First off what's the diff? Both have some of the same projects, both have instructions on individual projects, both have basic embroidery how-to's and both come with patterns, but that's about it.

There are 25 projects in the book and 15 projects in the kit, only 5 are the same in both. Two of the projects they have in common are Treeling and the Cake. One of the cutest softies in the kit is the Hambone.

Biggest difference between the two is that the kit is, well, a kit. Meaning it already comes with embroidery floss, needle, and felt to make your first ever softie :D, the pattern cards are nice and handy for the on the go projects, and everything fits in a nice box.

I found the directions to be very straight forward and easy to understand. The patterns are all labeled clearly and are a no brainier to figure out. The only problem I really had was with the kit, I would of liked to have the kit (floss, felt) be about a project other then one that's already in the book, but that's just a personal thing.

If you've never made a softie and are looking for something to start you off with the kit might be the thing for you. Then if you've become totally obsessed like me, just buy both :D The extra pattern cards make a perfect means to spread your crafty/softie obsession to friends.

http://craftychango.blogspot.com/

The softies kit is filled with ridiculous items that I would not make - such as ice-cream sandwich. I was expecting more dolls instead of food items. This was disappointing for me. I should have bought the book without the kit.

I have the book and the kit and they are not the same. As it says in the description, there are 15 patterns--10 new, 5 from the book. The new patterns are:

Japanese Cherry Cake, which is a fancy version of Party Cake from the book
Little Penguin, which can be seen on the cover. (Round, cute penguin! Yay!)
Hambone, a stuffed ham, which is completely adorable and enough reason to buy the kit as far as I'm concerned.
Little Elephant,seen on the front. There's also a pattern for a little bird to sit on his back
Deer iPod Holder--self-explanatory
Chick in a Bonnet--seen on the cover. Quickly made from felt, she's be perfect for an Easter basket.
Sparkle Bunny--a felt, highly embellished bunny.
Gingerbread House--a small, felt gingerbread house that I am totally going to make out of black felt and turn it into a Halloween house.
Charlotte with Her Fedora--seen on the cover, an adorable chick with beaded eyelashes who seems very pleased with herself and her hat!
Birthday Banner--a banner made from felt.

Patterns included from the book:
Paper Doll Dress--2-D felt dresses
Treeling--stuffed tree
Ice Cream Sandwich--an ice cream sandwich
Dorian the Dog--a teeny embroidered dog
Party Cake--a small stuffed cake

Also included are materials to make Party Cake--a sheet of pink felt, a sheet of white felt, stuffing, white and pink embroidery floss, one needle, and a tiny pom-pom in a little plastic bag that gets lost really, really easily, so keep an eye on it.

The new patterns are as cute as the ones in the Softies book, and I don't mind having 5 repeats; since the instructions are on cards in the kit that makes it easier to take them along.

a few of the projects are also in an other book, but there are very cute things to do. i love it!!!

I liked the kit very much! It's great because have nice explanations, the patterns ate cute and it's fantastic to get started at softies. As a suggestion, I would like to have more pictures/designs for some tecnichal sewing points for people like me that doesn't have english as first language and they are starting to sew. But in the end I made it and I loved my first softie, made with this kit. Great idea! Recomend for sure!!