the fabric you use.All designs come with color picture examples and templates.Supplies are all things most people would have in their normal craft kits.I think this would be a great book for kids as well, assuming parents would help with sewing and pattern cutting.

I wanted something to inspire my crafty 11-year-old (who likes making little hand-friends out of quilt-scraps) and this book did the trick. I, myself, like Japanese quilt books because they always feature a couple of little projects like this to use up the scraps, so it was a delight to find an entire book devoted to them. I had a wool skirt to repurpose for critter-fur, but we also used stretch-velour remnants and fleece-scraps successfully as well.

I made two foxes and a rabbit using this guide. Easy. These critters are adorable! Straightforward and simple and if I can make cute critters using this book, so can you. Give it a go! I even adapted a fox to be a door draft stopper with a ver-r-r-y long tail... Everyone loves it! Be adored by your grand chirrens ~ they'll love these sweeties!

Bloody difficult designs, some in need of tweaking...the mice work nicely but yeah...the book's layout is great, pictures and instructions clear but would have been nice not to have to keep skipping back to the general instructions at the front...would it take that much to add them to the individual projects?so i'd say definitely not for beginners/people who are not very good but buy things in the hopes of getting better like me!

Couldnt tell you which is my favourite project in this book as theyre all so cute. Really good photography that just enhances its overall appeal. Cant imagine theres anything I wont make in it, I just need a few extra hours each day to do it in!! Different skill levels needed to tackle all the projects but certainly worth the effort.

The finished looks are amateurish, but a few imaginative tweaks here and there help. For novices, the instructions are good and clear, but some of the things suggested, such as the large button on the end of the fox's nose, although look good, for young children, it's a pull-off magnet and could be unwise.

Beautiful whimsy feel to this book. It is a gift and I'm sure it will be received gratefully.The patterns are clear and the instructions are easy to understand. I wouldn't say you need too much experience to be able to make the softies.

I'm always on the look-out for something a little different, and this does not disappoint. It's fab, with easy patters and instructions, and I found it easy to adapt to what I wanted, too.