It’s September! Pre-kid I typically had all of my holiday creating/shopping done, with gifts wrapped and ready to be distributed at the Thanksgiving holidays. Post-kid… well, I’m just starting to brainstorm.
My son is almost 2 and LOVES books – they are his very favorite toy. I pulled together a list of his 10 favorites, although that’s always changing, and started searching around for free stuffed animal sewing patterns to match up with them.
I had so much fun with this post, I did a second round up of 10 free softies & coordinating books – check out the newer list of free softie sewing patterns here!
Find more inspiration here! 50+ free printable stuffed animal patterns
Free stuffed animal sewing patterns
1.The Pout Pout Fish*
“Pout Pout Book” is a huge favorite in our house! The ‘Blub Blub Bluuuub’ line rarely fails to elicit giggles from my son and I think it’s a lot of fun to read. Find the free fish softie pattern at While She Naps.
2. Llama Llama Red Pajama*
I am certain that I’ve read this book at least 200 times in the past 6 months and I still enjoy it! The rhythm and pacing is easy to read and I love how my son says “yama” instead of llama. Find the free llama stuffed animal pattern (ok fine, it is an alpaca!) at Wild Olive.
3. Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus*
Kids loves Mo Willems’ books; something about the short lines and silly dialogue makes for mass appeal. Find the free pigeon softie tutorial at Lemon Squeezy Home.
4.Little Blue Truck*
The Little Blue Truck books have cute, positive messages and fun animal sounds. It’s a fun one that kids can read along with you. Find the free truck softie tutorial at Make It Love It. You could also get creative and use my free dump truck softie pattern to make something similar!
5. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom*
The BOOM BOOM part of this book is infectious and it’s one of the few ABC books that doesn’t get old after a few hundred read. There are lots of craft ideas on Pinterest for this book too! There is a tutorial for stuffed felt letters at Buggy and Buddy. It would be really easy to cut all those letters precisely with a digital cutting machine – see my Cricut Maker review in this post.
6. 10 Little Ladybugs*
This was my son’s very first favorite book, ever! Way before he could walk or talk, he would always crawl over and pull this bright yellow book off the shelf. He’s on his second copy now, having worn out all the pages. Now that he’s older, we talk about the colors of the ladybugs and counting how many on each page. I love it! Find the free ladybug softie pattern at Craftiness is Not Optional.
7. Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?*
This is another quintessential favorite, with lots of craft ideas, fabric, toys with its characters. This slider version is extra fun for little hands to tug aside and guess the upcoming animals. Find the free bear softie pattern at Craft Schmaft! If you wanted a long limbed bear, check out my Hipster Teddy Bear pattern (it’s not free though).
8. Peek-a-WHO?*
We read this story every week for months at the local library storytime, it’s a fun one! It’s also one of the first books my son started chiming in with the words/lines, which is extra cute. Find the free owl softie pattern on Craftsy.* You could also check out this stuffed owl sewing pattern that I sewed from Abby Glassenberg Design (it’s not free though).
9.Skippyjon Jones*
I’ll admit, I really don’t enjoy this book. My husband does a great job with different voices and has fun with it, but I’m not a fan! My son enjoys it, despite not being able to decide if Skippyjon Jones is a cat or a dog (which is kinda the point of the story). Find the free cat softie pattern at Wee Wonderfuls. You could also alter the ears to be longer on my free felt pocket kitty pattern!
10. How Does A Dinosaur Count to Ten*
Dino book? Dino book? We have a couple in this series, but this is definitely his favorite. There are balloons, trucks, and balls in it so you can’t go wrong. The parents/adults are always in frumpy outfits that make me laugh too! Find the free dinosaur softie pattern at Imagine Gnats.
Pin this list of free stuffed animal sewing patterns for later, here:
Chelsea says
Stephanie, I SO love this post. My kids adore books and I am always trying to find fun ideas. Thanks for putting this together!
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Yay!! Hope you try some of them.
Measure Twice Cut Once says
This post is surely the last word in cute! so adorable to match the softies to the books. I know so many kids (and adults) who will love this.
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Thanks so much! Hoping it gives me some motivation for holiday gifts, my son is getting to the age where he is being invited to parties too.
Kelly J says
I love this post! Thanks for taking the time to pair up the (free!) patterns with the books! I will definitely be referencing this for my son for Christmas. I have sadly not started my Christmas creating either.
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Glad I’m not the only one who is behind the Christmas ball!
Alicia @ Felt With Love Designs says
Great list! Pout Pout Fish is a recent favorite here too!
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Blub, bluuuub, bluuuuuub. Gets me every time 🙂
Gloria Richardson says
Thank you so much! Our daughter is looking for books for our granddaughter and this list is priceless! And the softies are a bonus!
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
I LOVE recommending books!! These are all tried & true in our house – read at least 500 times a piece, ha.
Claire - Craft Schmaft says
What a fantastic post Stephanie! Thank you so much for including my Mr Ted pattern.
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Thanks Claire!! He is too cute!
Ajaire says
I love this post Stephanie! I didn’t like Skippyjon the first time, but now I really love it. I don’t know why it cracks me up. Pout Pout looks like a fun one too. I’ll pin this for later cause it’d be great for shower gifts.
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Most of my friends are still pre-baby so I hadn’t thought of shower gifts! You have to check out the Pout Pout fish 🙂
Cassie says
Don’t tell your son, but he’s actually pronouncing llama correctly! It’s a spanish word, and in spanish a double L sounds like Y. “Lama” is the common Americanized pronunciation because english speakers tend to assume that L always makes “the L sound.”
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
That’s interesting Cassie! I took French in high school (very useful). I adore the way he says it, fun to hear that’s “right” too 🙂
Papgena says
I found your post through craft gossip and I really love it!
I had a similar idea, for a gift a while back.
If you don’t mind, I leave the links for two of my posts, showing a christmas gift that I made for my daugter, for one of her most loved books: 10 in the bed.
the finger puppets here http://papgenamadeit.blogspot.pt/2012/01/10-numa-cama-10-in-bed.html
the bed http://papgenamadeit.blogspot.pt/2012/01/cama-bed.html
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Hey Papgena! I absolutely don’t mind, I love that idea!! Especially the bed, super cool how you used a box & old towel, etc. It turned out adorable!
Angela Hirsch says
Urg!! So cute!! I will be a Grandma (~Oh man~) next year and have been busily planning all the cute and useful stuff I will be making. I have decided this list of books and toys will be the gift I give her at the baby shower. I better go get started now!
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Congrats!! What an awesome gift – kids books are my absolute favorite thing to receive/give because then I think of the gifter whenever we read them! So glad to have inspired such a fun plan 🙂