crocodile Steve-Funky Friends Factory

This month Island Batik teamed up with Funky Friends Factory to challenge the Island Batik Ambassadors. We were allowed to choose a pattern for the softie and I chose Crocodile Steve. This has been both fun and challenging. Challenging because there are a lot of curved pieces in this pattern and fun because it brought back happy times of my son growing up while stitching.

My son loved most documentary type television shows geared towards children, Kratts’ Creatures and anything animal related He also loved anything that had to do with paleontology. He was even invited down into the dig site of Benny the Woolly Mammoth found on the campus of The Principia in Elsah, Il. I’m sorry to say, I cannot remember the professors name in the photo with him. Guess what? They have found a 2nd one on the campus.

He doesn’t look very happy but, trust me when I say this is all we talked about for months.

But, mostly he love The Crocodile Hunter! His son, my grandson Wesley loves to sing preschool songs with me. We sing the monkey and crocodile song and he giggles and shouts SNAP! So, that is why I chose Crocodile Steve.

Stored in one of the many boxes from our move last summer is an hand autographed photo of Steve Irwin and a bobble head. Thanks for bringing back the memories Funky Friends Factory.

Island Batik fabric

The fabric I chose is Chartreuse (on the left) and Small Pointed Floral Tourquoise, and a scrap piece of neutral for the mouth.

The curved piecing was challenging but using a lot of pins and clips really helped to keep all the fabric from shifting. Slow stitching helped keep the curves smooth. Funky Friends Factory has a great photo tutorial on the website for piecing their patterns. Above is the head piece and below I am sewing the feet.

Along comes Mr Crocodile (quiet as can be) SNAP!

Steve decided to go down to the creek and bask in the sun. The eyes are plastic buttons with posts on the back. I forgot to mark the eye location before I started stuffing. The teeth, I glued the pattern piece to my fabric and used the dotted lines for stitching on my machine.

Then he decided to scare the poor toads back into the water. I had to pin the stuffing hole closed, since organizing my sewing room again I cant find my needles, lol.

Supplies/Sponsors

White Aurifil Thread

Schmetz Microtex Needles

Hobbs Fiber Fill

Oliso Iron

Elna EF1

Island Batik

Island Batik Ambassadors