Squishy Shapes

Today I made some cute little stuffed felt shapes complete with bells inside. They are a little wonky but I think that just adds character. I wanted to buy some for the baby but was discouraged by the $50AU price tag on the Lamaze ones, so I thought I would knock some together myself. They come complete with a loobylu tag! My skills in geometry do not permit me to make a round one which is too bad.

Here is a novelty shot. Shapes with belly from above:

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43 Responses

  1. Those are absolutely adorable!! And they look so soft that I wish I could cuddle up with them 🙂

  2. Awww…such cute toys, and such a cute belly!! lol Great job, Claire 😉

  3. Those stuffed shapes are so cute! 🙂 Looks like something you’d find in a store. Maybe you should start a business making those on the side. How about making a Loobylu ragdoll too?

  4. You “knocked those together”? They are adorable!
    Girl….I think you are NESTING!

  5. Handmade toys are the best! Those are great. Maybe you could make a round one with wedge shapes, like a basketball? The baby won’t care if it’s perfect or not …

  6. I think they are so adorable! 🙂
    I had many toys when I was a child, but the ones I held most special were the ones handmade by my Mom.
    I bet Baby-X will squeal happily when the bells tinkle.

  7. pezz@pezzgrrrl.com says:

    those are great! make sure you put those aside for Baby-X once s/he’s not a baby anymore.

  8. Adorable. You’re very talented. 🙂 And I agree.. a Loobylu ragdoll would be so cute, heh.

  9. Very cute! Now I want to try and make some! I don’t suppose you could give instructions on how to do it, could you? 🙂 Or just tell us what you stuff them with — I think I can muddle through the rest by myself. . . 🙂

  10. annamartin@ivillage.com says:

    you could take a ball, and put the material around it, and cut according to the shape of the ball — or you could cut strips, and sew them together in concentric rings..or you could try sections, like a grapefruit…or you could use a soccerball pattern: 32 sides, w/ 12 pentagons (blacks) and 20 hexagons (whites)…but maybe strips would be easier…you’d have to make sure that the side length of both the penatagons & hexagons were the same, so they’d match…but if you were ok with stitching on the outside so the seams showed, it could work.

  11. annamartin@ivillage.com says:

    you could take a ball, and put the material around it, and cut according to the shape of the ball — or you could cut strips, and sew them together in concentric rings..or you could try sections, like a grapefruit…or you could use a soccerball pattern: 32 sides, w/ 12 pentagons (blacks) and 20 hexagons (whites)…but maybe strips would be easier…you’d have to make sure that the side length of both the penatagons & hexagons were the same, so they’d match…but if you were ok with stitching on the outside so the seams showed, it could work.

  12. annamartin@ivillage.com says:

    sorry for the double post … :0(

  13. Little stuffed shapes with little stuffed belly…..chuckle.

  14. love the belly shot! too cute!

  15. How long did those take? I’m amazed at your handiness!

  16. I love those colors you’ve chosen! They look so squishy soft!
    Baby will love them:)

  17. rue@mail.nu says:

    These are great. And yes, wonkyness does indeed add character. You could make a round one like a tennis ball… and if it turns out oblong or blob-like you still have the wonky excuse, which is immortal and all-purpose.

  18. The ones you made are much more beautiful than the ones you wanted to buy. Wonderful. Another Loobylu moment.

  19. Once again your creativity makes me smile.
    I wanted to know if you finished your baby bag, and if so, could you take a picture and show us? It was looking really cute when you started. Lil bunny and all 🙂 That would be great. I hope you are resting and enjoying your pregnancy! Take care!

  20. Most importantly, you made it with heart. That’s a whole lot more expensive than AU$50 🙂

  21. Particularly since you would have to buy a heart on the black market…

  22. j.ketchion@student.qut.edu.au says:

    awww

  23. How very lovely!! 🙂

  24. oooh i wouldn’t mind some loobylu tags. sew them onto my socks… my bag… my undies… Made By Loobylu… hope you’re doing well claire 🙂

  25. Awwwww.. It looks soo cuttteee!!!!
    Can I have one?!

  26. markpenta@rcn.com says:

    Loobylu! Just when I thought you couldn’t get any cuter! I don’t know, this might be over the edge! You never cease to amaze! Baby-x will adore those little felty-felt toys.

  27. (namelink)you need six sections of fabric for each ball from the template, and then just sew the edges together…
    (courtesy of Martha Stewart)

  28. Your handmade toys are very sweet indeed! You get a big WOOT! WOOT! from me.

  29. They are so cute. $50 is highway robbery. I used to make lots of toys for my son when he was younger but now…well it’s a bit hard to sew up a Playstation.

  30. momo@momofreaksout.com says:

    they are adorable, claire! you could make a giant one as a little tusion-poumf thingee.

  31. *delurk*
    Ok, as a 20-something year old guy, I feel somewhat odd about this, but…

    Those are fantastic! 😎

  32. Claire, the toys are lovely as everything you do! I’m a great fan of your blog, really i am!

  33. they may be a bit technically advanced, if you’re just starting out making books, but keith smith has written several WONDERFUL books about bookmaking. check out “structure of the visual book” or “bookbinding for book artists” as a good starting point. His books tend to be kind of expensive, but they’re huge and well worth it.

  34. I love your shapes! A friend of mine just had a baby, and I’m trying to figure out what to make her. Maybe some squishy shapes … I also found this neat pattern for a “grab ball” and thought I’d share:Baby Grab Ball. Good luck with your new baby!

  35. Trying to be clever with the url didn’t work, so here it is again: http://sewing.about.com/library/weekly/aa061099.htm

  36. those things are so adorable! i’d like to make myself a pink one but my lack of sewing skills are zip.

  37. i’d pay $40 if you’d make me some, they’re gorgeous! seriously, where can i send the cheque and to whom do i make it out to?

  38. so fabulous! you should sell them off the site!

  39. Cute is right! 🙂 I’ll have to make some of these too! I’d really like to know though where you got your little Loobylu tags that are on them?

  40. celina@kindofblue.com says:

    if you don’t mind me asking, how did you ever make your own little tags like that?!