I had been working on digitizing my Bunting Doll pattern (below) to sell in my Everybuddies pattern shop when I got the idea to also do this pattern as a furry critter and/or monster pattern. I used the same pattern but added floppy ears and did the face embroidery differently and ended up with this sweet puppy.

I loved how it turned out but also realized that the number of seams and pieces in this pattern make it a bit of a challenge to sew up in plush fabric. This isn’t a surprise as I tend to over design at times, making more seams than necessary. I decided to simplify the pattern and worked up these person, monster and teddy dolls using the simplified version. I kept the body/rear structure as this allows the doll to sit on its own–something that I think sets these dolls apart from most plush which are just two identical body pieces sewn together.

This new version is much easier to sew up with difficult faux fur, and also shows off the pattern of the fleece better without a center front seam. I also made a version with the face partially on the fold so that there is no center seam in the middle of the face (for the human versions, I still keep the seam because that allows me to get that button nose).

I love to make complicated, challenging patterns, but I also like to challenge myself to simplify. The nice thing about having simpler patterns is that they take less time to work up and, in many ways, they offer more options. I find it a productive design challenge to make something that’s better for its simplicity, where the simplicity is the strength, rather than the simplicity coming across as an outcome of the designer’s limitations. This is more challenging than making something that’s very detailed/realistic/technical.

The bear has sold but the puppy, monster and plaid doll are available in my Etsy shop.