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Description
Dilemma resolved! Thank you, everyone!!! :-)
One of my friends is expecting a baby girl, who will get a cute little bunny/mouse bib from my previous project. But she has an older sister and I didn’t want the bigger sister to be hurt with all the attention during the time around her little sister’s birth being for the baby and her mother. So I decided to make a present for the “big sis’” as well.
Remember the yellow fleece (?) that I used for the sun and the letters on my/my mother’s apron? Well, I had to buy half a yard of it (if not a yard – I don’t remember now). Either way I had a ton of it left and I decided to use that. To make the fins and the tail, I wanted to use red t-shirt fabric left… well, from the t-shirt I cut up and altered to make the Red Wings seat cushion for my honey. But I also wanted to sew “casing” through them and fill those with poly filling. Alas, my “newbieness” made me sew those casings/canals on the wrong side of the fabric, completely forgetting that I wouldn’t be able to turn them right-side-out after that! And I had no more scraps of appropriate size left. So I had to use the same yellow fleece (?) for the fins and the tail, using a small piece of the red knit just for the lips. It was going fine after that… until my husband told me that the fish could use some “breaking up” of the yellow colour. So following his advice and some of you, my fellow BurdaStyle-rs I added the blue stripes – cut them out of paper, “trying them onto” the fish, and then cutting them out with a “hem” allowance. Then I hand stitched (backstitched) the “hem” and then attached the strips to the fish (alas, no pockets – due to time constraints I wanted to get done as soon as possible!). I think it does look much cuter this way and brighter (what else could a child want?)! My camera ran out of power at the last moment though, so there’s only one picture, but you can get the idea! ;-)
(P.S. I made a couple pictures along the way, while making the fish and can share them if someone wants a tutorial, but it’s very similar to the hedgehog pincushion posted here on BurdaStyle, only much bigger)
UPDATE: Yesterday I gave the fishy and the bib to the mother of the two girls. The older girl wasn’t at the hospital, so I didn’t get to see her reaction. Hopefully, she loved it!
Material Notes
Fleece (?), blue flannel (?), knit t-shirt fabric for the lips, pre-manufactured eyes, thread, poly-filling from an extra pillow I had a lot of fun and "fun" making it! ;-)
Categories
Credits
- Hedgehog Pincushions... Thank you!
http://www.burdastyle.com/patterns/hedgehog-pincushions
17 Comments
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Sep 12, 2010, 04.35 PMby heatherrique
Too adorable! Fun for a Dr. Seuss fan!
1 Reply
Oct 10, 2010, 12.05 PMby almatinka
Thank you! I didn’t think of it that way, but I think I can see what you mean! ;-) (Sorry for such a late reply – I just found out that BurdaStyle has not been informing me about any comments or any activity… I think I will need to check all my friends’ studios, since they might have not informed me of new projects either…)
Aug 15, 2010, 06.39 PMby brownlow3
Ok, I really have to say that this is just too cute.
1 Reply
Aug 15, 2010, 06.44 PMby almatinka
Thank you so much!
Aug 15, 2010, 02.09 AMby scheryka
LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT! If I had three thumbs I’d give it but since I only have two I’ll use my toes. Too cute.
1 Reply
Aug 15, 2010, 11.35 AMby almatinka
Thank you!!! But, please, don’t use your toes – you won’t be able to walk!!! ;-)
Aug 14, 2010, 06.32 PMby strickmeise
Yes, it’s really gorgeous! I love it a lot. It doesn’t matter that the fins are yellow too. The blue stripes are fine, now it looks like a real doctor-fish (Acanthurida). How big is it? Maybe I could copy it for my grandchildren.
1 Reply
Aug 14, 2010, 06.48 PMby almatinka
Oh, thank you!!!! Ummm, I really didn’t measure it, but comparing it to my monitor right now, it’s about the same (without the tail) as the monitor’s diagonal, plus or minus 0.5" (my monitor has a 15" diameter, so the fish is about 14.5 to 15.5 inches) and it’s about 2/3 that wide and tall, so the width and heights would be about 10 inches each. But it really doesn’t matter. I mean I simply folded the biggest piece of the yellow fabric I had left from the apron into three layers and cut the biggest oval with sharp edges (like the three sides of that hedgehog pattern I credited) I could fit on there. The rest (the fins) where cut already according to the size of the body out of the smaller left overs.
Aug 14, 2010, 09.09 AMby katexxxxxx
Oh, gorgeous! Very cute and cuddly.
Aged about 2, my little sister had a stuffed toy fish, called Fishy, if I remember correctly. It was always a favourite.
1 Reply
Aug 14, 2010, 12.04 PMby almatinka
Thank you so much, Kate! I do hope the girl will like her new stuffed toy! I know he’s already won a special place in my own heart! ;-)
Aug 5, 2010, 08.19 AMby kathmaryb
i love this-it made me happy-my daughter has a pet goldfish who looks just like this so I will make her her one-she’ll love it
1 Reply
Aug 5, 2010, 01.45 PMby almatinka
Thank you!!! :-) I am glad you like it and you should definitely make one for her!!! ;-)
Aug 4, 2010, 03.42 AMby scheryka
OMG! Now youhave outdone yourself on this one. I love love love this fish! When I saw it I thought of Nemo. Now I want to watch it. lol I want one! But then I’d have to fight my two daughters for it. So, I might as well let the fishy live because I would really put up a fight for this bad baby. Great job, Almatinka. Gosh this is wonderful.. I can’t stop…
1 Reply
Aug 5, 2010, 01.50 PMby almatinka
Oh, thank you so much!!! I am telling you – this thing is addictive! I made it for the little girl and now I want one for myself!!! ;-) I do have quite a collection of soft toys already, though (most are presents from people over in my motherland, so they are treasures beyond just being “collectibles”), so I think I will have to live with just memories of the fishy (helped by the photos). ;-)
Aug 2, 2010, 11.58 PMby brownlow3
Cute, cute…. You will be a real blessing to the mom of the two kids. I have been in the shoes of a mom of a new born with older siblings and it is hard to explain why the new guy gets all the presents.
1 Reply
Aug 3, 2010, 06.43 PMby almatinka
Yes, I was the one who those explanations were given to – trust me, it doesn’t work! :-) The easier way is to get something for the older one(s). ;-) And thank you so much!!!
Aug 1, 2010, 06.41 PMby Delightful Bina
Option 4! Option 4! It’s cute as it is!
I love the big yellow fish! _ I wonder what the little girl will call it! Do post up any pics if you do decide to alter it!
3 Replies
Aug 1, 2010, 08.03 PMby almatinka
Thank you so much!!! I don’t know… Just today in the morning I was sure I was going to add the stripes… Now so many people told me not to… ;-) But I will post the pictures if I do change it. Oh, and it’s funny that you mention the name – my sister wrote today that I should call it and it should be a Russian name. My reply? “And what? Have the poor little thing struggle with pronunciation?” ;-) Plus, it’s her fish, so she should do the honours of naming it. ;-)
Aug 1, 2010, 09.04 PMby Delightful Bina
I was gonna ask you what you were going to call it! But then I thought that really the little girl should have that honour!! Definitely! It really is so cute! Looks like such a fun project! You must let us know what she decides as a name! _
Aug 2, 2010, 11.33 AMby almatinka
Thank you again. And I will if she tells me. ;-)
Aug 1, 2010, 12.50 PMby libra-s
As everyone else said, you are really lovely person! And I think the fish is cute enough the way it is! You have done a great job. And if you made any change to it, plase post a photo :)
1 Reply
Aug 1, 2010, 01.48 PMby almatinka
Oh, thank you very much!!! I haven’ t made any changes yet, but I think I will and I will post new pictures if the site allows me to do it. Thank you again!
Jul 31, 2010, 10.03 AMby carolinam
Oh you are so sweet person! I think the child is going to love the fish anyway. But if you want to put something extra on it, you could try to do blue aplique on the sides (zebra stripe like). But this is a lot of work extra. And i think the fish is cute this way already. You will make the child happy with this fish the way it is, serious, most people wouldn’t even buy the big sis a present. Well, good luck with your desision making.
1 Reply
Jul 31, 2010, 11.54 AMby almatinka
Thank you so much!!! I do think now that I am going to go ahead and add the stripes, so as to make the fishy a bit less yellow. ;-) But I am glad you think she’ll love the present – I certainly hope so! ;-)
Jul 30, 2010, 10.47 PMby aggelicat .)
1 Reply
Jul 30, 2010, 11.44 PMby almatinka
Thank you!!! We will see! ;-)
Jul 30, 2010, 09.45 AMby suzetewilliams
How cute!!! I’ll send you my address later cos I want one!!!! Lol. I love fish (I come from a fishing village) mostly on a plate, but this one would be proudly displayed and cuddled. :-)
1 Reply
Jul 30, 2010, 12.54 PMby almatinka
Oh, thank you! I do love fish on the plate too and come to think of it, I never had toy fish when I was little… But this chubby li’l guy almost made me want to keep him – he’s so soft and “cuddlable”! ;-)
Jul 30, 2010, 07.06 AMby sewella
I love this fish! It’s absolutely adorable!! That is one lovely gesture you are going to make! About the fish: When I first read the story (without reading the comments) I thought it is good as it is. But after reading Tanitlsis’s comment I think it will also be cute in stripes (an pockets to hide things inside … wow). I hope we get to see the fishy if you decide to make alterations. Best of luck!
1 Reply
Jul 30, 2010, 12.52 PMby almatinka
Thank you, Maya! Yes, I do think I will make the alterations (not sure about the pockets, though – if they are only within the stripes, they’ll be rather small and stuff might fall out of them… but who knows? ;-)) and I will definitely post new photos, provided the site allows me to add them to this project (it’s been acting rather funny lately).
Jul 30, 2010, 02.53 AMby tanitisis
I think the simplest thing would be to add a patch or stripe of colour on the back/sides (I’m thinking of Flounder from the Little Mermaid). Use a fabric that won’t ravel much (fleece or a knit) and attach with a blanket stitch. A curved needle might make this easier, since I assume you don’t want to un-stuff it.
It’s adorable! (hey, you could even make some kind of pocket in the stripe! That would be so fun!)
1 Reply
Jul 30, 2010, 03.16 AMby almatinka
Thank you so much for your advice! No, I didn’t want to unstuff it, but it’s rather soft, so even a regular needle will work fine. And a stripe (or rather series of them) is what I was thinking of, but thank you for reminding me about Flounder! I actually thought about him when originally thinking of a yellow fish, but then forgot all about him after choosing red fabric for fins and tail – now that those are gone it can be made to look like Flounder (and his stripes are not in a wavy pattern, but straight, so they’ll be easier to attach! So thank you again!).
Jul 30, 2010, 02.51 AMby seussian
My mom gives ‘big sibling’ presents, too. That is a really cute fish,
God bless you, MGJ
1 Reply
Jul 30, 2010, 03.09 AMby almatinka
Thank you so much!
Jul 30, 2010, 01.12 AMby elishafaerie
Wow, this is awesome looking and a very sweet gesture! How nice of you to think of the older child as well. I bet she’ll love it! (^_^)
1 Reply
Jul 30, 2010, 01.44 AMby almatinka
Thank you very much!!! I really love doing things for others and seeing their smiles in return! :-) BTW, I just looked at your projects and saw that you replied to my comments (unfortunately, I didn’t get notified of that, so I didn’t know) – so I want to say a) you are most welcome! b) thank you for the link! c) your shawls are truly beautiful! I love the silver fabric more though… ;-)