Gingermelon’s Embroidered Animals: Heirloom Dolls to Sew, Embellish and Treasure

In this appealing how-to offering, Down (My Felt Doll) instructs crafters how to create tiny and whimsical fairylike animals. Every project begins with the same basic doll, which requires well under a yard of fabric (Down uses everything from cotton lawn to suede in her creations), easily sourced from any sewist’s scraps. After providing a concise list of other necessary supplies (including embroidery floss, an embroidery hoop, clear-drying craft glue, and a fine point disappearing ink marker), Down shows how many cute variations that simple doll base can yield. A unicorn wearing leg warmers shares space with a deer decked out in a delicate evening dress and (faux) fur cape, a mouse in capri pants, and a nautical fox (detailed down to a tiny sailboat embroidered onto his crisp white shirt). Perhaps the most charming is “Darling Ellie,” an elephant ballerina who looks surprisingly graceful in her fluff of pink tulle and satin-ribbon pointe shoes. Throughout, Down includes easy-to-follow patterns, guidance on intricate hand-embroidered accents, and encouraging words to lend confidence to beginning sewists. As such, her slim volume can add a welcome dollop of playfulness to any crafter’s library[em]. (July) [/em]