Sewn Wheaten Terriers
My fascination with needle felting started with sewn faux fur Wheaten Terriers. I started out making small dogs and Santa dogs, and I enjoyed searching for the right accessories like tiny collars and “dog tag” charms.
With time I decided to branch out. My first goal was to create a pattern for a full body puppet that could sit independently when not in use. The result was a large fluffy stuffed dog with a space in the back of the head to insert your hand.
The next challenge was to create a Wheaten Terrier pup that was poseable. That meant doing some research. While armatures are available, I decided to go with an automotive ball and socket system. Joints were strengthened with moldable plastic. While the length of the dog’s fall was limited due to the faux fur that I had available, I was quite pleased with the result.
The full body puppet and the poseable dog were both purchased by a generous donor in Germany through the Wheatens in Need online auction. The annual auction benefits Wheatens in the U.S. and Canada who are in need of permanent placement. They work closely with shelters who deal with abandoned, abused, unwanted, or otherwise homeless Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers.
