Cover Image
1937 1st edition hardcover. Cover image property of Dryad Press
TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Materials and General Hints
    • Stuffing
    • Jointed Toys
    • Finishing
  • Description of Toys
    • Mrs. Bear and Baby
    • Susan Rabbit
    • Mrs. Pig and Baby
    • Larry Lamb
    • Glove Teddy
    • Tree Bear
    • Doll
    • Lamb

    Cover Image
    1960 softcover edition, ?? edition. Cover image property of Dryad Press

    TABLE OF CONTENTS

    • Note on the Author
    • Introduction
    • Materials and General Hints
    • THE BEAR FAMILY
    • THE MONKEY FAMILY
    • THE LAMB FAMILY
    • THE PIG FAMILY
    • THE RABBIT FAMILY
    • THE FOX FAMILY

    Cover Image
    1973 5-10th edition softcover, 32 pages. Cover image property of Dryad Press
    TABLE OF CONTENTS

    • Note On Author
    • Introduction
    • Materials and General Hints
    • The Bear Family
    • The Monkey Family
    • The Lamb Family
    • The Pig Family
    • The Rabbit Family
    • The Fox Family

    Cover Image
    1977 softcover edition, ?? edition. Cover image property of Dryad Press

Title: Dressed Soft Toys: Animal Families
Author: Edith Moody
Publication Date: HC:1937; TPB:1951/1960; TPB:1977;
Publisher: Dryad Press, Leicester
Page Count: 25 (1963(5th edition has 32pp); and the 1973 edition went back to 25 pages
Book Dimensions(ht. x w.): 7 3/4" x 5 1/4"
ISBN: None; 1963:0852190565

PATTERN RATING: Star Rating. The Patterns are full-size and on tissue sheets that are kept in a separate pocket in the back of the book. They use the typical a-b-c method of marking. They do not have the seam allowances marked on the pattern pieces. Most of the animals are anthropomorphized, with patterns given for their clothes.

INSTRUCTION RATING:Star Rating. There are general instructions given in the first chapter, then specific instructions given as text for each of the toys. There are no illustrations to go with the specific instructions, so if you don't already know what you're doing, there is no extra help. Each of the toys has a nice black-and-white photo of the toy made up.

SUMMARY- Ms. Moody gives some nice designs with details that make them stand out from others - there are excellent reasons why this book had so many later editions and stayed in print for 40 years. She forgoes detail on paws and such to concentrate on ears and faces - her pig's ears in particular are more detailed than I usually see. I like the body posture of the lamb lying down quite a bit as well - one of the few nonanthropormorphized designs she gives us, and assymetrical as well. This book goes through some changes over the years(at least 10 different editions!) with additions/subtractions in later editions. I haven't mapped them all out yet - it has become prohibitively expensive to order these books from England, where they were published.

I haven't seen a first edition of this book in more than ten years, though later editions are still floating around. Dryad Press had a good eye for quality, much like Chilton Press in the USA did, so if you see that the publisher was Dryad Press, it's a good bet that you will enjoy the book.