Introduction: Todlers Tools

About: Graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Breda in 2012. Couldn't have done it without my trustworthy sewingmachine and a never ceasing need to do all sorts of things myself. Mostly clothes and creatures.

Hey kid, you want to help your mom and dad build that new fence but the real hammer is a bit heavy for you to hold and mom keeps taking it away from you anyway because apparently it's "too dangerous to play with." Now what?

Fear not, here are some safe, soft-grip, flexible tools just for you.

Approved and recommended by my nephew and my friends daughter.

Let's get to it!

Step 1: Materials

Ask your parents to make these tools for you!

Some sewing-experience is needed, especially for the wrench, which is a little tricky to make. The other tools are pretty straightforward.

Apart from that you'll need:

- Fleece; grey for the metal parts, brown for the hammer's handle and the color of your choice for the screwdrivers handle.

- Filling material

I've included the pattern, but you can draw your own pattern if you want another model. Use the pattern as a guideline.

Step 2: The Wrench

Cut out the pattern on two layers of fabric with a 1 cm seam allowance.

This goes for the hole as well! A tiny hole is enough.

First, sew the hole. Sew a hexagon around the hole. Once you are finished, cut in the corners as far as you can without cutting the seam.

Once that is done, take one side of the pattern and pull it through the hole. It should look like the fourth picture.

Now how on earth are we going to sew the seams?

This takes some twisting. Lift the top layer and fold the seams on the other side the way they should be. Pin the parts as far as you can. Note that you can't go all the way: half of the round part is inside the layers now! This is good.

Sew the part you just pinned until you can go no further when you get to the round part. (Remove pins as you go.)

Gently pull out the round part and sew on. Make your way around. If it gets too bulky stop sewing and pull out the seams on the other end until you see the part you just sewed. Continue.

Don't forget to leave an opening for turning and filling!

Step 3: Turn and Fill

Now turn the wrench outside in. See how the hole turned out? Nice work!

Fill the wrench and close the opening.

On to the easier part!

Step 4: Hammertime!

Cut the parts with a 1 cm seam allowance. Align the hammer parts on the handle, good sides together. Sew the hammer parts on the handle parts and turn them. This is now one layer. Sew those two layers, good sides together. Leave an opening for turning and filling.

Cut of the outward corners and cut in the inward corners -where the handle connects to the hammerpart- As far as you can without cutting the seams.

Turn the piece, fill is, close the opening.

Step 5: Screw It!

Same as the hammer.

Cut the parts with a 1 cm seam allowance. Align the metal parts on the handleparts, good sides together. Sew the metal parts on the handle parts and turn them. This is now one layer. Sew those two layers, good sides together. Leave an opening for turning and filling. Cut of the outward corners as far as you can without cutting the seams.

Turn the piece, fill is, close the opening.

Step 6: All Done

There goes. Happy hammering!

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Homemade Gifts Contest 2017

Participated in the
Homemade Gifts Contest 2017