Hi everyone!
I can’t believe it! A whole new year and my blog turns 3 years old today! I hope it was the same for everyone else, but my 2015 was fantastic. I got to make a lot of awesome stuff for both myself and my Etsy shop, and overall it just felt like a really productive year.
In 2016 I hope to expand my Etsy shop even more with lots more plushies, hats, and hoodies. And here on the blog I’m going to keep churning out those free patterns that help me use up my fabric stash. I’m nearly down to a manageable level! Then maybe I can make better projects with fresh new fabrics!
But I’m just itching to usher in the new Monthly Crafting Challenge for 2016! We’re in the fourth year now! In 2013 it was sushi plushies, 2014 had Japanese snack foods, and 2015 had punny food animals. In 2015 you all submitted nearly twice as many photos to me as last year! It’s always such a blast to see your work and the ways you modify and made the plushies your own. I can’t thank everyone enough for all your contributions!
Anyway, here’s what I have planned for 2016! A whole set of 12…
That’s right! We’re talking animals and things from fairy tales, scary stories, myths, and legends. In the midst of last year’s silly punny animals, most of the requests I got were for more obscure animals that are harder to find patterns for. I had to do my own special twist on it, of course, so I landed on doing mythical creatures. So be prepared for a year of scary, cute, and strange animals from your favorite myths and legends 😀
I started this year with a Kraken, mwahaha! Not only because it’s a little simpler compared to what’s coming down the road, but because I think it’s so unbelievably cute! It’s a really great pattern for beginners, since there’s only 3 main pattern pieces. It takes a bit of hand-sewing, but it’s nothing that can’t be handled in a few hours. As usual, my projects have a lot of applique, but you can use safety eyes on this guy, or simply iron on all the details with heavy duty fusible web. The pattern comes with options for an angry Kraken face or a happy one 😀
★ So how do you get this pattern? ★
If you’re NEW to this site, this pattern is my one time only FREE gift to you! Just sign up for email updates between now and January 31st (enter your email address in the submission box on the right sidebar above “My Books”). This will earn you the pattern ONE TIME for THIS MONTH ONLY.
Give it about 24 hours for your new pattern to arrive after signing up. But if it doesn’t, or you have other troubles, you can check out more info at the main Monthly Crafting Challenge page, the FAQ, or by emailing me.
★ What if you’re not new to this site? ★
If you’ve already signed up for email updates, that’s where the CHALLENGE comes in. You can also earn this pattern if you make one of the projects from this blog, my books, or my Etsy then email me or message the finished project to my Facebook.
So don’t forget to check back next month for another new legendary creature! And keep sending me photos of your amazing creations!
11 thoughts on “3 Year Blogiversary! Plus a new Crafting Challenge Collection!”
OMG this is soooo cute! I’ll definitely try the challenge this month then to snag this adorableness :3 And I cannot wait to see what other awesome patterns you make this year!!
OMG! So kawaii! I really love it! As soon as I received the pattern, I printed it out! I am probably going to make a few of these ones! Very thrilled for legendary beasts, it sounds like lots of fun to come!
I am so happy to hear that your website has had its three year anniversary, and I love the kraken he has to be my favorite creature so I am hoping you will except my crocheted kraken for your plush one thanks.
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hey, not sure where to reply but I made this 😮
Hm, I don’t see anything attached here :< Do you think you could try sending it again? Thanks!
I just got ,”Sew Kawaii” and “Sew your Own Pet Pillows” and I don’t know where to start. They are all Amazing. I went to Hobby Lobby and bought 10yards of all different colors of Fleece. I bought enough fusible web and stabilizer to make 75-100 Animals, 😱😲😱 When I do something I do it Big lol
Do you have any advice for someone just starting out making these Patterns? What is the easiest to make first? I bought transfer pens do they work well or did I waste my $$
Oh wow! Thank you so much for buying my books! I really hope you enjoy using them and all the wonderful supplies you’ve bought!
As far as where to start, the first projects in Sew Kawaii! are pretty foolproof — the tiny plush keychains like the dumpling and strawberry.
And I definitely wouldn’t say you wasted your money on transfer pens 🙂 They’re fantastic tools. Fleece is not always the easiest to draw on (because it’s so fluffy), but fabric markers do the best job out of anything else.
Good luck and happy sewing! ♥
Anyway to get this?
Unfortunately this was an offer only for January of 2016. You can still purchase the pattern, however 🙂
https://www.etsy.com/listing/262242551/kraken-squid-plush-pdf-sewing-pattern
I’m not sure how to get this pattern, but I really would like to sew it. how can I get it? thanks!
Sadly the free pattern offer ended back in 2016, but the pattern is still for sale at my online store 🙂
https://www.etsy.com/listing/262242551/kraken-squid-plush-pdf-sewing-pattern