This is the second of Lara’s gorgeous projects – this is Luna Lapin’s Liberty Fox. I simply love this adorable teddy. Lara has taken the best from the pattern but has added her own touches for clothing and face design. I asked her about the project.
“I bought the book ‘Luna Lapin’s Friends’ on a shopping trip to Evesham Vale. There’s a cute little craft shop there that I love. It caught my eye with its cute forest creatures. I made this ‘Rafferty Fox’ for a new baby in our family. I thought Rafferty was a fox like name although he’s called Reynard in the book. I have wanted to make a memory bear for a long time using some of the children’s clothes that I have saved over the years. I am a bit of a fabric hoarder and am a champion of zero waste – so, I wanted to re-use old clothes whilst teaming these with beautiful Liberty prints and quality felt.”
“For his head, I morphed the cat and fox head as I liked the wider head on the cat. I also changed his ears to be more spiky to make him more foxy looking. I put a little felt under his eyes to give more depth and detail. His brown courdroy jacket is made from an old pair of jeans I had and is beautifully lined with Wiltshire Bud C. He’s also got a matching cravat which I rather love. The jacket is not for the faint hearted – it took ages to make. You do need to be an accomplished sewer to make it. The trousers were much easier and are made from needlecord fabric from a shirt my dad used to wear. His waistcoat is made from a pattern I made myself from Summer Blooms B which has lovely autumnal tones.”
“I love Rafferty so much and am really pleased with the end result. I’ve enjoyed following the pattern but also adding my own design touches to make him more ‘fox like’. I’ve really enjoyed making the clothes and plan to make several matching outfits for him when I get the time.”
Here are the three teddies from the Luna Lapin book sitting enjoying the ‘Cotswold view’.