Welcome to Tilly and Puffin's blog, sharing the creativity and fun of sewing!

A Felt Needle Book for Storing Needles and Pins

I’ve accumulated many packs of needles over the years, but I tend to stick to only a few favourites which are just the right length and thickness...

Making Felt Easter Bunnies

This sweet felt bunny wears a hat trimmed with Spring blossom and carries a basket with an Easter egg inside. Perhaps she's taking it as a gift to a...

Visiting the Puffins on the Saltee Islands

Although I’d seen puffins in flight at sea when I lived on the Isles of Scilly, I had never seen them on land, and neither had my partner George, so...

Sewing Caravan Project Part 3

After renovating and painting our 1980s Abi Ace Globetrotter caravan, which you can follow here and here, I’ve moved into it as a temporary sewing...

The Knitting and Stitching Show, Belfast

The Knitting and Stitching Show has been established for around 30 years now, but this year it came to Belfast, Northern Ireland, for the first...

Sewing Caravan Project Part 2

If you saw the “before” photos of our little Abi Ace Globetrotter in the previous post, I hope you’ll agree that a few coats of paint have improved...

Sewing Caravan Project Part One

I'm sure every craft business owner dreams of the perfect studio space, with enough workspace, storage, daylight and even a wonderful view - why...

A Return to Machine Applique & Embroidery

Something Completely Different! As a change from my usual hand stitching on felt, I’ve just completed a special project using machine applique and...

Ballyferriter Easter Art Exhibition, West Kerry

Every year at Easter there’s an exhibition of local art in Ballyferriter, a small village on the wild Atlantic coast, west of Dingle. It has been...

Clover the Sheep Felt Ornament with Variations

Stitch a woolly Irish sheep with my new Clover the Sheep felt ornament pattern. Clover is eating a flower from the Fuchsia hedges which grow...

Charlie the Cocker Spaniel Felt Ornament Pattern

Charlie, my English Cocker Spaniel felt ornament pattern, includes a couple of new elements. To represent the long fur on Charlie's chest and belly,...

Christmas Carousel Felt Pattern Collection

Tilly & Puffin's Christmas Carousel is a new collection of felt ornament patterns. The designs evoke the atmosphere of traditional European...

Daisy ~ An Easy to Make Felt Doll

Please welcome the newest member of the Tilly & Puffin doll family! Daisy is smaller than the other dolls, at around 9 inches/22cm tall, and her...

30 Handmade Gifts for Dogs & Dog Lovers

If you have dogs or dog lovers on your Christmas list, this round-up of handmade gifts has plenty of ideas. Among all the mass-produced items for...

Christmas Puffins & New Ornaments

This year the puffins have dressed up for Christmas in colourful hats with white trim and bobbles. I first made these last year for a wholesale...

Autumn Crafting Ideas

My newest felt ornament pattern is ready just in time for Autumn and Halloween. Myrtle the Witch is probably more cute rather than scary! She and...

Choosing Felt ~ A Buyer’s Guide

Which is the best type of felt to use for making ornaments and dolls? Felt comes in a number of different fibre compositions and thicknesses, as...

An Interview for Sew Magazine Part 2

Continuing my interview with Sew Magazine. You can read the first part here. We absolutely love your latest book Felt Ornaments for All Occasions!...

An Interview for Sew Magazine Part 1

I was delighted to be interviewed by the UK's top sewing magazine this month! It was fun to trace the development of my business right back from the...

How to Make a Dutch Rabbit Felt Toy

I love Dutch rabbits, with their distinctive face markings in grey and white or black and white. I thought I’d try making one using my...

A Spring Outfit for Tilly and Puffin Dolls

Tilly’s stripy top and short linen pants are perfect for summer but she needs something warmer to wear in spring! I’ve used her basic top pattern to...

Dressing Up For Christmas

I had the sewing machine out the other day so, even though I prefer hand stitching, I decided to quickly make the dolls a batch of new clothes with...

Felt Ornaments For All Occasions ~ My New Book!

I spent much of last year working on a very exciting project, and this week sees the publication of my first book! I was approached by Fox Chapel...

Retro Christmas Ornaments

My new Christmas ornaments for 2021 are inspired by retro and mid century decor, especially the beautiful glass baubles with pointed tips and...

Puffin Sewing Accessories

I've been planning for some time to make a range of sewing accessories, and at last the puffin pin cushion, needle book and scissors case are ready....

Toby the Dog Sewing Pattern

Toby the Dog is the latest member of the Tilly & Puffin family, and the pattern is now ready to download and sew into a 16 inch doll. You can...

Wedding Mice Sewing Pattern

I’m excited to be launching a very special new pattern this month. The Wedding Mice are 13cm/5 inches high, and make a delightful handmade gift for...