I needed a project to send out as a Valentine's present for a little one and I really wasn't it the mood for traditional Valentine's toys. Since I'd made the Down on the Farm for her birthday and the Farm Cilo Bag for Christmas I decided to stick with the farm theme.
I actually picked this pattern up in 2 places Best Crochet Animals, Toys & Dolls and the DVD Crochet World Collection. However if you don't happen to have either of those you can buy the single pattern at e-pattern central here. The pattern isn't terribly expensive, but if you get on their mailing list you will find they have amazing sales all the time bringing their patterns down to as little as $1 at times.
Notes for making the barn which I hope to do again.
I lined the entire farm with plastic canvas to help it be more of a play toy for little hands. I did two layers for the short sides and sewed plastic canvas between them. I found I was unable to do a double layer for the long piece which makes the roof and larger sides of the house, so I sewed sections of plastic canvas to each separate area to help the section hold its shape. I found this gave the barn more stability.
While I left a margin around the edges for sewing I'd make it larger next time for the trim and other items required to put the barn together. I added black around the roof after I'd sewn it together, as the original pattern did not account for having two sides of plastic canvas. This made things a little tighter but worth the need to add as the stability was greatly improved with the additional plastic canvas.
I then decided I needed more puppets. I do get carried away with these projects. I found the next set of patterns as a free pattern here. These are slightly bigger but more detailed finger puppets. These were my favorites.
Last I turned to one of my favorite finger puppet sets to find a horse only to find as I wrote this the link had moved to Interweave Crochet. The horse is part of a free set of fairy tale finger puppets and you can find the set here. I have made this set many times over the years. The dragon and the knight have been particularly popular.
Once finished I packed them all in to make sure they'd fit as the box was only designed for the original animals in the pattern.
I'm a huge fan of adding books to presents and for the holiday packages I try to go seasonal.
