Book Review: Zodiac Felties:16 Compelling Astrological Characters to Craft

Usually I don't post videos, but this one was too cute.

I loved Zombie Felties and Steampunk Softies by Nicola Tedman and Sarah Skeate, and I'm looking forward to Beaded Bugs by Nicola Tedman and Jean Powers. So I fully expected to love Zodiac Felties.

The tiny finished dolls could be sewn to pin backs, glued to magnets or have a small loop sewn on the back to add to key rings. They could also be used in a mobile.

It's the attention to detail that make these charming and inspiring.The dolls are hand stitched, with beads, charms and embroidery to add character. In this book, the representations are artistic, however since the shapes are simple you can modify the accessories to match personality with astrological symbol.

If you're a beginner at hand sewing, miniature sewing or embroidery, the beginning of the book shows good diagrams of all the stitches you'll need to know and talks about the tools necessary. The templates for the dolls are provided full size to scan and print or copy if you access to a copy machine. Because the shapes are overlapped, you'll need to make a couple copies of some of the pages. Otherwise you could trace them using tracing paper then use the tracing paper patterns to make sturdier templates using cardboard, which is the method I used. I keep the templates in envelopes marked with which pattern it is, and the page number.

I'm absolutely charmed by the planetary figures which aren't part of the astrological symbols as well. The sun is yellow and bright looking with tear drop pearl finish accents and pearly eyes. The moon has her eyes closed and hair accented by sparkling clouds.

At the end of the book is a background you can scan and copy to make cards to gift the finished felties. It's the same sort of pretty art that the rest of the book is photographed in.

I recommend this to crafters 12 and up because of the diminutive size of the felties and the tiny detail work.
Published by Andrews McMeel Publishing.
You can get this book from Amazon using the affiliate links below.

I received a complimentary copy of this book to review, my reviews are always my personal and honest opinion. You can read more about my review policy here.