Book Review: Softies:Simple Instructions for 25 Plush Pals

So, I love the modern softies movement dearly. I love the crazy diversity of shapes and personalities, which roam so far afield of the old-school teddy bear. And I was super-excited to see Therese Laskey’s Softies: Simple Instructions for 25 Plush Pals.

First, I want to shout-out to Chronicle Books, for their usual design savvy, but also for spiral-binding this book, and including an elastic page-marker. I wonder: if we got up a petition, could we get a federal mandate that all craft project books be bound this way?

The collection of softie designs here is really fun, and covers a good variety of techniques, including hand and machine sewing, crochet, and needle-felting. Because we crafters looooove our felt, you’ll find the majority of these softies made from it. I like that there are more-traditional stuffed animals, and some of the stuffed food we’ve grown to know and love, and then a few oddities, such as Shawn Smith’s stuffed poo. (But it’s very cute poo.)

The making instructions are very clear throughout, and there’s a nice envelope of very-detailed patterns in the back — patterns for everything right down to the tiny cut-out embellishments, printed on nice, heavy paper.

Laurie Frankel’s photography is awesome, too, placing all these softies in magical little worlds of their own. Just look at Grace Montemar’s most-excellent design, Brock the Builder:

And, because I can’t resist one more, here’s Rosa Pomar’s Portuguese Plaid doggie — this is such a wonderful pattern! And, you can see that aforementioned elastic page-marker:

Fun fun fun fun fun. Check it on out!