Heather Bailey Happy Stacker Round 3

OK this one was for a dear friend for her twin nieces. She picked out the fabric and I must say she did really fabulous cause I don't know if I would have been able to put them all together as lovely as these...she swears that they were next to each other on the store shelf when she bought them but knowing how much thought she puts into everything I will bet she sat and contemplated for a bit.

She brought me this fabric and asked me to match some ribbons to it--OH JOY got to dig through ribbon leftover stash!!


Anyway, this pattern is still maddening in it's handstitching BUT here are some more tips in case you decide you want to tackle it:


Double stitch the center of the rings....stitch on the wrong sides (front to front sides) w/ a long thread but then run the needle through the layers to the outside and stitch again on the right side


Tiny even stitches not too close to the edge of fabric so that the fabric does not shred


Make sure you are not too close to the edges of the fabrics when you stitch so that there is enough to stitch through tightly w/o tearing the fabric


Hate to tell you this but make sure you use high quality fabric cheapo stuff will not hold up as well to babies and toddler chunking this toy across the room or chompin it while teething. And in terms of stitching it will not pull and shred on the edges as much because higher quality is better woven.

Do not use too cheap of muslin either as the cheap stuff will shred too much on the edges--really it just adds to the frustration factor of making this toy. The first few I made I used the med quality white stuff.

Keep telling yourself it will look ADORABLE when it is done and keep plodding along SERIOUSLY chant this as a you are stitching.

Wear a thimble or two!

When you are at the final stage before stuffing, pin the edges together on the last half leaving a small gap for stufffing. Stitch and unpin as you go...when you get to that last bit then stuff it and hand stitch closed.

Use a thin embroidery needle.

Remember tiny, even stitches!

DO NOT OVERSTUFF--I personally think it looks better and sits better on the center pole.

After you have made this a time or two THEN consider adding ribbons-OMG they make the final product look completely different and absolutely adorable!! Seriously do not attempt this during the first try unless you are an expert seamstress lol.

And now gaze upon the maddeningly cute and adorable Happy Stacker (pattern by Heather Bailey)






































On to the next sewing project!

Heather Bailey Happy Stacker Project Round 2

Round 2 of the perfect (or at least make it look less lumpy) Heather Bailey Happy Stacker project. This is almost impossible to make perfectly round into rings without getting lumpy or bunchy even in small places because of the hand sewing to the last half of the rings. Picture hand sewing while turning in seams and holding some stuffing in (most of the stuffing I added last) and you a really have to stuff it even though this poofs it up to the point of not being able to see the stacking center. But without all the stuffing the fabric is slack soooo...I took them to the store for them to use as a display but I am not happy with it at all. I am going to make a muslin this week and see if I can't mess with some tricks to get it straighter. And I will share them with you should you dare to take on this pattern.

End story is it is a cutie once it is finished but it is the sewing journey you have to travel on to get there that is tricky!

Now of course it does not look too horribly terrible but there are not a lot of ways around having to hand stitch the last half...I will not let this defeat me though I am going to make it look like I at least know how to sew which this last one does not do UGH.

I do like all the stripey fabrics I put together don't you?

Funny story today about these.... the part you stack the rings on is like a soft 'bat' that sticks up and the rings can all be set on them (the bottom ring does not stay in one place but also comes off) and I had given the first set of these to a mama at the store where the stripey ones will be displayed, well she took the original sample home and I heard that her cat was being naughty and the 2yr old said 'I'll be right back or I'll take care of it' something along those lines but I was giggling so I forget exactly and ran back in with the fabric bat from the Heather Bailey Happy Stackers and wanted to use it as exactly that lol lol.....I figured as much when I sewed these up because that is the one thing that is perfect for little hands that and perhaps chucking the rings across the room....

....I will update on the adventures of making some muslins of these and then I intend to make one more sample out of black and white fabrics with perhaps some ribbon doodads like the pattern shows as options!