In the world of graduation gifts…

 

personalized
is always best!

 

Whether your graduate is finishing preschool or college, a custom autograph / signature toy is always a hit. Or make a school uniform keepsake or school mascot memory toy. You can stick with a classic teddy bear or go wild with a favorite animal like an Iguana or T-rex. For tons of tips on making a graduation autograph toy, visit this Original Graduation Toy post HERE. This post includes:

• The best fabrics for autograph toys
• Best pens for autographs
• A free Funky Friends Factory graduation hat pattern link (mortar board hat)🎓

 

NOW check out this new crop of

examples to inspire you!

 

 

Let’s take a look…

 

A Signature Bear was the original signature toy!

If you want a jointed bear with moving limbs, Calico Signature Bear is the pattern for you. Here’s one made by Jasmine Hutchinson with a medical degree lab coat and the free Funky Friends Factory mortar board hat.

Click HERE to buy the Signature Bear pattern.

 

A fabulous 50s graduation icon!

Using a dachshund toy as a school autograph book has been popular since the 1950s. The class of second graders who signed this Digger Dachshund toy (sewn by Elizabeth Beasley) probably didn’t know they were participating in a 70-year tradition, but I’m sure they will remember it anyway.

TIP: Colored markers add extra fun for signatures!

Just be sure to TEST the markers on the fabric before sewing the toy. (You don’t want markers that smudge). Try a laundry or fabric marker.

Click HERE to buy the Dachshund pattern.

 

Jasmin Hutchinson makes tons of graduation toys, and she says the Digger Dachshund pattern is always a popular choice.

TIP: For a long piece of text or name:

Select a pattern with a long side piece, like Digger Dachshund. Other patterns with large side pieces are Igor Iguana, Aristotle Axolotl, and Winsome Wolf.

You can use the ears as well as the side piece on Digger Dachshund to add names, dates, and other info. This Digger Dachshund was sewn from a lab coat by Diane Cox.

 

Look at the cute neck ties on these toys! You can use a school uniform to make a graduation toy. The free neck tie pattern below can be found at www.funkyfriendsfactory.com/free-patterns. This trio of Digger Dachshund toys was sewn by Freya Kenefake.

 

And Freya Kenafake made a bevy of bears, too. These Melody Memory Bears were made from school uniforms and topped off with the free Funky Friends Factory patterns for a mortar board and neck tie.

 

Memory Bears are great for graduation gifts!

Adding a name a date to a school uniform toy makes it extra special. Angie Robertson sewed this Melody Memory Bears and added the free Funky Friends Factory mortar board cap.

Click HERE to buy the Melody Memory Bear Pattern.

 

If your graduate’s school doesn’t have uniforms, that’s not a problem…you can use a shirt from a club or sport. This Melody Memory Bears was made from a club t-shirt by Helen May.

 

You can use a fluffy faux fur for an extra cuddly graduation gift. This Melody Memory Bears sewn by Michelle Schmitdler was customized with the graduate’s, name, degree, and graduation year on the footpads. 

 

Looking for an EASY memory bear pattern?

Here’s a great example of customizing a toy without any special equipment. This Ben the BEGINNER Memory Bear has a large year on the tummy space. The numbers are iron-on patches purchased separately.  Lindsey Mortimer topped this white signature toy with the free pattern of the Funky Friends Factory mortar board. 

TIP: Add a perfect pen!

 Include a fabric marker for signatures with the toy as part of the gift. You can see a fabric marker included here but you can use most permanent markers.

Click HERE to buy the BEGINNER Bear pattern.

 

Here’s another Ben the BEGINNER Memory Bear decorated with an iron-on patch. Lori LeBlanc used a striped fabric in school colors to sew this toy. A school sports blanket would work!

 

You can use a t-shirt or any fabric item with a school logo to make a graduation bear. If you have a large logo, use Ben the BEGINNER Memory Bear pattern like Rae Pajkos Waters did here. Ben has a single-piece “no seam” tummy area to accommodate t-shirt logos. 

 

A graduation gift they won’t forget!

They say an elephant never forgets – so an elephant makes a great graduation gift. Robyne Angell Roth used the Ellie Elephant pattern to make this keepsake.

 

Take advantage of the space on the ears to personalize your elephant gift. Chris Barnes sewed this excellent Ellie Elephant graduation toy!

Click HERE to buy the Elephant pattern.

 

Other cool graduation toy ideas…

If your graduate wants a super cuddly toy, the Easter Bunny Buddies pattern is a great option because it has a “no seam” tummy piece for use for logos and graphics. Ruth M. sewed this sweet bunny. 

Click HERE to buy the Easter Bunny sewing pattern.

 

If you need a quick sew with lots of space for signatures, an up-sized Gertie Gecko toy can be completed in a few hours. Miranda Woddard made this signature toy for a family member. 

Click HERE to purchase the Gecko Pattern

 

If you kept some of the grad’s baby clothes (or they are in pre-school), a memory toy with a mortar board added makes a great graduation gift. Kate Roberts used the Fifi Fox Pattern here along with the free Funky Friends Factory mortar board pattern.

Click HERE to buy the Fox Pattern

 

Igor Iguana is one of the longest Funky Friends Factory patterns, so he works great if you need a long space for text. Jonell Hart made this signature Igor Iguana for a sports team. 

Click HERE to buy the Iguana Sewing pattern.

 

This sweet keepsake version of the Patch Pussy Cat Sewing pattern was made to look like the new grad’s pet cat. Emma Boulton cleverly used fabric placement with the school uniform to match the cat. 

Click HERE to buy the Cat Sewing pattern.

 

No matter what favorite animal your graduate may have, there’s likely a Funky Friends Factory pattern to match. Jenny Templeton used the Raff Giraffe pattern along with an extra tiny mortar board.

Click HERE to buy the Giraffe pattern.

 

Stu the Sea Turtle is another pattern that provides a large pattern piece for school uniform text. The shell has 2 large pieces on top and the tummy has an even larger space. Sewn by Jasmin Hutchinson.

Click HERE to purchase the Sea Turtle pattern.

 

And one last unusual graduation keepsake!

If you want to tell your grad that they are unique and precious, a white rhino is a fun idea for a signature toy. This Randy Rhino pattern was sewn by Jasmin Hutchinson.

Click HERE to purchase the Rhino pattern.

 

Want to win a
FREE toy pattern?

 

It’s so EASY to enter the Pattern GIVEAWAY!

 

ALL you need to do is post a photo of a FUNKY FRIENDS FACTORY toy that you have made on the Funky Friends Factory Facebook Page .

At the end of each month I draw a winner and post the winner’s name on the Blog the following MONTH. I have an Album on Facebook for all the MAKER OF THE MONTH winners. You can check it out HERE!

 

 

NOT on Facebook? ENTER by email! 😀

*** You can send me your photos by email too!

 

So come on! Share your photos  ~> The next winner could be YOU!

.
Till next time,

Happy Sewing,
Pauline
xxx