A Fancy Fox - Soft Toy Sewing

My favourite form of sewing is patchwork and quilting, but I do like to sew other projects now and then too. This fabulous Francie the Fox pattern by Angel Lea Designs is one such project. Isn't he dapper?

I first came across him in a Homespun magazine I borrowed from my local library. My husband, Martin, saw him and requested I make him one. Gotta love a grown man who appreciates home-sewn soft toys. :) Some time later, I bought the PDF pattern and got to it.

Fabric selection for this fox was so much fun. I started by pulling out some of my favourite fabrics in bright colours, then I decided which colours I wanted to sit next to each other in the finished product and cut the appropriate pieces from there. I couldn't resist fussy-cutting the chest piece to give him a sort of white ruff. :)

Sewing soft toys is not always fun for me. I find the turning quite frustrating. This one wasn't so bad. The pieces were large enough that it was easy enough to turn - and to stuff. I also liked the way it was put together, with the limbs all sewn in rather than sewn on at the end.

Here he is from behind, just as colourful as the front:

I am really quite smitten with this fox. Martin chose to call him Dama, short for Akeldama, after a flamboyant and impeccably dressed character in Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series of books (which I highly recommend if you're at all into steampunk, vampires, werewolves and a bit of fun).

If you're after a softie to sew for yourself or a loved one, I would definitely recommend this one. The steps are clear, the pattern pieces are laid out so printing is easy, and choosing the fabrics is so much fun!

Bye for now,

Hope x