This ample toy can become a family project in which Dad and Older Brother saw out the body and legs, while Mother and Big Sister round up the spool wheels and ribbon collar, and roll up the tiny cotton balls for the wooly fleece.

Since the thickness of the combined head and body will be determined by the length of the spools or rollers used as wheels, these must be the first consideration. A pair of ordinary spools of i-in. diameter will probably measure 1 1/4 in. long. Allowing for free play on their 1/4-in. dowel axles between washers inside the feet, spools, lengths of dowel, or curtain rod sections 1 1/4 in. long will require a ij-in. width of body section, or two thicknesses of average 3/4-in. scrap lumber.

Fig. 2.8. Woolly pulltoy.

Because the two pieces are to be covered later by the cotton fleece, there is no reason why they cannot be nailed together and sawed out at one time. The gentle curves pictured in B of Figure 2.8 should not be difficult to follow with a compass saw. Their outer edges, however, should be beveled and sanded round.

The legs can be jigsawed in pairs from J- or i-in. scrap, and the feet bored 1/2 in. from the bottom to act as bearings for the 1/4-in. dowel axles which are thrust through the spool holes. Before gluing and bradding the legs into position washers are slipped over both ends of each axle before it is fitted into its bearings, and the leg assemblies "dry fitted," or held tightly in place to make sure that the spool wheels do not bind. The floppy ears can be cut from any heavy white material including cardboard, and glued in place.

After the lamb has been permanently assembled and painted white, one surface at a time is covered with glue and the miniature balls of cotton wads torn from batting pressed into position. Black shoe-button or bead eyes strung on a wire through the eyehole will peer through the fleece with amusing inquisitiveness, although a pair of black tacks will do as well.

Finish with a pink or blue ribbon to which a small bell has been attached, with an extravagant bow tied on one side as in A.