I should start this review with honesty, I am not crafty. I know you are probably thinking, “But, the website is Geek CRAFTS?” Yes, it is, but I am just so geeky I only had to fulfil half the requirements to be allowed to write here, plus I love looking at all the fun crafts people across the web make. I am making this confession, as part of reviewing a craft book, is of course, making a craft from said book.
Zombie Felties by Nicola Tedman and Sarah Skate is a great book, each and every feltie project in it is a great mix of ghoulish and adorable that makes them very hard to resist. My favourite thing about these creatures, is they are as small and fun as amigurumi, but without the hassle of becoming really, really good at crocheting. Of course, being stubborn and a little stupid, I chose a 3 skull difficulty project from the book (1 skull=easiest, 4 skulls=most difficult).
First, the positive things about the project–they are very small, so if you are a regular crafter with felt, you will likely already have all the felt you need in your scrap pile. As a person who doesn’t sew at all, I managed to get all the felt I needed from a remnants bin in a fabric store near my mother-in-law’s house, I got more than I needed and still only spent about 70pence (not sure what that translates to in American, I am on vacation here and the exchange rate is still a mystery). For the other bits and pieces, I chose to use the supply list as a suggestion and not a rule, and so I managed to find the eye, monocle, and cord in a tin of random bits and pieces, so they were free. My mother in law had a good supply of embroidery thread already, so again, a regular crafter would have most things on hand, someone just starting out would have probably had to spend a few dollars on embroidery thread, but over all, very inexpensive to make.
In addition to being very inexpensive to make each craft, I found the patterns to be fairly simple (no need to resize them) and, a lot of fun. One suggestion would be not to use your regular sewing shears and opt for a sharp pair of smaller scissors, for the smaller patterns. The over stitch used on the outside is a very forgiving stitch for imperfect cuts and mistakes stitching, so I liked that a lot (I only pricked myself four times).
The only real negative I saw, was that while there are instructions in the front of the book for each of the required stitches, if you are a true beginner, you will probably find the instructions within each project to be fairly vague. One favourite was “embroider the nose in satin stitch, making a small heart shape”. When paired with the explanation of a satin stitch in the beginning, it didn’t make a lot of sense, and when compared to the picture of the finished project, it didn’t look possible they had used the stitch they described. A person experienced with embroidery wouldn’t have an issue–my mother in law saw what the issue was right away and we went about it slightly differently than the instructions implied, but got the intended results. The idea is that the book will provide a challenge for a novice or a veteran, but novices be warned, when attempting the more challenging projects, have someone around who knows the ins and outs.
As a non-crafty, non-sewer, I found a lot of frustration in making the vampire feltie, but it was obvious the issue was with my skill level and not the instructions (who knew stitching without inadvertently tying knots in your thread was so difficult?), and although I look forward to trying out a few other patterns from the book, I will probably restart with the one skull difficulty and invest in a thimble. Most of the issues I had with the pattern had to do with how incredibly tiny the finished dolls are, but, of course, that is really what makes them so adorable and inexpensive to make, so it’s a wash.
Here is a final picture of my Vampire feltie, over an Air Mail envelope (business sized) with a one pound coin on his left and a quarter on his right to show you the size:
Over all it was a great book, and even with my limited skill, talent and experience, I think i did okay, so that speaks to the quality of the instructions. I would definitely recommend it to friends interested in sewing fun feltie dolls. Look for it in August!
EDIT: We have one copy of Zombie Felties to give away! Just leave a comment here with your favorite zombie or vampire movie by Saturday at midnight ET and we’ll pick a random winner. Earn an extra entry by commenting on someone else’s post!
Very nice, Renee!!
Good job – you’re a crafter now!!!
Cute! I haven’t worked with felt before but these look amazing :)
I love “Zombieland”… that movie is addictive. I also love any movie that Romero touches. Zombie movies are a guilty pleasure of mine ^^ Thank you for the chance.
I soooo want to get started with felties. It looks like a craft I can actually do.
As for my fav. zombie movie, it’d have to be Shaun of the Dead. I can’t resist watching it if I find it on TV. Dead and Breakfast is another fun one.
They really are obnoxiously easy–if I can do it, anyone can!
Adorable! They remind me of Ugly Dolls!! <3
I'm also not crafty but I think you did an amazing job and I think my two geeks-in-training would love to have their own zombie felties.
I've very recently gotten super into zombie movies, books (the Zombie Survival Guide is a tongue in cheek book that is written so well, you almost start to believe in the inevitability of a zombie apocalypse), and strategy planning.
My very favorite zombie movie has got to be Zombieland. Funny, just gory enough, and the Rules are priceless. Plus, you have an awesome cast. Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin (been a fan of that little cutie since 'Signs') as sisters are my favorite.
I wanna make one! and my favorite zombie movie would have to be Evil Dead…they are zombies right?! or just evil possessed humans? hmmm now I am wondering. As far as vampire movies go I love Blood the Last Vampire…but the anime version not the live action one. Great Job again!
If they’re all that size, I could totally see making a little mobile out of them! :) Too cute!
I’d have to say my favourite zombie movie is Army of Darkness (or any in the Evil Dead set), but I do love the Zombieland rules. :)
That’s Totally Adorable!
Favorite vampire movie Dracula Dead and Loving it!
I love the felties. I want to start making these along with hundreds of other things LOL. My favorite Zombie movie of all times is 28 Days Later. I just love the movie. My favorite Vampire movie of all time is and will always be Interview with a Vampire. There is just something about the movie that I could watch it over and over again.
Return of the Living Dead is my favorite zombie movie, and I love these little felties. To the craft store!
Super cute!
Zombies scare the beejeepers outta me so no movie fave there, though I have crochetd a zombie for a friend who is a major fan of all things zombie.
I do love the movie Interview with a Vampire!!!
Hands down…Shaun of the Dead! Besides being my favorite zombie movie, it’s probably in my Top 10 of all-time favorites!
For the record, 70p is about a dollar or so. :)
My favourite recent zombie movie was The Crazies. Although whether or not it really counts is up to you. :D
love them! My favorite movie is also Shaun of the Dead!
Those are too cute! I’d love to make that tiny vampire….
And I would have to say my favorite vampire movie of all time is Interveiw with the Vampire, all the fun of a vampire movie with the added bonus of Brad Pitt. You just can’t go wrong!
It’s a tough call between Zombieland and Dead Snow, both make fun of the genre and are fun to watch.
Oh damn! Shaun of the Dead too!
Looking forward to the adaptation of World War Z
so cute. my birthday is close, I wonder who I can convince to buy this for me.
:)
I forgot to mention my favorite vampire movie. Dracula: Dead and Loving It. Mel Brooks is a genius. I always crack up when they go to stake Lucy. I will say no more, lest I ruin it for someone. If you haven’t seen it, just go rent it now!!!
Def Zombieland, hands down. I hated Shaun of the dead. But there was another I watched recently with Michelle Rodriguez I think that I cannot remember the name of that I liked.
Btw I love the fact that you admitted to not being crafty. Very nice review!
Those are so cute!! They would go perfectly with Fido (fave zombie flick) and From Dusk Til Dawn, and I CANNOT WAIT TIL THE REMAKE OF FRIGHT NIGHT!!
Oh I that looks so awesome. I wonder if they have any zombieland felties!
OMG I just saw this at the bookstore today! My favourite zombie movie might have to be Shawn of the Dead but they’re all pretty good aren’t they? Favourite vampire movie: Lesbian Vampire Killers. Just enough cheese to make fun of itself without overdoing it…
@Joni Sclf:
Dead and Breakfast, FTW!!! How could I forget about that one!
I really enjoyed Zombieland, it was a very amusing movie. I am excited for the World War Z movie they are making.
@Holly Bug – I have the Zombie Survival Guide too, I absolutely love it. It’s definitely a great read.