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Flip Dolls & Other Toys That Zip, Stack, Hide, Grab & Go
Why make an ordinary stuffed toy when you can sew irresistible creations that flip, zip, snap, stack, and move? Filled with wit, humor, and inventiveness, these delightful interactive playthings sometimes literally turn your expectations inside out. Page after page of clever projects include a caterpillar that changes into a butterfly, a vampire who becomes a bat, and ordinary dolls that transform into superheroes! Or stitch a pretty bird that perches on your shoulder, bunnies that bounce, a car with spinning wheels, and other amazing toys.
143 pages, Paperback
First published August 6, 2013
13 people want to read
About the author
Laura Wilson
8 books20 followersLaura Wilson is a painter and designer, homeschooling mother, and a PhD student of Orthodox Theology.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 21, 2019
Got this book from my library and I love it so much I'm going to buy it!
The patterns are all very inventive and were just what I was looking for. A stuffed toy but with a little more. I've made the whale and it was pretty straight forward.
The patterns are all very inventive and were just what I was looking for. A stuffed toy but with a little more. I've made the whale and it was pretty straight forward.
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December 27, 2014The toys in this book are really imaginative. Making some or all of them would really add to the creative toy box of a child in your life. This is one of the books that I gave away in November's Black Friday Sew-in, but didn't really get a chance to look at. Shannon at Lark was able to send me a copy. Thanks to Lark Crafts for sending this book to me to review.
I can imagine an aunt or uncle making the characters in this book and sending them, one at a time, to a niece or nephew. The other wonderful thing about the creatures in this book is the opportunity for adding texture to a child's life.
Now, if you have no children in your life that should not deter you from this book. Toys on your desk at work draw people in to talk, collaborate, shoot the breeze. Flip dolls, which seem to not really be readily available, are a twofer. Two toys in one and an additional spur to the imagination.
Like many of Lark's books, this one starts with a "Getting Started" (pg.10) section that includes tools, materials, basic techniques, special skills, and customizing. There are sidebars, two of which caught my attention, "The History of Flip Dolls (you know I love history!) and age appropriateness. I noticed, throughout the book, that the author discusses modifications to accommodate the mouthiness of smaller children. All of the sections have a description for each entry. For example, there are three kinds of scissors listed in the tools section. Wilson writes a few lines about why you need each. the section is illustrated by photographs and whimsical drawings. This section also includes the basic shape and some examples of how to modify it to create different creatures.
Following the introductory section are three additional sections, which provide the projects in ever increasing difficulty. The sections are Zip & Stack, Hide, Seek & Go, and Flip & Turn.
All of the projects have a difficult rating and it took me a minute to understand how they were coded. The arrows were a little confusing, but I got with the program quickly.
Some of the cleverness of the projects shows up in the section. The Cheshire Cat has a pocket in the back with additional mouth pieces (lips, mustache, etc) that add to the fun of this toy. My favorite project in the Zip 7 Stack section has to be the Smiling Crocodile. I LOVE the zipper for the mouth. There are brief instructions for shortening a zipper and also a good description of installing a zipper.
On many of the projects there is opportunity for your own creativity. The wings of the flying horse could have sparkly embroidery floss, the plates on the shell of the turtle could have embroidered outlines.
In the Hide, Seek and go section, the Winged Horse could do double duty as a regular horse as the wings are removable. I also like the front panel of the Nuts & Bolts Robot, which provides additional opportunity for creativity.
Finally, the Flip & Turn section has the flip dolls. There is a caterpillar and butterfly combination, George & the Dragon (you might need two so some actual swordplay could happen!), and the Owl and the Pussycat
The thing I didn't like about the book was the materials used. This is a small thing and easily remedied. I would have liked to have seen the bat (pg.25) made from some wilder white on black fabric rather than a solid black. I would have liked to have seen some tiny red beads standing in for blood drops on the vampire (pg.25). I didn't find the fabrics interesting. As I said, that is easily remedied by using your own fabrics. Also, looking at finished objects made from fabric in a book is much different than feeling the item in person.
Templates are at the back and have to be enlarged, so plan ahead. No late night runs to the copy store!
I like this book because it is different. The toys are clever and imagination inspiring. I also see the spark that can lead to readers jumping off and taking the ideas to different levels. Take a look at the book and enjoy!
I can imagine an aunt or uncle making the characters in this book and sending them, one at a time, to a niece or nephew. The other wonderful thing about the creatures in this book is the opportunity for adding texture to a child's life.
Now, if you have no children in your life that should not deter you from this book. Toys on your desk at work draw people in to talk, collaborate, shoot the breeze. Flip dolls, which seem to not really be readily available, are a twofer. Two toys in one and an additional spur to the imagination.
Like many of Lark's books, this one starts with a "Getting Started" (pg.10) section that includes tools, materials, basic techniques, special skills, and customizing. There are sidebars, two of which caught my attention, "The History of Flip Dolls (you know I love history!) and age appropriateness. I noticed, throughout the book, that the author discusses modifications to accommodate the mouthiness of smaller children. All of the sections have a description for each entry. For example, there are three kinds of scissors listed in the tools section. Wilson writes a few lines about why you need each. the section is illustrated by photographs and whimsical drawings. This section also includes the basic shape and some examples of how to modify it to create different creatures.
Following the introductory section are three additional sections, which provide the projects in ever increasing difficulty. The sections are Zip & Stack, Hide, Seek & Go, and Flip & Turn.
All of the projects have a difficult rating and it took me a minute to understand how they were coded. The arrows were a little confusing, but I got with the program quickly.
Some of the cleverness of the projects shows up in the section. The Cheshire Cat has a pocket in the back with additional mouth pieces (lips, mustache, etc) that add to the fun of this toy. My favorite project in the Zip 7 Stack section has to be the Smiling Crocodile. I LOVE the zipper for the mouth. There are brief instructions for shortening a zipper and also a good description of installing a zipper.
On many of the projects there is opportunity for your own creativity. The wings of the flying horse could have sparkly embroidery floss, the plates on the shell of the turtle could have embroidered outlines.
In the Hide, Seek and go section, the Winged Horse could do double duty as a regular horse as the wings are removable. I also like the front panel of the Nuts & Bolts Robot, which provides additional opportunity for creativity.
Finally, the Flip & Turn section has the flip dolls. There is a caterpillar and butterfly combination, George & the Dragon (you might need two so some actual swordplay could happen!), and the Owl and the Pussycat
The thing I didn't like about the book was the materials used. This is a small thing and easily remedied. I would have liked to have seen the bat (pg.25) made from some wilder white on black fabric rather than a solid black. I would have liked to have seen some tiny red beads standing in for blood drops on the vampire (pg.25). I didn't find the fabrics interesting. As I said, that is easily remedied by using your own fabrics. Also, looking at finished objects made from fabric in a book is much different than feeling the item in person.
Templates are at the back and have to be enlarged, so plan ahead. No late night runs to the copy store!
I like this book because it is different. The toys are clever and imagination inspiring. I also see the spark that can lead to readers jumping off and taking the ideas to different levels. Take a look at the book and enjoy!
January 25, 2014
This book is broken up into sections. The first 25 or so pages explain how the book came to be, what supplies you’ll need and a brief history of flip dolls.
Next up is the “Zip & Stack” section which includes a stacking tree, nesting flowers, elephant parade, cheshire cat, smiling crocodile, and sly fox. All of these either utilize zippers or stacking methods to make them unique. The elephant and trees are rates easy while the others in this section are moderate.
Next is “Hide, Seek, & Go” which includes a peekaboo turtle, getaway car, bouncy bunny, gulp the whale, winged horse, and nuts n’ bolts robot. Pretty self explanatory. The Turtle hides in or out of his shell. Bouncy Bunny uses elastic to make him go. Etc. These are all rated at the moderate skill level.
“Show & Tell” features items that are more for display than play. Good Times watch, bright ideas computer, plucky ukulele, crabby crab, knotty frog, perching bird, lie detector. All of these are listed within the moderate skill range. The best one here is the bright ideas computer — a cloth computer where the screen is a window just big enough to fit a photo, blank pages, art work, even a small sketchbook.
The “Flip & Turn” section is likely the one that people will buy the book for. The dolls that are a two in one flip. These dolls flip inside out instead of upside down. Cat-Fish, Secret Message chat bubbles, The caterpillar and the butterfly, George and the dragon, The owl and the pussycat, Superhero, Vampire-Bat, Circus flip. There are a mix of easy, moderate, and advanced in this section.
The book includes templates for all projects in the back — you’ll need a way to enlarge them.
These 27 projects are all adorable. I wish it had focussed more on the flip and turn and hide and seek but I could see how those could feel repetitive. The skill levels feel mostly right. I never seem to move out of beginner without lots of 4 letter words being involved but some of these moderate seem fine for me.
* Disclaimer: I received this book at no cost in order to review it. I offered no guarantee of a positive review, though I only request books I think I'll like because why read a book you think you’ll hate?
Next up is the “Zip & Stack” section which includes a stacking tree, nesting flowers, elephant parade, cheshire cat, smiling crocodile, and sly fox. All of these either utilize zippers or stacking methods to make them unique. The elephant and trees are rates easy while the others in this section are moderate.
Next is “Hide, Seek, & Go” which includes a peekaboo turtle, getaway car, bouncy bunny, gulp the whale, winged horse, and nuts n’ bolts robot. Pretty self explanatory. The Turtle hides in or out of his shell. Bouncy Bunny uses elastic to make him go. Etc. These are all rated at the moderate skill level.
“Show & Tell” features items that are more for display than play. Good Times watch, bright ideas computer, plucky ukulele, crabby crab, knotty frog, perching bird, lie detector. All of these are listed within the moderate skill range. The best one here is the bright ideas computer — a cloth computer where the screen is a window just big enough to fit a photo, blank pages, art work, even a small sketchbook.
The “Flip & Turn” section is likely the one that people will buy the book for. The dolls that are a two in one flip. These dolls flip inside out instead of upside down. Cat-Fish, Secret Message chat bubbles, The caterpillar and the butterfly, George and the dragon, The owl and the pussycat, Superhero, Vampire-Bat, Circus flip. There are a mix of easy, moderate, and advanced in this section.
The book includes templates for all projects in the back — you’ll need a way to enlarge them.
These 27 projects are all adorable. I wish it had focussed more on the flip and turn and hide and seek but I could see how those could feel repetitive. The skill levels feel mostly right. I never seem to move out of beginner without lots of 4 letter words being involved but some of these moderate seem fine for me.
* Disclaimer: I received this book at no cost in order to review it. I offered no guarantee of a positive review, though I only request books I think I'll like because why read a book you think you’ll hate?
January 12, 2015
This book features some really fun projects. I have only worked with the Easy projects due to my lack of skill at sewing. I started with the first project, Stacking Trees. This was very easy & fun. I made these Christmas themed for gifts & even did a few as cat toys stuffing them with catnip! Another Easy project is the Cat-Fish. Once again I made a few for gift giving & the others as cat toys. Basically I make cat toys as practice!
My biggest peeve is the lack of full size patterns. You have to scan or copy the templates out of the book & enlarge them 200%. This is very annoying. When a template is bigger than a sheet of paper you need to print it on two sheets & tape them together. My second lesser peeve is that there are not enough beginner or Easy projects. The majority of the projects seem to be at a Moderate level of difficulty. I haven't progressed that far yet, but I am looking forward to the challenge, I just wish there were more Easy projects before I had to jump into the next level.
My biggest peeve is the lack of full size patterns. You have to scan or copy the templates out of the book & enlarge them 200%. This is very annoying. When a template is bigger than a sheet of paper you need to print it on two sheets & tape them together. My second lesser peeve is that there are not enough beginner or Easy projects. The majority of the projects seem to be at a Moderate level of difficulty. I haven't progressed that far yet, but I am looking forward to the challenge, I just wish there were more Easy projects before I had to jump into the next level.
August 25, 2016
sewing. These toys are super cute and great for developing those fine motor skills! Each toy would make a great 'happy mail' to send to someone, or to populate your own little one's toybox. Not all of the toys would be appropriate for under-3s (choking hazards) but most of them have adaptations that would make them work (embroidery instead of buttons, etc.)
February 26, 2014
Want to revisit this one when I have more time!
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