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November 19, 2013

Flip Dolls & Other Toys Review and Giveaway!

Hello Everyone!

We recently received a copy of Laura Wilson's book, Flip Dolls & Other Toys that Zip, Stack, Hide, Grab & Go, here at Feeling Stitchy and it is super fun! There are a variety of patterns included in the book for projects ranging from easy to advanced sewing skills. There were so many dolls I wanted to try making, but I had to decrease the list, although I hope to eventually try all the patterns.


The items in the book are organized into four different sections of projects: Zip & Stack, Hide, Seek & Go, Show & Tell, Flip & Turn. The projects reflect each section in which they have been included.  There is a darling watch with an embroidered face in the Show & Tell section that I think would be great for helping young ones learn how to tell time. The Hide, Seek & Go patterns are good for those sneaky little squirrels who like to keep tiny treasures in secret places. There are so many wonderful projects included in this book, that it is difficult to pick favorites.


I highly recommend a close reading of the first 25-pages of the book as it includes techniques, supplies, and all the necessary details for completing the projects in the book. My most favorite part of the book is a history of flip dolls included in this introductory section. I did find that the book had a short section on how to add embroidery to a doll or pillow, but it was lacking in detail, specifically the hiding of knots. Because embroidery is the last to go on the exterior of the project, it would have been nice to have a few more detailed instructions or tips and techniques for that.


Each project comes with a supply list, in addition to difficulty levels, and necessary skills to complete the project. As you can see in the photo below, the Secret Message flip pillow is at a moderate difficulty level and requires the use of embroidery. 


I tried two different patterns, one each from the Hide, Seek & Go and Flip & Turn sections. Gulp the Whale, of the hide and seek toys, quickly caught my eye. Once assembled, items can be put inside Gulp. It's super adorable. 



When it came to the Flip & Turn projects, I had difficulty choosing between the Circus Flip Doll with a bearded lady and conjoined twins or the bat and vampire. Being that I was still wishing it was Halloween, I went for the vampire/bat. I read each project thoroughly, then made sure to go through each step accordingly. An element of the assembly process that I really appreciate, is that there are periodic, "check your stitches," reminders that ensure a completely assembled final product.



I started to make the Secret messages pillow, but had some difficulty with the final stitches. This was my only challenge with the book. Occasionally, there were sketches of the assembly process, but not for each step. For some reason I just couldn't get the final assembly to work, no matter how many different ways I tried. I think if I had a photo, it would have helped greatly by providing that visual to go with the description.


Overall this book is darling and the projects are quite fun. I still have a few more patterns I would like to try. In particular, the alligator on the cover of the book. I really think he is adorable. With the holidays looming, I think this book would be great as a gift, in addition to anything made from the book. 

In that spirit of giving, we'll be giving away one copy of the book to a very lucky Feeling Stitchy reader! Our sincerest apologies to our international readers, this giveaway is limited to readers in the U.S. 

We have a random winner! 

Dagan - I still have most of my dolls from my childhood, but my cow Baa is one of my nearest and dearest. 

Our Feeling Stitchy editor will be emailing the winner with all the details!

Thank you to everyone who entered and thank you to Lark Crafts for the book! 

Hope you all have a very happy Tuesday!

40 comments:

  1. I had a faux cabbage patch doll that my mom made me - with matching brownie sash! Love that doll. :)

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  2. I had a handmade knockoff of a Raggedy Ann doll. Her name was Fern and my 7-year-old daughter sleeps with her now :)

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  3. I am intrigued by this book. I wish I could get a hold of it to flip through the pages myself! As for my favorite doll, I had a porcelain doll whose nails I painted and then was sad I could never undo. I also remember sleeping with a little leopard for a long time.

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  4. I had a velvet doll--she had blonde hair, and you can adjust the length. My mom made all kinds of clothes for her!

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  5. My favorite was a rabbit named Charlie -- he was squat and squishy! :) Thanks for the chance to win!

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  6. my Addy doll :)

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  7. Nicole Martinez-AndersonNovember 19, 2013 at 12:02 PM

    OMG i would love to make a couple of those toys for my nephew. My favorite doll was an olympic cabbage patch doll with long red hair.

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  8. This book looks so lovely! Even though I was a bit older when I got her, I absolutely loved Josefina, my American Girl doll. I carried her everywhere. I know the AG line is overpriced, but I credit their dolls and their books for my love of history now. :)

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  9. I still have most my dolls from my childhood, but my cow Baa is one of my nearest and dearest. Thanks for the lovely giveaway, I was just talking about flip dolls with my sister and her boyfriend :)

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  10. Jennifer R. Gojira AdamNovember 19, 2013 at 1:00 PM

    My favorite doll has always been, and always will be, a baby Crissy doll. I bought an old one on ebay for way too much money, but my love was stronger than my sense.

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  11. I had a holly hobby that I always think fondly of, even though a few others stick in my mind, I think her braids always made me choose her!

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  12. Barbie was my favorite doll! My cousin had a huge wardrobe of Barbie clothing, and I was so jealous.

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  13. I was a big fan of polly pocket!
    Thanks!

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  14. I had a Sabrina doll that I dearly loved as a very young child.

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  15. I had a small baby doll with a soft body that went everywhere with me.

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  16. I loved my Samantha American Girl doll!

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  17. I loved my Raggedy Ann. I held her by her hand and her arms had to be reattached twice.

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  18. Baby Tender Love and I still have her.

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  19. My favorite doll was a rag doll my Mom made.

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  20. I had a "Fozzer Bear" (named after my favorite Muppet) a little orange bear wearing, for some unknown reason, a hand crocheted yellow dress.

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  21. Your vampire/bat is adorable. That book is on my wish list! My favorite doll was rub a dub dolly who could go in the bath.

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  22. My favorite dolls were my barbie dolls. I had the original Barbies - Barbie, Midge, etc. My mother my sister and I a very large box of gorgeous barbie clothes. We were the envy of the neighborhood girls.

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  23. I had a Mickey Mouse doll that (the face/clothes printed on the cloth) I loved a lot and took everywhere I went when I was kid.

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  24. Chatty Cathy was my favorite doll, although I got in trouble for playing beauty parlor and cutting her hair. (Gasp!) I did have a flip doll my grandparents brought me from Jamiaca- a blond braided pigtail girl on one side and a black mamie figure on the reverse.

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  25. My favorite doll was one my grandmother made for me.

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  26. I didn't have many dolls but I had a lot of stuffed toys. My favorites were my Azrael (the cat from the smurfs) and this floppy necked horse I won at church. And this ugly turtle made from upholstery (made my my mother's aunt--she made all kinds of great stuff).


    (

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  27. My love for handicrafts might have been influenced by a patchwork Scottie dog my grandmother made for me. I still have it and have made several of my own!

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  28. probably my favorite was my Cabbage Patch Doll--I would have loved a homemade doll though!

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  29. my favorite doll was sadly never mine. A friend had a flip doll it was golidlocks and the wolf that ate the grandmother....it was amazeing.Sadly said freind died when I was a teenager...I will always remember her & her doll

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  30. My favorite doll was a bride doll my Mom bought me with S & H Green Stamps when I was 9 years old. You can read about her and see photos of her now at: http://asucculentlife.blogspot.com/2009/07/my-favorite-dolly.html?m=1

    Thanks for a chance at the book! I love making dolls!
    Julie

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  31. I have had a stuffed monkey named Mr. Chimps since I was 2 yrs old (I am now 35) and he has been everywhere with me!

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  32. My Cabbage Patch Kid, Christina. She's really the first doll I remember having. & my Gramma sewed up quite a wardrobe for her. In fact, she made us quite a few matching outfits, including First Communion dresses!

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  33. joanne medeiros-gentileNovember 22, 2013 at 10:29 PM

    Mine was actually a flip doll it had grandma and the big bad wolf

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  34. Learning how to sew is something that I believe is a totally "hands on" and "learning by doing" experience is just awesome feeling.

    http://www.megridigitizing.com

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  35. Many years ago there was a old cartoon called Beany and Cecil. I loved it and had a Beany doll that quickly became my favorite. Wish I still had him but he became lost over the years. And this story is really giving away my age ;)
    usagypsy(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  36. When I was toddler, I had a homemade Raggedy Ann doll that I never put down. When I was a bit older, I got a stuffed bear at a yard sale and named him Homer after my great-grandfather. He became very dear to me and I still have him (although now all the leather is worn from his nose, and occasionally his eye pops out and must be glued back in.)

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  37. My American Girl doll, Molly!

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  38. My favorite doll was one my mom made for me. She had a plaid dress and curled ringlet hair made out of twine!

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  39. Barbie....I had one of the first Barbies made. (I still have her)

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  40. I made my own dolls =)

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