New :: Hen Finger Puppet Pattern

My Hen finger puppet pattern is now available as an individual download!

This hen is nice and quick to sew. As with all of my patterns this pdf features a list of materials you will need, nice and clear digitally drawn pattern pieces and illustrated step-by-step instructions. 

The pdf pattern for the Hen Finger Puppet is available as an instant digital download from the following places….

Little Black Duck :: Craftsy :: Etsy

If you are looking for more Easter themed finger puppets, check out my set of Easter Friends which is available from Craftsy :: Etsy

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New :: Chick Finger Puppet Pattern

As we are in the run up to Easter I have decided to publish my Chick finger puppet as an individual pdf pattern.

This little chick is nice and quick to sew. As with all of my patterns this pdf features a list of materials you will need, nice and clear digitally drawn pattern pieces and illustrated step-by-step instructions. 

The pdf pattern for the Chick Finger Puppet is available as an instant digital download from the following places….

Little Black Duck :: Craftsy :: Etsy

The chick is also available as part of an Easter Friends Finger Puppet set which is available from Craftsy :: Etsy

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New :: Rocket Finger Puppet Pattern

My new Robot Finger Puppet Sewing Pattern is now available! This little robot is a nice and simple little fellow to sew. As with all of my sewing patterns, included is a list of all the materials you will need and it features nice and clear digitally drawn pattern pieces and illustrated step-by-step instructions. The pattern even features some suggestions for customising your robot finger puppet and ‘making it your own’.

The pdf pattern for the Robot Finger Puppet is available as an instant digital download from the following places….

Little Black Duck :: Craftsy :: Etsy

Coming Soon :: Robot Finger Puppet Pattern

I’m your friendly robot, and I’ll do the best I can.

I’m your friendly robot, your electronic friend. 

I’m working on another new finger puppet pattern, this time around it’s a friendly robot!

With a bit of luck and a following wind it will be ready to publish next week.

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NEW :: Rocket Finger Puppet Sewing Pattern

It feels like ages since I launched a new range of finger puppet patterns. Fear not, I have been busy working on two new sets behind the scenes. I was totally inspired by something Charlotte did a few weeks back and have been working on two new sets of patterns ever since.

First up is a super speedy Rocket Finger Puppet!

I really love this little rocket finger puppet. I features super cool detailing, aerodynamic fins and extra fast boosters! Just perfect for jetting off on an adventure…. 

As with all of my sewing patterns, included is a list of all the materials you will need and it features nice and clear digitally drawn pattern pieces and illustrated step-by-step instructions.

The pdf pattern for the Rocket Finger Puppet is available for a mere $1.50/£0.95 (ish) as an instant digital download from the following places….

Craftsy :: Etsy

 

So, we have a rocket, any guesses as to what will be next in the series……

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Coming Soon :: Rocket Finger Puppet Pattern

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…Blast Off ! ! ! ! ! !

I’ve got a new finger puppet pattern coming out soon…just a few tweaks to make to the pattern notes and a few photographs to take.

This little rocket will be landing with us soon

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FREE :: Heart Templates for Valentine’s Day crafting (updated)

Last year I published some free heart templates for use in Valentine’s Day crafting and it was one of my most popular posts of the year (thanks to everyone that downloaded it!)

This year I have updated the templates with the lettering for LOVE in a nice large and open font. Perfect for using with felt or applique projects.

You can use the lettering as is or you could replace the O or the V with the medium sized heart from the template sheet

Last year I used the heart templates to make some heart brooches. This year I have made some heart cushions/pillows….post to follow soon*

Download your free heart templates here

Will you be making anything for Valentine’s Day this year?

* as soon as there is a non grey weather day so I can take some half decent photos…where has the sun gone?

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New Finger Puppet pattern

Do you ever find yourself happily working on a project and then a new idea hits you and and you get thrown off course?

Well, last Friday I started working on a new finger puppet pattern and I spent several days working on the designs. They are coming along nicely and I’m almost done, just a few tweaks left.

This pattern has been something that has been floating around my head for some time and I’m quite excited about it (well, as excited as you should be about a sewing pattern). It’s slightly different to my other patterns and possibly even more cute! However, several days into the process I was floored by a completely different idea!

On Wednesday morning my daughter was doing a pretty fine job of reciting a poem from school, she inspired me with a completely new idea, it hit me and that was it. Wednesday I dropped everything and started work on a completely new pattern.

Designs are sketched, transferred to the laptop, first draft of the patterns have been digitized and today I have been cutting out felt to make samples.

Over the weekend I will sew up the samples to work out the construction process and to make sure everything fits well together.

Hopefully next week I’ll have some pictures to show you, I can then move on to getting the pattern written up. I am one happy bunny.

Do you ever get floored by a new idea and get totally distracted? Am I just being impatient? Are you a completer/finisher or like me, do you hop from one project to the next?

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Little Black Duck Roundup of 2013

I got an email from wordpress the other day with a review of how my blog ‘performed’ over the last 12 months. It had a run down of my most popular posts, where my readers are coming from and who the top commenters were. All very interesting and it’s nice to have a proper look back at what’s what.

I’ve also seen a number of people posting a review of what they’ve been up to the past 12 months. It got me to thinking….what exactly have I been up to.

Sewing

Considering the ‘spare’ time I have available I’ve done a relatively decent amount of sewing….although the majority (erm, maybe all) of it seems to have been for the girls. Some of the sewing was done under my own steam, and some was prompted by the Kids’ Clothes Week series

Top Rows: Sally Dress, Pink Chevron Skirt, Bubble Shorts, Bubble Dress
Middle Row: Music Box Jumper Dress, Bubble Dress, Blue Chevron Skirt, Sally Dress
Bottom: Schooldays skirt

New Sewing Patterns and Sewing Kits

2013 was my first full year of designing sewing patterns and pulling together sewing kits. Sometimes it feels like I am treading water, but when I look back at what I’ve managed to do I am pleased with the output. Maybe this year I’ll get even better at juggling a family and a business. Practice makes perfect!

 Top Row: Woodland Friends, Christmas Friends, Easter Friends
Middle Row: Doll and Teddy Sleeping Bag, Sewing Kits, Owl Mini Bag
Bottom Row: Farmyard Friends, Individual Finger Puppet Patterns, Halloween Friends

FREE Tutorials and Templates

I’ve written a couple of free tutorials and published a few free templates for you to use in your crafting

Clockwise from top left: Cutting felt using freezer paper, Strictly Scorecards, Fairy Bridge, Star Templates, Heart Templates, Matryoshka Finger Puppets

Pinned It, Tried It

In the latter part of the year I started a series called Pinned It, Tried It. I decided that I was spending too much time pinning and not enough making, so here’s my start on making just a small percentage of the projects that I pin

Clockwise from top left: Tooth Fairy Pillow, T-shirt painting, Superhero Outfit, Repairing Jeans

Knitting

I manged to complete a massive four knitting projects. Poor attempt hey? I have two quite decent work in progress jumpers/sweaters that need finishing…maybe a job for January, or at least before the end of Winter!

Left to Right: Scalloped Hat and Wrist Warmers, Giant Granny Square, Cabled Mittens

So all in all, that’s a none to shabby year (in my opinion!) considering that there’s (not always so) normal life to deal with, Charlotte only started full time school in September and I had a manic Christmas to deal with. Overall I’m quite pleased

For many reasons I am looking forwards to what this year will bring….no promises!

Have you had a look back about what you got up to in 2013? Leave a comment here and I’ll pop by and have a look!

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Fox Pocket Tutorial

Happy New Year to all of my lovely readers, both new and old! I hope you’ve had a fabulous Christmas and New Year

I have some really exciting news that I have been dying to share with you all since before Christmas.

I entered a design competition with Crafty magazine to come up with a craft project and tutorial based on foxes. The winner would get £300 worth of haberdashery goods and have their tutorial printed in issue 10 of Crafty magazine.

Picture from Crafty Magazine

The rather brilliant news is that I won!!!!! I tell you, I was doing a serious happy dance when I found out that my design was the winning entry…and not just because I’ll get £300 worth of goodies!

For the competition I designed an applique fox pocket that you can attach to little girls’ dresses and skirts or even the flap of a bag

The pocket is relatively simple to make and is a nice introduction to machine applique. You just need to take your time when sewing the curves and you should be fine!

The girls love their dresses and Emily was quite upset when I sent ‘her’ dress off as part of my entry. Luckily for me the dresses have been returned and I have two happy little girls!

If you’re interested then I’ve also done an interview for the Crafty magazine web site…..

I am completely made up and can’t wait to see my tutorial in print….I went to my nearest outlet this afternoon to get a copy but because of the New Year bank holiday they hadn’t had their delivery today!