4.07.2009

coming out of their shells: turtle tutorial

*Updated 8/14, 8:08* thanks for all the lovely comments, hope those of you who got the free download enjoy lots of little turtles. For everyone else, the pattern is now available here.

I'm working on an embroidery project, and yesterday I ran out of my main color. I'm going to have to drive in to Jackson to go hunt for a matching embroidery floss, and who knows when I'll get around to it. Argh.

kissing turtles

So instead, I decided to try this pattern I had been mulling over in my head. I got a great stash of vintage fabrics with tiny little flowers (my favorite kind of print) at a yard sale this past weekend, and I was eager to get into it. I made two little turtles (because I can't seem to make something for J without also making one for L!) who come out of their shells.

turtles

turtles coming out of their shells

The yellow one was first, and I decided his front legs were really too small, so the red one is a little nicer. John thinks I need to make some little boxer shorts for them, which would be very cute. L and I are both crazy about these guys, and they came together so easily once I got it figured out, I may have to make more. But maybe not.

turtles coming out of their shells

And yes, I've been singing St. Robinson and His Cadillac Dream all day.

Updated to add: This has been one of my favorite patterns over the years!  So I wanted to add a few more pictures.  :)


24 comments:

Blogspot Problogger said...

Very, very cute! can't wait to make some for my boys. :)

amy dame said...

oh, so cute!

i volunteer for an organization that provides clothing and quilts to kids in crisis, and if we have them, we give them each a stuffie as well. these will be perfect! now i just need to find some sewing time....

Celeste said...

Those turtles are totally adorable! Thanks for sharing!

Betsy said...

This is great! A friend and I are going to a beginner's sewing class at the end of the month, but I'm going to have a hard time waiting to try this! :) Thanks for sharing it with the world!

JulieO said...

Yeah! I got it I got it. I can't wait to make these for the kids. Thanks Laura.

Anonymous said...

These are adorable!!!
Thank you

julie said...

Awesome turts.

I've been kicking around in my head for a year now an idea for making a turtle stuffing with a patchwork shell. Just. Can't. Quite. Get. It.

Maybe I'll have it figured out by retirement.

Anne said...

This is some serious cuteness!!! I posted a link to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing Blog:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-sew-a-turtle-softie/2009/04/10/

(Link will be active April 10, 3:30 pm CST

--Anne

Rachel@oneprettything.com said...

Those are adorable! Thanks for sharing the pattern, I'll be linking.

~Michelle~ said...

You've done it again! Super cute pattern - thanks so much!

Nikki said...

You made me go "ohhhh"...! Your turtles are just beautiful. Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou for the tutorial and for sharing your pattern.

The DO said...

Thank you so much for the tutorial and pattern! I'm always on the look out for softies to make my kids (tring to go handmade and ditch the plastic) and they are going to LOVE these. Can't wait to start!

Anonymous said...

Thanks Laura, they are so sweet and it is generous of you to give away the pattern.

the 6 o'clock stitch said...

They are sooooo sweet! Funny thing is that I just bought some vintage-looking fabrics with a tiny print the other day that will be perfect! Thank you for so generously sharing your pattern.

Tina @ Squirrel Acorns said...

So adorable! Thank you so much for sharing all your hard effort. My boys absolutely LOVE turtles and having them come out of their shell is just so cool!

LunaMoonbeam said...

You don't know how happy this makes me! My grandmother had two turtles almost identical to yours when I was a little girl...I can't wait to make these for my two little ones!!!

Amanda said...

Wow, thank you for posting this! It's adorable. My son's 2nd birthday is coming up and he'd love one of these turtles...can't wait to make one! :)

Bea said...

Thank you so much for this cute pattern. I already enjoyed your fat quarter purse tut and pattern and am sure this one will work up just as nicely.
Thanks for sharing.

Annette W. said...

I think I missed out on the free turtle, unfortunately. I really like that it is in two parts...much more realistic. You have a good variety in your shop! I plan to bookmark it so that I can come back and look a bit more when my wallet is a bit thicker (even though your prices are nice and low).

If I didn't miss out on the free turtle pattern, would you please let me know? I'd love to make it sooner than later!

Take care!

Geek+Nerd said...

These are so adorable! Thank you for sharing!

urban craft said...

the turtles are so sweet. I love that they come out of their shell like that. Adorable!

Heather said...

Those turtles are great, Laura! And you know, I dream of ballerinas, and I don't know why...

Jennifer said...

I just had to comment because when I saw these turtles my eyes about popped out of my head. That yellow flower fabric was the exact one that my mom had used to make herself a maternity shirt when she was pregnant with my oldest sister, in 1968. I have a little scrap that fabric that I'm trying to decide how to use.

And as for the red flower fabric--my mom had made some projects with that too--some apple ornaments for teacher gifts, around 1985.

Anyway, thanks for the blast from my past. And what adorable turtles!!!

Laura said...

Thanks, Heather, for sharing the counting crows love.