In Stitches

So our internet has been acting up for days now, ever since Monday. It wouldn't let me on any website on the laptop, and all other computers were slow. I especially couldn't get on here to post, and it definitely wouldn't let me upload pictures. So I got two posts ready to go, but couldn't get them to where I could post them. Finally, I got so tired of it I pulled the internet's plug, which reset it at last and I was good to go. So, I'm posting today, and actually have enough material for three posts. I'll finish two today and be back tomorrow if all goes well.

Anyway, today I wanted to talk about my tiny plushies. I got into them back when my sister got her first Pukifee and I wanted to make a tiny teddy for her tiny doll. I liked it so much I kept going, even getting to where I could design my own patterns. That makes my sister think I can do just about anything for her, which prompted her to ask for a few things, the first of which is a moose. (Ryder is sitting in the background for size comparison among other things.)

Mint Chocolate Andes Moose

This is the mint chocolate moose, Andes. He was my prototype. Prototype one. I used a light mint green upholstery fabric that's soft like velvet, and the darkest brown ultrasuede I had for an accent. I even cut little white ultrasuede ovals to go under his eyes. He has cute antlers, and he even has an adorable tiny tail.

"A Moose's Tail" by Andes Moose

There were a couple issues with his legs, so I'll need another prototype before I get to making the one my sister really wants: a moose in blue.

However, before I could get back to making moose, my sister got a new doll, Aiden, and he needed a special toy all his own.

Aiden

So my sister talked me into making a little plush plane. I designed the pattern over the course of Monday and Tuesday two weeks ago, copied the pattern to fabric that same Tuesday night, and got sewing. Having never done inanimate objects before, I had no idea how it would turn out.

Guido the Airplane

He turned out way cuter than I expected. She chose red and yellow, and I added a windshield for his eyes. I was a little surprised that the pattern pieces came together so easily. In fact, this might be the only plushie I don't need to make modifications to.

Winning Smile

I left cuts in the sides of the plane to sew his wings and tail fins to, that way, they could be stuffed as one piece with the plane. Then I embroidered a mouth onto his face piece. Once he was all sewn up, turning him right side out proved to be a challenge, especially down near his tail fins. Luckily my plush sewing motto would have to be "never give up, never surrender."

Banking Left

Sewing his eyes on was the hardest part as I've not got much experience sewing 3D plushie pieces to 3D plushies. This might be a truly One of A Kind project, because I don't think I really want to make another like it. Anyway, it should thrill my sister to have the only one. I'll keep the pattern around, just in case, or more like just because I can be a bit of a pack rat when it comes to papers and patterns.

Once I finished the plane, I decided to go back and work on my sasquatch. I started him simply because he was an idea that popped into my head. I thought it would be easy to design and sew a big foot creature. Turns out I was right about that. The sasquatch is one of the easiest patterns I've made so far.

Henry T. Sasquatch

He's a little unbalanced, and so he can't stand up on his own. Another of his flaws, in my opinion, is that he needs a little longer arms. His arms seem a little small in proportion to his body. Still, he's very cute and I would probably be willing to modify this pattern and try again some time in the future when I get more time.

Big Hands, Big Feet, Big Heart

In order to make his big hands and big feet and still turn them right side out, I left the opening for turning down in the back of his arm and hand, along with his leg and foot. At first I panicked, thinking I'd forgotten I'd never get those big things turned, but then it occurred to me that I had to leave the biggest part open in someplace for them to be turned and everything worked out fine doing that.

Sasquatch's Behind

Lastly, I want to introduce Guardian, Ryder's plush dragon.

Guardian Dragon

Guardian is not my own pattern, but one I bought and modified. He was meant to be a big plush originally, but I really wanted a tiny plush dragon for Ryder, so I shrunk the pattern and made a couple changes. He turned out really cute, and Ryder carries him everywhere with him.

Wing Man

I'm currently in the middle of a second project for Ryder, that I'll have to get into later. It's going to be super cute when it's finished, but that's all I can say for the moment. See you next time.

~SilverStar-Burst