SIMONE GOODING
What’s your idea of the perfect day of crafting?
I actually really enjoy the preparation time –
choosing felt colours and fabrics. I love to get out
my very carefully colour-sorted stash of vintage
buttons and ponder which will be the lucky one
to be chosen for that particular design. Laying
everything out and playing first.
Is your craft preference for toys and softies?
Most definitely. I do occasionally stray off the
softie path and design something else, but I love
to get back to making characters again. I just
love it when they come to life and you know it’s
all coming together as you hoped.
Do you like to give your designs to children or
adults, and why? I like to think that people are
making my designs – for adults and children alike.
Everyone can use a little cuteness in their life!
When you need a break from stitching, what do
you like to do? I really love to go walking in the
countryside, to hear the birds and breathe the
fresh air. I’m talking leisurely strolls, not hiking.
My husband and I love to take the kids and just
go; they can run and skitter about while we
stroll along behind. It is so relaxing.
How long have you been making softies?
I’ve always made dolls and toys of some
description, but I’ve been designing my own
for about nine years.
Do you get attached to them as you make them?
I do get attached to them, yes. They are my
samples and help to sell my patterns, so I need to
take good care of them. They’re usually travelling
all over the country, being displayed in shops, so
once they are released as a pattern, I don’t see
them very often.
What’s your greatest craft achievement? I think
it’d be breaking into the world of design and
making toys for a living. I love that I can design
patterns that are sold by so many and are then
bought and made by people for those they love.
And your most popular design? It would be a
toss up between my Mouse in a Matchbox pattern
(a little fabric mouse in a paper box bed) and my
Thistledown Rabbits (a felt rabbit in a felt hood
and coat with a felt carrot in his pocket). I’ve sold
so many of these patterns over the past few years.
How did you come up with the idea for this little
goat? I have wanted to make a little goat for ages.
I had the idea for the name ‘Giddy’, and thought
that it suited a goat. I always have a range of
animal designs going on in my head.
What’s next on your ideas list? Other animals;
there’s a monkey and an owl spinning away up there
at the moment. Also a lamb and maybe a bear family.
Ideas are always coming to me, so we will see.Gett ing to know ...
61
Using thread
to match the
linens, top stitch
radiating long straight
lines on each leaf by
machine to represent
the veins.62
Pinch the ends
of the leaves in
half and stitch the fold
in place. Push the
ends of the leaves into
the top of the carrot
and pull up the
gathering stitch,
tucking the raw edges
to the inside as you go.Secure the leaves in
the top of the carrot
with some neat hand
stitches.63
Cut a long
length of Burnt
Orange (51) thread
and pull out one
strand. Thread it in
the doll needle, bring
the ends together and
knot them about 2cm
(^3 ⁄ 4 in) from the end.
Starting at the point
of the carrot, push the
needle in and pull the
thread through untilit stops at the knot,
leaving the ends
dangling like little
roots at the bottom.
Work long horizontal
straight stitches
around the sides of the
carrot, staggering the
starts from left to right,
to give the effect of
ridges.For contact details
for Simone Gooding,
of May Blossom, turn
to Stockists at the back
of the magazine.74 Homespun