THE CHINA MAIL SPECIAL CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT, DECEMBER 19, 1940.
MAKE THESE TOYS FOR
CHRISTMAS
SOFT toys are always welcome
gifts for the youngest mern- bers of the family, and many grown-ups as well appreciate an amusing animal for a mascot. So why not make a few toys to solve your Christmas present problem? They are very easy and fascinat- ing to make, and all sorts of ma- terials can be utilised with good effect.
Almost
any strong, closely woven fabric will make the main body of the animal or other toy. Velvet, eloth or strong cotton are all itable. Pink velvet, for - slarice, would make pig, grey velour cloth is just the thing for an elephant, and even a scrap of guly cheeked gingharn make a quaint dog.
a
would
Scaps of 6lt and leather are teful for feet, beaks, ears, and su on. Cast-off patent leather belts can he cut up to provide collars and harness, and shoe-buttons or press-studs make eyes for almost any animal. A pound of millpuff or kapok, costing very little from your drapers or upholsterers, will stuff half-a-dozen anal toys, Snipped-up rags can be used for stuffing. but these are rather heavy. and more difficult to handle.
For large or complicated toys, you will need to buy a paper- pattern. But you could start right away to make the two simple toy shown here. The shape and mea- surements of each part are clear- ly given, and you will find it quite easy to cut out these paper pat-
terns for yourself.
YOUR PIECE-BAG. WILL PROVIDE THE MATERIALS
BRUBY EVANS
Bunny Is Born
The soft and cuddlesome bunny is made from an oddment of white turkish towelling, with pink silk or cotton to line his ears. First cut out the four shapes in paper. - body, under-body, car and tail. The under-body, is exactly the same shape as the lower part of the shape for the body. The given measurements allow for 4. turnings on all edges.
From turkish towelling cut out the body twice, the under-body twice, the ear twice, the tail twice. Also mit out the car twice in pluk material, making this lining just a little narrower than the pat-- ton.
With strong white cotton, seam the two under-body pieces
to- gether along the straight top edge, leaving a small space in the centre for stuffing, as shown in the sketch. Shop this part between the two body pieces, so that it fits in exactly, coming as far up as the two crosses marked on the body plere in the sketch.
Pin all the edges together, and then stitch on
the wrong side thus making a complete "ease" shaped like a rabbit." Turp right side out, and fill with soft stuming, first the paws and then the body. Sew opening neatly together.
Join the two tail pieces, leaving the straight edge opên. Túrn right side out, add a little stuffing, and sew to the bocly. Make up the ears in the same way, but do not stuff. Bring the lower edges in 40- wards the centre, lining inside, and sew to head with the lining facing outwards. A glare at the
finished rabbit in the sketch makes this step clear.
Add shoe-buttons or glass beads for eyes, using very strong cotton and taking the needle through the head several times from one eye to the other. A touch of paint can be used to make the correct pink eyes if desired. Mark nose and mouth with a scrap of thick red wool, and your bunhy is ready for His new owner.
BOINE
Humpty-Dumpty, ulso shown here, is a most original and intri- guing toy. To make him, you need scraps of gaily-patterned velvet fer cloth) and a piece of flesh-coloured stockinette. You could use, old stocking-tops, pieces cut from woven underwear. If they are white, rinse them in strong cold tea.
or
First cut dut the four simple shapes shown here. Measurements include quarter-inch turnings on every edge. You will notice that only half the body, arm and legis given. When cutting out these parts, lay the straight edge to a fold, and cut out in double thick-
ness.
09
BODY
EAR TAIL
UNDER-BODY
4*
BASE
HALF ARM
HALF BODY
HALF LEG
making two similar pieces, one for the front and one for the back, As you see from the Muished doll. Jom front and back together right in the sketch, the body, arms and round the 'curved side. Then join legs are made partly from velvet, on the circular base (cut entirely and partly from stockinette. These in velvet) leaving an opening for three patterns must, therefore, be cut across at the dotted Tires stuffing. Turn right side out, stuff shown in the sketch.
firmly, and sew up opening.
Cut out each part in its correct Sew a harrow band of plain material. You can see from the white material round the body, sketch of the finished doll whith where the Velvet joins the stocki- parts should be velvet, and which nette, thus making Humpty a col- stockinette. Then make up as follar and hiding the join at the same lows:
time. Add a ribbon bow in front,
Stuff Firmly
BODY. Seam the lower and up- per parts of the body together,
Humpty Won't Fall
ARMS AND LEGS. Make up in the same wity as the body, but do
EAR
not give them a base. Instead, sew the straight ends together when each limb is stuffed, and sew firm- ly to the body.
large black press-studs, and stitch For Humpty's eyes, sew on two
a circle of black chain-stitch round each. A few straight black stitches. form the nose, and an outlined: shape in red chain-stitch indicates) the mouth.
You will find Humpty a must. good-tempered fellow, and he is guaranteed not to come to grief like his name-sake in the nursery- rhyme. In fact, he will stand 'up nobly to the roughest treatment which any small child may give him.
FOR A REAL
MERRY CHRISTMAS
INTRODUCE
GAS
into your home to ensure that everyone is well fed, warmed and refreshed with the minimum of trouble.
OCCCCC6C00
GOOD
COOKING.
GLOWING FIRES.
THE HONG KONG & CHINA GAS
Central Showroom-Gloucester Bldg., (Comer of East Arcade).
Telephone 24704.
HOT
WATER.
S CO., LTD.
GAS
Kowloon Showroom-246, Nathan Rds (Corner of Jordan Rd.)
Telephone 67341.