April 2024 Island Batik Ambassador Challenge

The Island Batik Funky Friends Factory Challenge Parameters:

Project Type: Funky Friends Factory Stuffed Animal
Island Batik Collection used: Winged Things
Fabrics provided by Island Batik, thread by Aurifil, needles by Schmetz
Fabric Prep: Oliso Smart Iron

I was excited for this challenge and felt very confident because I have made quite a few stuffed toys over the years even creating an elephant and llama pattern of my own. During the selection process I went to the Funky Friends Factory website and scrolled through all the adorable patterns and settled on Mickey the Moose. I have 3 granddaughters and my son is dating someone with an 8-year-old girl; so my generous heart wanted to make 4 Moose. I ended up with two due to time constraints.

I selected the precious pastels of the collection Winged Things with a great mix and match combination.

Before I started sewing, I cleaned my Brother Dreamweaver bobbin casing and changed my Schmetz needle. I used an Aurifil variegated raspberry thread for machine and hand sewing. My Oliso Smart Iron was perfect for those pattern pieces!!

I printed the Funky Friends factory (FFF) pattern on my wireless Epson printer using regular printer paper. After cutting out the Flutter Wings Island Batik collection for 4 sets of pattern pieces and carefully clipping them in neat individual pattern piece stacks, I went through the FFF instructions again and reviewed the FFF step-by-step photo tutorials online.

PATTERN ALTERATIONS

I tried making the antlers out of batik cotton, but they seemed small and droopy, so I chose a brown wool felt with an ultra-stiff interfacing between the two layers of felt. The interfacing was cut a 1/4 inch smaller then the enlarged wool felt antlers. I ran an overcast stitch along the edge of the 4 sets of antlers. Caution: stiffer antlers mean less flexibility when sewing the neck and sewing the head unto the body–you just have to clip them out of the way. I added some felt flowers and hand-embroidered leaves to the antlers. I also followed the FFF suggestion to sew the tail seam into the body, so it did not stick out. Both of these alterations ultimately will make for longer lasting antlers and tails.

Funky Friends Factory has some great tips for stuffing, visit their website to see all the cute patterns and ideas!! I half-filled the legs with poly pellets before adding fiber fill.

For additional ideas, visit the 2024 Island Batik Ambassador blogs below for their cute results of the Funky Friends Factory Island Batik April 2024 Ambassador Challenge!

During April, I am obtained an affiliate link to the Missouri Star Quilt Company!! Earn 20% off $50+ discount using my affiliate link!!