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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!

April 2023 MAKER OF THE MONTH – wins a FREE Funky Friends Factory Pattern!

May 31, 2023 | Blog, Competitions & Giveaways

You’re in for a treat with this month’s edition of the Maker of the Month finalists! Funky Friends Factory fans really outdid themselves with this month’s entries with LOTS of fun fabrics for toys including faux fur and sequins! Read down to the end of the post to find out who won.

 

Let’s take a look…

 

We start with Wendy Hutton who sewed this sparkly Igor Iguana in sequins!!!! I think anyone who sews sequins is very brave – BUT doesn’t he look so COOL?

 

So COOL ~> I just had to
add some close ups!!!!

Click HERE to purchase the Iguana Sewing pattern.

 

 

LOOK at this super CUTE Sue Squirrel sewn by Marcua Water – if you look closely you can see red cardinals – she’s sewn Sue as a cute memory toy!
.

Click HERE to purchase the Squirrel pattern.

Squirrel Pattern

 

 

Gregory Gorilla is one of my toy patterns that (I think) looks great is ANY fabric or print. Just look how he looks sewn in checks by Natalie Booysen

Click HERE to purchase the Gorilla pattern

Gorilla Sewing Pattern

 

 

Talking of pretty primates… 🐒

This terrific troop of memory toy Mitch Monkeys was sewn by Caroline Jones.

What a fun upcycle
of men’s shirts!

Click HERE too buy the MONKEY pattern.

Monkey sewing pattern

 

 

An upcycled AND up-sized toy!

Wow!!!!! This super-sized Patch Pussycat was sewn by Karen Carns ~> from an upcycled QUILT!

 

 

TIPWant to know HOW to re-size a toy pattern?

If you want to know how to enlarge a pattern (to make a BIGGER toy) or how to ‘shrink’/reduce a pattern (to make a smaller toy) – check out theHow to resize a toy pattern” blog post HERE.

 

In this post you will find:

😀 How to ENLARGE or REDUCE a pattern.
📊 How to make an EXACT SIZE toy ( a simple math formula).
🖨 How to PRINT an enlarged pattern at home (poster print option).

 

 

 

 

AND this cute Patch Cat was sewn with scraps of Tula Pink fabrics – the range is called “Tiny Beasts”  – too cute!

Click HERE to purchase the Patch Cat Pattern.

 

 

And now for some BIG cats!

If you’re a Tula Pink fan like me, you’ll understand how excited I was that Tula sewed 4 of my patterns (HERSELF!!!) for the launch of her Everglow fabric range… here is another cool version of Larry Lion sewn in the Tula Pink Everglow fabrics by Jenn Hansen.

 

 

Larry Lion also makes a cute keepsake toy. This adorable, upcycled toy Lion was sewn by Emma Lawless. who used baby clothes for this baby lion!

 

This AWESOME (roarsome?) version of Larry Lion was sewn by Robin Walls and she added a shiny crown! 

Click HERE to buy the LION pattern.

 

‘Too cute’ Tigers!

This very sweet, striped version of the Taylor Tiger Pattern was sewn by Helen Potts.

 

AND this cute, checked version of Taylor Tiger was sewn by Katrina Daniel Fisher

Click HERE to purchase the Tiger pattern.

 

 

We had some super cute memory bears this month!

This cute pair of Melody Memory Bears was sewn by Maureen Scott. She sewed these keepsakes for her great nieces from her father’s shirts, and she included a button in their ears (from her mother’s button box. 💞.

 

Click HERE to purchase the Melody Memory Bear Pattern.

 

 

Grandma Teddy Bear!

Lot’s of people have asked to see a “grandma” version Buttons Bear, and this month we have a touching example.

This  gorgeous keepsake version of Buttons the BEST DRESSED Bear was sewn by Stephanie Wells . She said that they recently lost their mother-in-law so she made her husband a menory bear for his birthday. She used her mother-in-law’s sweatshirt and jeans. And the ears, nose and feet were made out of her snow boots (hence the sloppy feet, crunchy leather ain’t easy). 💙

Click HERE to purchase the BEST DRESSED Bear pattern.

 

 

Ben BEGINNER teddy bear  has an lovely large, flat area (with NO seam) especially for embroidering and Shelby Batson used this space for embroidering name and birthdate details on this adorable baby teddy bear! 

 

Shelby shared a picture that she sewed for a family whose baby was born sleeping in March and it is weighted so it weighs 4lb 4oz just like her 💔

 

 

AND this super-sized Ben BEGINNER teddy bear  was sewn by Alexis Childress for her (very) sweet neighbor who gave her her sewing machine and was helping her sew a quilt!  (She enlarged Ben by 150%. See the TIP above for information about how to enlarge a pattern!🧸)

Click HERE to purchase the BEGINNER teddy bear pattern.

 

 

I LOVE how happy this cheerful, Calico Signature Bear looks. This happy fellow was sewn by Sonya Holtom. 😁

Click HERE to purchase the Signature Bear pattern.

 

This pretty cute Kelsy Keepsake Unicorn was sewn by Sarah Weinhart in unicorn fabric. I love the way Sarah has highlighted the colours in the fabric with the bright felts!

 

 

And Sal Thompson sewed this Kelsy Keepsake Unicorn from outgrown baby clothes as a very special keepsake! 

Click HERE to purchase the Keepsake Unicorn pattern.

 

 

AND this month’s winner is…

 

Congrats to this month’s winner Sandy Thurlow with her cheerful Coco Chameleon sewn in Tula Pink fabrics?

CONGRATS! You win
a FREE Funky Friends Factory Pattern ~>
of your choice!

 

Click HERE to purchase the Chameleon pattern.

Want to win a
FREE toy pattern?

 

It’s so EASY to enter the Pattern GIVEAWAY!

 

Facebook badge - Pauline McArthur

ALL you need to do is post a photo of a FUNKY FRIENDS FACTORY toy that you have made on the Funky Friends Factory Facebook Page .

At the end of each month I draw a winner and post the winner’s name on the Blog the following MONTH. I have an Album on Facebook for all the MAKEROFTHEMONTH winners. You can check it out HERE!

 

 

NOT on Facebook? ENTER by email! 😀

*** You can send me your photos by email too!

 

So come on! Share your photos  ~> The next winner could be YOU!!!


Pauline McArthur - Funky Friends Factory.
Till next time,

Happy Sewing,
Pauline
xxx

5 Comments

  1. Paula Blevins

    They’re all so adorable! ❤️❤️

    Reply
  2. Paula Bildson

    I loved making Igor the Iguana for my granddaughter. I can’t wait to start making some of the other ten patterns I’ve purchased.

    Reply
    • Pauline

      Hi Paula, it looks like you’re hooked! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Lynn McDonald

    Hello Pauline,
    I’ve made 2 moose for friends, didn’t take photos ahead of time so don’t have any to share. Also made a baby doll for my great granddaughter. Also no photos taken to share. I’m making the Hobby Horse now for the same great granddaughter for her 3rd birthday. Love your patterns!

    Reply
    • Pauline

      Thank Lynn, it’s just so cool top know you’re having fun sewing and gifting your Funky Friends!!! xxx Pauline

      Reply

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