The Handmade Christmas: happy felt fish

Ok, I realise we are still in the beginning of November, but I have a (long) list (yet to be completed) of handmade stuff I would like to make either for my kids or for friends and other family members. Since life in general keeps me busy during most of the week, I always need an early start if I want to get anything done in time. Starting right on November 1st seemed reasonably appropriate.

Ever since I saw the Abby Glassemberg's Penny the Fish tutorial I knew I wanted to try and make a toy fish for my kids. They are just so cute!

Initially I was going to make them (in our house everything has to be done in pairs) for my daughter's birthday in September but I just could not find time during the Summer, so they were re-scheduled for Christmas.

When I started cutting the felt on Saturday I believed that I could actually finish them both on the same day and still have natural light to take the pictures. Boy, was I wrong. Not because the project in itself is complicated, but because still I had to cook, clean and play with the kids in between.

I finished them late last night and still found some time to take the pictures because I really wanted to share this post today.

No tutorial or pattern, please refer to Abby's blog for that, not only because it is her original idea but also because her pattern is awesome and the tutorial very easy to follow. I did make some changes while making my fish (there was nothing wrong with the instructions, I just always like to add my own personal touch):

• I used felt instead of fleece. I love to work with felt and usually have a large stash of it, so I went with what I alreeady had
• I made the body of the fish just one color (instead of Abby's two). 
• The fins and tails were sewn directly wrong sides together (with felt, especially if it's thick, it is hard to turn little pieces inside out) and the seams were done in contrasting color to make them more visible
• The eyes were just glued on and instead of cutting the lips from felt I just embroidered a smiling mouth directly onto the felt. Hence the "happy fish" name. 

Despite the fact that it always takes me longer than expected to complete my projects, this is a very easy one that everyone can make and that I'm sure the kids will love.

Well, one down, several more to go. I'm not sure I will be able to complete a Christmas handmade present every week since not all are as simple as this one and I still have other unfinished projects lined up, but the Handmade Christmas series is here to stay. Right until Christmas.

Enjoy,