These pages are for Luna Lapin, her chums and other characters designed by Sarah Peel at Cool Crafting in Kendal. Currently there are four lovely books which contain lovely stories (written by daughter Grace) and patterns for most of the characters, with patterns for an extensive wardrobe of exquisite clothes that can be adapted and shared between the chums.

All the characters on this page have been made by me. Those made with felt are hand stitched using a blanket stitch for the seams. The festive friends are made with cotton fabric and are machine stitched. All the clothing is made by me mostly machine stitched then finished with hand stitching. Except for the lovely jumpers, these were hand knitted by a friend from a Cool Crafting pattern. Our banner images show the chums trying on their new jumpers... Click on any of the images to see a larger version.

There should be a HIGHLY ADDICTIVE warning on the CoolCrafting website... Once started it is very difficult not to make more than one character, and it is impossible not to make the lovely costumes. This can be done from one's own extensive stash, but Sarah Peel is a very clever woman who knows her market!. Every year she creates special surprise boxes containing superb fabric and haberdashery to make exceptional costumes and more characters... My cupboard of opportunities now has many items just waiting to reach the sewing table... Scroll down to see each of the Chums and their wardrobes...

In July 2024 I did a massive CoolCrafting inspired stitchathon to make a start on some of the boxes and kits that have been lurking in the cupboard. With two new chums and six outfits completed, here they all are dressed up and ready to go the Rabbitty Summer Ball:

All the Chums dressed in their finery ready to go to the Rabbitty Summer Ball

Luna Lapin I and II:

My first foray into the world of Luna started when a friend said Book One was on special offer in The Works. Who could resist? There a quick click on the web and next thing I know a package from Cool Crafting with everything to make Luna arrived sometime during lockdown. However, she didn't want to come out of the cupboard too soon in case there were too many germs lurking. She eventually reached the sewing table in January 2023, with the first of many Polka Dot style dresses. Then (as with the mousies...) the requests for making chums and new outfits quickly started...

Luna	Luna in her kilt and jumper	Luna in her polka dot dress	My first Luna

Luna II made a surprise appearance in June 2024. Her ears, foot pads and outfit are a lovely Tilda fabric which has been lurking in the stash for quite some while. Luna II was specially made for eldest gorgeous granddaughter Olivia who lives in London... Luna II was very lucky to receive the gorgeous tartan skating dress and fabulous velvet coat with faux fur collar for her Christmas present. Olivia was over the moon when she aw the new outfit. Luna II is best friends with Foxy Loxy.

Luna II showing off	Luna II with Luna and Foxy Loxy	The new dress and shorts	The tartan skating dress	The beautiful velvet coat with faux fur trim

Luna meets Jane Austen:

The special Jane Austen themed box from Luna's literary year (2023) has been lurking in the cupboard for a year. The contents comprise some very beautiful and delicate fabrics, so I really do not want to spoil these without a trial run first. Raiding the verrrrrry extensive stash I found an old shirt of mine, delicate pink and white stripes in a seersucker cotton. This will be perfect for the empire line gown and bonnet. I also wanted to make long drawers with pin tucks and lace trim as one of the undergarments (she also has a petticoat). A well laundered and now soft cotton pillow case is just perfect, and of course I have lots of lace purchased from the dolls house draper... Searching the stash there was a scrap of lovely red velvet, just enough to make a Spence Jacket for her (lined with pink dupion silk of course).

Sarah Peel's designs are very well researched incorporating lots of authentic period detail such as puff sleeves, gathered bodice and a very high waist. All the costumes require careful cutting and concentration when sewing.

Luna and Lizzie inspect the fabric and pattern pieces	The empire line frock	Relaxing on the sofa	The finished garments

Clementine Pussycat:

Completed January 2023. Dedicated to my very own special puss Miss Phoebe. She definitely wants to be the best dressed cat in town. More beautiful costumes will arrive soon.

Look at me!	Proudly showing off her sailor collar dress	what a cute face	Clementine showing off her fine tail

July 2024 Miss Clementine said, "Could I have the Dreamy Dress please" (a make me again kit from CoolCrafting - design and fabric by Sarah Peel) which has been lurking in the cupboard for 18 months. It looked so simple, this won't take long, she deserves a special treat... a lined bodice with a gathered skirt made from tulle, no sleeves. Ha! First off being careful while adding the decorative velvet ribbon to the front of the bodice. Cutting the tulle, sorting into the correct order of colours, gathering six layers of tulle from 60 inches down to 13 inches.... then making sure it was the right way round for attaching to the bodice. It was a real trial to get the gathering to work until i found a very useful hint on FB, that suggested using dental floss with a very wide zigzag - who knew! The tulle was very carefully stitched into the bodice, very neatly sewn down. Then Horror of Horrors it's the wrong way round, the lighter tulle is on top rather than the darker tulle - Yes it really did make a difference to the look of the dress. Fortunately the bodice is reversible, except there wasn't enough ribbon to added another from decoration... Then me thinks this dreamy dress needs a Spencer jacket - where is that lovely blue crushed velvet?.. Anyway I love it, and Clemmie looks gorgeous. Is that another fettled finish? Yay more Hurrah's, Jigs and much waving of PomPoms, and One more fettling point for this month. And while we had the velvet box out of the cupboard there was enough gorgeous red velvet in the box, so Luna got a Spencer Jacket as well to complete her outfit.. Then she says, "Oh by the way Erik will need a suit so he can take me to the ball..."

THe Dreamy Dress	The Blue Velvet Spencer Jacket	Posing as only a pussycat can	Posing as only a pussycat can

Cowboy Cat... My younger step daughter said, "Oh could I have a black cat please?, and could he be dressed as a cowboy?". He is based on Sarah Peel's Clemintine Cat pattern from CoolCrafting. My black felt seemed to be a little bit 'thin' so I used iron-on light weight vilene as a stabiliser. I had forgotten how tricky the head and ears are to stitch, and they are even more tricky when everything is completely black! The nose was also tricky and took several attempts to get correct. Eventually I used a piece of the dark pleather to give a bit of texture and contrast on his face. The outfit comprises jeans and a spotty shirt, a pleather waistcoat (all adapted from 'Alfie's' patterns). I made a belt, neckerchief, lassoo and a Stetson to complete the outfit. It took three attempts to make a Stetson that looked reasonable good. How big is that cat's head???, then realising iron-on pelmet vilene instead of bonda-web for the stiffening on the crown and rim would be a good idea. Eventually I am happy with it (hubby's Tilly hat was a very handy a guide for the shape). Phew! Cowboy Cat is ready for a certain small grandson's extra Christmas present.

Cowboy cat with Mr Paxton Cat	Half dressed	In full outfit	The stetson	That troublesome nose	Trying to stitch the head!!!

Erik the Polar Bear:

Completed January 2023. A very special bear, with a definite style of his own. The beloved husband of Clementine Cat. He is patiently waiting for his full Svarlbardian duffle coat and kit.

What a dapper bear	Erik falls in love with Clementine	Such a cutie.	Erik ready for finishing

At last The Svarlbardian patterns and fabrics have come out of the cupboard 

Erik's new duffle coat	With waistcoat and scarf	the ensemble	the ensemble	ready for inclement weather

However My Hubbykins said "But Erik needs a Black Tie outfit so he can take Clemmie to the Ball with all the others" ... So off I go to the boxes of stash to see what I have got. Oh Yes, some suitable black fabric and black ribbon for the suit, some cream silk for his shirt, some flambouyant silk scraps for the waistcoat and bow tie. Well why not! Cut, Cut, Cut, Sew, Sew, Sew,... and here he is: The Jacket and waistcoat are adapted from the CoolCrafting patterns in the Jane Austen box, the shirt and trousers from Alfie's wardrobe patterns.

The Jacket	Silk shirt, Waistcoat and Trews with matching Bow Tie.	The full kit	Close up	with his beloved Clementine

Freddie the Badger:

Completed March 2023, Freddie a.k.a. Humbug because of his stripes... He's not grumpy at all, it's just all those early mornings required of a gentleman farmer... When properly dressed he is very dapper in his gorgeous waistcoat and trews. Luna was so pleased when Freddie arrived so she didn't have to play gooseberry to Erik and Clemmie... Freddie does like a bit of flamboyant Liberty fabric for his waistcoats. In 2024 Freddie acquired a tailcoat to match his corduroy outfit. This was a practise for the Jane Austen tailcoat fabric destined for Alfie.

Freddie all ready for his outfit	Every gentleman farmer should have corduroy trews with flamboyant waistcoat	Freddie meets Luna	All the chums together 2023

The new tailcoat

The Baby Bunnies:

Completed September 2023. Four of them were originally made, two found their way to a special friend, and the others are now waiting for some little friends and clothes...

November 2024 an extra project managed to push it's way forward onto the sewing table. There are moments like this, when a very large stash cupboard comes into its own! Why it's ten baby bunnies. Two were stitched earlier last year, so eight more needed in time for Sssshhhh you know what but with only a week to go before the end of the month the only way to do this was be methodical. Cut them all out, stitch all the bob-tails on, get those ears in place, then stitch all the heads, then all the arms, all the bodies, ready for stuffing and final construction.

Miss Lizzie Mouse with the two older baby bunnies kept a careful watch to make sure all the pieces were stitched properly. Arrrrhhhhh I don't have enough tiny buttons for the eyes. Quick some on-line shopping... Holding breath, will they, won't they arrive before the end of the week???? No they didn't. Off to Boyes for a back up purchase. Oh no! No tiny buttons, but they did have tiny dolls eyes. Quick upick five heads, insert safety eyes, sew up heads, stuff heads, attach bodies and arms. Phew! all done by 28th November. And everyone in the sewing room does a very merry dance, with jigs and much waving of pom poms as we manage another tick on the list of things to be done in time for Sssshhhh you know what.