Hillarys Blinds Country Crafts Competition : Scotty dog doorstop

A year or so ago, I found this lovely Scotty dog making tutorial by Jenny Allsorts. I did my best to sketch out the design, and have had lots of fun making them for friends.

My first Scotty Dog- made from Isle of Skye tartan

A couple of weeks ago I heard about Hillarys Blinds Country Crafts Competition. There were four fab fabric designs to choose from, and I really liked the heather colours and abstract design of the Calluna fabric. I was sent this great sample to create my entry. 

There's lots of heather in Scotland, so I thought I'd adapt the Scotty Dog pattern to make a doorstop.

I sketched out a new pattern piece so the scotty wouldn't have any legs.

Being a doorstop, it would need a sandbag to weigh it down. I used some scrap fabric to make a long pyramid shape, that was the same length as the Scotty front to back. I found a pack of Bulgar wheat in the back of the kitchen cupboard, that my kids refuse to eat. Perfect filler for the sandbag! Nothing goes to waste here.

If you have a go at this, make sure you leave a big gap on the top to get your sandbag in (I left from the tip of the tail to its neck). Once the bulgar wheat bag was in, I used stuffing to fill up the rest of the Scotty.

Check out my leather thimble I got for Christmas! You'll also notice a chopstick on the table- essential ear and tail poking out equipment.

Some buttons for eyes, and a simple ribbon collar (as the fabric design is quite busy), and ta daa! Scotty Dog Doorstop complete!

He's even spottier on the other side.

Thanks Hillarys for the fabric (and for getting me to explore the dark recess of my kitchen cupboard).

Woof