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Hi I’m Pauline, this blog is where I share all the latest Funky Friends Factory News, Giveaways, Competitions plus LOTS of toy-making tips & tutorials to help you sew the cutest soft toys EVER!

Meet Kip the KEEPSAKE DOG Pattern!🐶

Aug 20, 2024 | Blog, NEW Toy Patterns

Use the Kip KEEPSAKE DOG Pattern to sew a memory toy dog from clothes!

Kip the KEEPSAKE DOG Pattern is an unjointed ‘sitting toy’ designed for memory toys, decor or playtime. The collar and cute bone-shaped name tag piece are included in the pattern!

 

He’s an easy, non-jointed memory toy pattern with LOTS of options:

Use pre-loved clothing items
to create memory dog/keepsake toy,

 

OR use all NEW fabrics
for your dog toy!

 

What size is Kip?

Kip is 31cm/12 inches tall (sitting). He has “fixed” legs, so he stays in a seated position. Here is a pic of me with 3x Kip Keepsake Dogs – so you can see the size! 

 

And here is a pic of Melody Memory Bear (left) and Ben the Beginner Bear (middle) and Kip the KEEPSAKE DOG (right) so you can see the size comparison!

 

Is there a Photo tutorial for this Memory Dog Pattern?

YES! I have created a step-by-step photo tutorial so you can see EXACTLY how to sew Kip the KEEPSAKE DOG Pattern – with lots of clever toy making tips and tricks! As usual, you can access the tutorial using the link in the See-Me-Sew section of the pattern.

(*Please check you typed this link in correctly,
~> or you’ll get an error page! 😱
)

 

Is this an EASY pattern?

Kip looks like a traditional ‘jointed’ memory bear/toy BUT he is an unjointed toy  – so no need for jointing! PLUS you have the option to sew his felt nose and optional eye patch on by machine as you sew him, which some people find easier that attaching details like this AFTER stuffing. Of course you can still sew the nose on with a hand stitch (my favourite) or attach it with fabric glue ~ even easier!

 

Kip has LOTS of cool features!

  • He is an unjointed, sturdy ‘sitting toy’ designed for memory toys, decor or playtime.
  • He has a large 5 inch “no-seam” tummy panel to feature a t-shirt logo or baby clothes design.
  • Embroidery spaces on his tummy, ears, arms, foot pads and legs are marked on the pattern piece with grids for easy centering.
  • His felt nose and optional eye patch can be sewn on by machine or hand.
  • The collar and cute bone-shaped name tag piece are included in the pattern!

 

 

Kip has FIVE large embroidery spaces (with grids)!

Kip has large flat areas for embroidery spaces on his tummy, ears, arms, foot pads and legs. Here you can see how the embroidery areas are marked with grids on the pattern pieces for easy centering/set up for placement of embroidery designs. You can add names & dates using hand or machine embroidery or heat transfer vinyl (cut with a Cricut machine or similar).

 

Mary-Anne Potgieter used used 5 newborn baby clothing items, one 3 to 6 months , and one 6-12 month baby cloths items (In total 7) to sew this adorable baby keepsake version of Kip the KEEPSAKE DOG

 

 

Aleisha Bain of The Onesie Bear NZ sewed  these 2 baby keepsake Kip the KEEPSAKE DOGs for “graduates” of the neonatal ICU. 

 

 

Sandy Thurlow sewed  these 2 cute Kip the KEEPSAKE DOGs one for a boy and one for a girl –

…his little sister!!!

 

 

Lynette Holland used ALL the spaces on this  Kip KEEPSAKE DOG for embroidery and used applique for the paw prints on his foot pads.

 

 

Kip is a perfect pattern for baby keepsakes

Lindsey Mortimer made this cute Kip KEEPSAKE DOG out of her oldest son’s baby clothes. She added her son’s name and birth stats with iron on vinyl.

Tester’s Tip:

If you are sewing a memory toy with newborn or premmie baby clothes:

 

This clever tip comes from Lindsey Mortimer who used mainly Newborn and 0-3month baby clothing items for the Keepsake Dog above. She kept the smaller baby clothes items intact (rather than cutting them up into separates pieces, arms front, back etc first). That way there is enough area for the larger pattern pieces. 

 

 

Lindsey Mortimer ALSO made this cute Kip KEEPSAKE DOG out of her maternity shirts and maternity jeans with some cotton scrap accents. She used iron-on embroidered letters for the tummy and the foot pad.

 

Laura Peters of WanderChild Creations sewed this cute Kip KEEPSAKE DOG out of her 3 year old’s clothes. 

 

Kip makes a super school uniform keepsake.

Elizabeth Percival sewed Kip KEEPSAKE DOG as a uniform keepsake and included the buttons and placket from the uniform and embroidered “Class of ’24” on the ears. 

 

 

Kip makes a special Pet Memorial toy.

Shazz McHarry  of Hobby McHorses sewed a Kip KEEPSAKE DOG in memory of their dogs  – Pebbles a Finnish Lapphund and their Rottweiler – who was an anniversary present, from her hubby. 

 

You can sew this keepsake dog pattern in ANY colour! 

Kip Keepsake Dogs sewn by: Row 1. (Top) Diana Sageser, Aleisha Bain, Sandy Thurlow. Row 2. Aleisha Bain, Sandy Thurlow, Lindsey Mortimer. Row 3. Jonell Hart, Lynette Holland, Sherri Bailey. Row 4. Jenny T, Teri Wolff, Heather Hitt.

 

Kip looks GREAT in specialty fabrics!

Paula Blevins used fake fur for the Kip KEEPSAKE DOG she sewed for her grandson… doesn’t he look sooooooooooooo CUDDLY!?!

 

This playful pup with his floppy ears and adorable puppy-dog tail is a perfect pattern for sewing a child’s best friend as you can see – here is Paula’s grand son with his new pup! 

 

Jo Carroll sewed Kip KEEPSAKE DOG in Cuddle® fabrics…. what a cute face!

 

 

Emma Boulton of Emmas Patchwork Memories sewed Kip KEEPSAKE DOG from some repurposed knitted jumpers! (Yes! Jumpers do need to be interfaced!)

 

Here is Emma’s granddaughter is with her new pup!

 

Sarah Kilshaw sewed Kip KEEPSAKE DOG in recycled denim!

 

 

Emilie Gorham sewed this Kip KEEPSAKE DOG in Tula Pink’s “Besties” fabric range – look closely and you can see how she ‘fussy cut’ the fabric to position the dogs on the embroidery areas on Kip! 

 

Rebecca Ballas sewed this Kip KEEPSAKE DOG in a madras plaid fabric that is pre-made to look like patchwork. (Reminds me of a patchwork quilt top!)

 

 

Kip is a great pattern for sensory toys.

Judie Flower sewed Kip the KEEPSAKE DOG as a “tactile toy” for her grand daughter with lots of different textures and fun colours…

 

And last but NOT least!

Judie had so much fun sewing Kip that she sewed another one! 😁

 

THANK YOU
to ALL the Testers ~>
I love ALL of your lovely feedback photos!!!!

 

In case you missed the link above – the Kip KEEPSAKE DOG Pattern is available to download from the website NOW!


Pauline McArthur - Funky Friends Factory

Till next time – Happy Sewing!

xxx
Pauline

8 Comments

  1. Lindsey T

    Everyone did a fantastic job! I love all the space for the ability to embroider and the option to machine stitch the nose and eye patch prior to construction. Great job with designing the pattern Pauline! Kip is precious and I can’t wait to try out the new pattern.

    Reply
    • Pauline

      Thanks so much Lindsey, I put a lot of effort into those ‘little details’, it’s lovely to know it’s appreciated! 💗

      Reply
  2. Laurie

    Oh my goodness! These dogs are all so amazing. Thank you, testers, for giving us such great images and ideas. This bear will be a big hit!!

    Reply
  3. Nimmi Nair

    Hello Pauline,love this pattern, this is exactly what I was searching for.Cannot wait to try this pattern.I am from South Africa and love all your bear patterns.Thank you.

    Reply
  4. Sheila M Magnuson

    Pauline, you knocked it out of the park with this one!!!!

    Reply
    • Pauline

      Aww, thank you, Sheila!!!!!! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Kim Forrest

    Love this design, well done.
    Just a question, I saw on one of the dogs, beautiful eyes had been embroidered on, obviously they were done before the cutting of the face piece, but my question is, is there a marked spot on the pattern so that they can be lined up far enough in from the seam and to have them equal and straight or is it just guess work?

    Reply
    • Pauline

      Hi Kim, I have added embroidery grids to the 5 areas for embroidery. if you scroll up and look at the example I have added here for the FOOT PADS you’ll see what I mean, obviously the TUMMY has a bigger area but the same grid system. 🙂

      Reply

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