Vintage Stuffed Toy: McCalls 1972
I'm sure these pictures speak for themselves.
But if not, let me say that this alligator pattern was my personal Mt. Everest. I get that there's no practical point served in accomplishing it, but it's there and it's a challenge. And I enjoyed every minute and didn't lose any fingers or toes.
This is an incredible pattern. Maybe it's not the most practical pajama bag (actually I omitted the zipper, and stuffed and sewed him closed). But the elaborate machine quilting in different patterns on the top and bottom! The rickrack teeth, the floppy tongue, the lined and rolled nostrils! The menacing sideways glance of the eyes! The endearing stuffed feet!
For now, the alligator is sitting in a place of honor in the sitting room posing as a piece of soft sculpture. I'm not sure what I'll do with him, but I'm definitely putting a notch in my belt, now that he's done.
11 comments:
The alligator looks great! I hadn't thought about pajama holders in a while... Thanks for jogging my memory!
He certainly has character! Will you name him? Perhaps something diabolical, like, goodness -- I don't know -- perhaps Marlowe, or, um ... Morris?
Well, I'm impressed! I'm so glad you didn't use red for his sides, like the pattern cover. It looks too gorey...but that's probably just me.
Congratulations on conquering Mt. Everest! I remember a certain prom dress for my daughter, boning, etc.--still gives me shivers.
Cute as pie!
Good for you - your alligator is fabulous. Congratulations on your triumph!
I really admire that you rise to the challenge with sewing. Such patience and perseverence!
I am almost certain I had that clown when I was a baby! Nostalgia . . .
And the alligator is fantastic! My son would love him!
Anna - I had that alligator when I was a child. I think my Aunt Edith made it for me....or my Aunt Noni. Anyway, mine was HUGE and it was made of dark green whale corduroy (not sure if that is the right term, but it was really thick pile corduroy) and had a bright red felt mouth and the rick rack teeth. I believe mine had button eyes though.....and if I remember right, I thought one day I would do surgery on him and I opened him up and he was stuffed with dry cleaner plastic bags.
He brought much joy to my little girl room....along with the other 12 billion stuffed animals I had. :-)
Your alligator is really cute too!!!
Hi Anna,
I left this message as a U2U message at Sensibility.com, then realized you may not even see it there. I need your help. Long ago I was admiring this alligator. I ended up getting the pattern and am now making it for my grandson. I'm getting close to done, just need to bind top to bottom, wire the jaw and stuff him. What I was wondering is - what did you do in the back of the "throat" to prevent the stuffing from escaping into the mouth? I thought about making a flap that I would hand stitch inside at the back of the throat. I'm sitting here wondering if there is something I missed?! I know it is meant to be a pajama bag, but did they really want the pajamas escaping into the mouth? Anyway, if you can tell me what you did for this, I would be much obliged!
Thanks, Celeste
Oh goodness, that was a long time ago. I remember running into the same problem as you--it hadn't occurred to me that his throat would be open! I must have stitched it closed somehow but honestly I have no idea, so sorry! I think I'd probably just cut out something that fit and slipstitch it in there by hand. Good luck! I would ADORE to see pictures when you're done!
Thank you Anna! I will let you know, and I will post pictures on my blog when finally done.
Celeste
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