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Hi I’m Pauline, this blog is where I share all the latest Funky Friends Factory News, Giveaways, Competitions plus LOTS of toy-making tips & tutorials to help you sew the cutest soft toys EVER!

YOUR favourite toys sewn in 2021

Jan 18, 2022 | Blog, Customer Feedback, FFF News

It’s the 1st Anniversary of our Pattern Fan Club!

We’ve had a FANTASTICALLY FUN first year in our Facebook group – the Funky Friends Factory Patterns Fan Club.

WOW! Time flies
when you’re sewing softies!😄

We’ve gathered thousands of friendly Members from all across the globe (from New Zealand to Malta, from Oman to Iceland, from Ireland to Alaska… and just about everywhere else you can imagine). If you haven’t joined yet, come join the Club!


Find out more about our Pattern Fan Club HERE!

 

 

We asked the Fan Club Members for their favorite makes of the year. PLEASE NOTE: The Fan Club Members have posted so many amazing makes this past year –  this is just a SMALL SAMPLE of the pics submitted as your favorite projects of the year… 

Enjoy!

Elizabeth Percival sewed Melody Memory Bear as a BEAUTIFUL wedding bear. 

Melody-Memory-Bear-wedding-bear-sewn-by-Elizabeth-Percival

 

Here’s a sweet story from Julie Childe about her Melody Memory Bears made from her grandmother’s wedding gown.

And here are the treasured Memory Bears!

Click HERE to purchase the Melody Memory Bear Pattern.

 

Lindy Eversole sewed this adorable Keep Me Keepsake Bear for a new Grandma. Made from Granddaughters sleepers. 💗

Click HERE to purchase the Keepsake Bear pattern.

 

Jo Ann Carroll always sews beautiful toys, but I agree these 3 Kitty Kates are her best of the year! 

Kitty Kate Cat toy pattern sewn-by-jo-ann-carroll.jpg

Click HERE to purchase this Cat pattern.

 

Helen Rourke made this gold version of the Diggles Dragon Pattern as a special gift and I just love the story behind it! 

Dragon-Pattern-in-gold-sewn-by-helen-rourke

 

Andrea Christensen made this pretty purple Diggles Dragon and look at those scales! 💜

Dragon-Pattern-sewn-by-Andrea-Christensen

Click HERE to purchase the Dragon Sewing pattern.

 

 

Caroline Jones made a whole herd of fancy Kelsey Keepsake Unicorns this year, but the glamorous one below really sparkles with fun. 

Keepsake-Unicorn-pattern-sewn-by-Caroline-Jones

Click HERE to purchase the Keepsake Unicorn pattern.

 

 

Debra Gorbach’s version of the Larry Lion Pattern was one of the most popular posts of the year. Read the special story and you’ll see why!

Click HERE to purchase the Lion Sewing pattern.

 

 

Diane Joy Kemple’s realistic version of the Ollie Owl Pattern is blending in with his minky fabric surroundings. 

Click HERE to purchase the Owl pattern.

 

 

Everyone in our group loves Sandy Thurlow and her toys. She named this Coco Chameleon as her favorite toy of the year and decided to keep it for herself. I think she definitely deserves it!

Click HERE to purchase the Cameleon pattern.

 

 

Marie Ramsell hand-dyed her own fabric for this happy version of the Fifi Fox Pattern.

Fox-sewing-pattern-sewn-by-Marie-Ramsell

Click HERE to purchase the Fox pattern.

 

 

Not only is this Punju Peacock sewn by Kathy Cuthbertson my favorite color (purple!), it has an adorable story. I’ll let Kathy tell it to you:

Peacock Pattern sewn by Cathy Cutherbertson

Click HERE to purchase the Peacock pattern.

 

Monique Methot loves making William Whale in fantastical fabrics. This was her first and it’s one of my favorites. 

William Whale Pattern sewn by Monique Methot

Click HERE to purchase the Whale pattern.

 

 

The fabulous faux-fur manes on these Larry Lion twins by Christine Pearson launched a trend of furry, fluffy, flowing locks that we’ve seen all year in the Facebook group. You can use regular cotton fabric or fleece for the mane, too, of course! 

Larry Lion Pattern sewn by ChristinePeasrson

Click HERE to purchase the Lion Sewing pattern.

 

 

This colourful version of the Tristan Triceratops Pattern. was sewn by Diane Montague.

Triceratops Pattern sewn by Diane Montague

 

Susan Leshinsky added an embroidered name and eyes to her version of the Tristan Triceratops Pattern

Click HERE to buy the Triceratops Dinosaur Pattern.

Triceratops Dinosaur sewing pattern

 

 

This denim bear with eyelashes was Fay Jones’ first Calico Bear! It turned out to be one of the most popular posts of the year! 

 

Lisa Armstrong asked the Pattern Fan Club Members for help sewing these Calico Bears from a hand-knit sweater! 

Calico-Bear-sweater-Lisa-Armstrong-2

 

And I think they turned out so cute, I am going to add another cute pic of them!

Click HERE to purchase the Calico Bear pattern.

 

 

Amee Freeman used old school uniforms to make this keepsake uniform bear version of the Melody Memory Bear Pattern

 

And she used the Melody Memory Bear Pattern for another very special memory bear – for her Dad’s birthday, made from his old army uniform. 

Click HERE to purchase the Melody Memory Bear Pattern.

 

 

Amy Jerome labeled this Kelsey Keepsake Unicorn “best Christmas gift ever!”…

 

…and it looks like her granddaughter agrees! 😀

Kelsey-Keepsake-Unicorn-Pattern-sewn-by-amy-jerome

Click HERE to purchase the Keepsake Unicorn pattern.

 

Thanks for joining in all the funky fun in 2021!

Later this month we’ll look back at the past 12 winners of the MAKER OF THE MONTH contest, as well as the winners of our holiday and special theme contests.

AND, we’ve got more fun contests, free patterns, and toy-making tips in the works!

So watch this SPACE!


Pauline McArthur - Funky Friends Factory.
Till next time,

Happy Sewing,
Pauline
xxx

5 Comments

  1. Debra Prychun

    Amazingly talented and clever sewers in this group. What a fun bunch of adorable softies from all your brilliant patterns, Pauline! Thank you for sharing the pictures.

    Reply
    • Pauline

      Aw thanks Debra… they bring ME so much joy to see – so it’s lovely to share that with everyone!❤

      Reply
  2. Helen Rourke

    Oh wow you used my Golden Diggle birthday present for my mother-in-law in all those lovely makes. Glad I did your lovely pattern justice 🤗

    Reply
  3. Kathy Cuthbertson

    Awww, I always say that each new make becomes my newest favorite. But this little peacock helped made a bad experience so much better for my little niece. Thank you Pauline for having incredible patterns that help me create wonderful moments for so many people ❤

    Reply
    • Pauline

      That’s so lovely to hear Kathy! 😀 xxx

      Reply

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