Make a Carrot Toy

1. Layer the felt. Lay out a sheet of dark green felt, then place a sheet of fusible webbing on top of it, and iron to secure. Layer the light green felt on top of it and iron once more to affix the three layers. Use the template to cut out the carrot top piece.

2. Make the foliage. Fold the carrot top in half lengthwise then hand stitch along the long open side, close to the edge. Make a series of cuts along the length of the felt, as shown below. Roll the rectangle into a tight spiral and stitch to secure and create a ‘bunch’ of leaves.

3. Download the template. Locate the carrot on the template and cut it out, then use to cut the carrot from orange felt. Fold the shape in and knot in place. Push the green foliage section from step one into the hole at the top and sew into place to secure, using tiny hand stitches.

4. Embroider the details. Using two strands of orange variegated thread, make a series of long hand stitches around the carrot to give it texture. Using two strands of green thread, embroider around the edge of the leaves in blanket stitch to decorate.

Create a Pea Pod Toy

1. Lay out a sheet of dark green felt, then place a sheet of fusible webbing on top of it, and iron to secure. Layer the light green felt on top of it and iron once more to affix the layers. Using the template on page 84, cut out five circles for the peas from the felt.

2. Make the peas. Lay out the green circles and work a running stitch around the very edge of each, pulling it tight to gather. Add a rattle ball into one of the peas, and add stuffing around it. Stuff the other peas firmly until they are rounded.

3. Locate the pea pod on the template and use it to cut out two shapes from the layered green felt. Sew the peas into place on one of the pod pieces, using very small stitches so they do not show through. Place the two pea pods together and stitch, then work a blanket stitch around the edge using two strands of green thread.

Finish With a Mushroom Toy

1. Locate the mushroom on the templates. Cut the mushroom cap from beige felt, and sew around the edge in run - ning stitch. Pull very tightly to gather up, add a squeaker in then fill firmly with toy stuffing. Knot in place. Work a row of blanket stitch around the naturally formed rim of the mushroom in two strands of beige thread.

2. Cut the mushroom stalk from dark brown felt and roll it into a tube, securing with tiny hand stitches. Sew a line of running stitch around the base of the tube, working very close to edge, and pull to gather tightly and stitch into place. Stuff with toy filling and then hand sew to the mushroom cap to secure.

3. Embroider the details. Using two strands of dark brown thread, embroider a series of long stitches on the underside of the mushroom cap. On the stalk, work a series of long stitches in two strands of beige DMC thread, to add texture. On the top of the mushroom cap, work a cluster of French knots in both colours of thread.