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Find it here: Forest Friend Stuffies by Rice Babies

Found via Whip Up

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All you’ll need is some felted wool and a few scraps of felt.

Find the pattern here: One Hour Softie by Ric Rac

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Find the tutorial here: How to Make Doll’s Hair by Tantehilde

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This is the third year of this successful appeal. The Mirabel Foundation assists children who have been orphaned or abandoned due to parental illicit drug use and are now in the care of extended family (kinship care). In a nut-shell, the appeal is asking for you to donate a handmade softie to be sent to Mikes by December 10, 2009. Mikes will then co-ordinate with the Mirabel Foundation to distribute the softies to the children that the Foundation are supporting, just in time for Christmas!

This is a wonderful cause and I do hope you will get involved this year. If you have any questions about the appeal itself, please go over here for all the details. You can also add a picture of your handmade donation to the Softies for Mirabel Flickr Group (and see what others have been making).

And if you need to find a softie to make for the appeal . . . well, that’s what we’re here for!!

{image credit: Melly & Me}

A small collection in different colours would look so lovely, or perhaps you can make them as giveaways for your daughter’s party, or even as little ornaments for the Christmas tree (which is only a few months away - eeek!).

Download the pdf and instructions over here: Kokeshi Stuffie by Melly & Me

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Isn’t he wonderful?! You can make one too by following her super clear instructions and using her downloadable pdf pattern.

Find him here: Softie Whale by Small Dream Factory

Explore her lovely website for more softie goodness (and she has a few more free patterns on offer too!).

She has provided tutorials on how to make a felt cube softie, a felt bear softie, and felt finger puppets:

{image credit: Pane Amore Creativita}

The tutorials are in Italian but you can transalate them into English using one of the translation buttons on her website. Also, these projects are quite easy to follow without the transalation and can be purely hand-sewn.

Find them here:

1. Felt softie cubes by Pane Amore Creativita
2. Felt teddy bear by Pane Amore Creativita
3. Felt finger puppets by Pane Amore Creativita

In this tutorial she shares how to make a doll’s wig using synthetic hair (purchased from a craft shop or costume store) and how to attach it securely to a doll’s head creating this two-bun hair-do:

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Find the tutorial here: How to make and attach a doll’s wig by Zippypops

Elise also shares how you can make these basic doll shoes, which you can then embellish to your heart’s content or keep sweet and simple:

{image credit: Zippypops}

Find the tutorial here: How to make basic doll shoes by Zippypops

Both tutorials are very clearly written with excellent pictures for each step.

{image credit: Ric Rac}

I think I have mentioned before that I am not rodent-friendly but these guys . . . well, they are hard to resist! The project is available in Scribd, which will allow you to view it all on screen or download it or print it off. Instructions are clear and well written. Note that this is a button jointed softie so may not be suitable for young children.

Find it here: Jofus and Lally the Mice by Ric Rac

{image credit: Mel’s Own Place}

Step by step instructions and pictures are provided and easy to follow. Template is in a JPG format which you can resize.

Find it here: Owl Softie by Mel’s Own Place