Make plushies? Know some good ones?

[WolfenMachine]

I’m going to try and start making plush animals. I *love* custom ones but they are so expensive, or the artist is popular and reasonably priced, so they are always full up and closed. SO, I am going to make my own!! I have made 2 plush My Little Ponies in the past, and one sock monkey from a kit.

Here is one of my plush ponies. I sold the second one.

Its “Twilight” for anyone wondering. I was too afraid to attempt her eyes and screw them up so I left them off. Same with the horn (G1 Twilight is a unicorn)

So, what I’m wondering is-does anyone here make stuffed animals? Can you give me any tips or tricks to doing it well?

OR-do you know of any good patterns online, or places online to get advice, tips and tricks? I am looking through deviantart for patterns just to get ideas, but beyond that, I’m a little scared of this project! (silly, huh?)

I’m most worried about the eyes, and the details. I’d like to make plush ponies and plush dragons, so in this case, details would mean symbols, horns, and wings.

[Riversgrace]

That is a cute pony! Did you do that from scratch?! For eyes i think she would look cute with either the regular emboidered eyes, or maybe some fancy cute buttons? I dunno, but that sure is some talent you ahve there! 🙂

[Maddy]

I was following a cool one today for a butterfly plush! It’s in German but google translate does an okay job of translating.

http://ellis-animals.blogspot.com/p/schmetterlingstutorial.html

her plushes are incredible and she’s very friendly. 🙂

[Carolyn]

My mom when I was a kid made lots of them from patterns she got at the store . Simplity patterns . I still love to look at the patterns in the stores . I saw a dragon one . Very cute . In that or MaCalls . Can’t remember .

[Elena]

I know that pattern!!! :bigsmile:

I’ve done a few plushes, both my own patterns, store bought and taking a store bought and altering it to what I want.
My own Pattern
http://ladyleyn.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d3dzuy9
Hybrid Pattern
http://ladyleyn.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=24#/d2umd40
http://ladyleyn.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=24#/d2umdfa
Store Bought
http://ladyleyn.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=24#/d2stf74

The best advice I can give… Practice, practice practice! and don’t be afraid of messing up. You will mess up. It’s part of the process and don’t get discouraged, take what you’ve learned and keep trying. For the Carrots I posted, It took me at least 6 tries to do the carrot part and at least 4 for the leaf.
Use cheap broadcloth when you are first figuring things out or trying out new techniques rather than the expensive stuff you really want to make your critter out of.
The big pattern companies all have some plush things in their craft sections, I would start with those because they come with instructions and give you a chance to become familiar with how a plush goes together. You also get a chance to see how the shape and curve of something affects the critter.
A good one for basic shapes and putting stuff together
http://www.simplicity.com/p-4464-craft.aspx
A dragon pattern with wings!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/STUFFED-DRAGON-THREE-SIZES-SEWING-PATTERN-SIMPLICITY-4063-/260937335916?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cc113c46c#ht_500wt_1097
The pony pattern you have is also a good basic one and there should be instructions for cutie marks and eyes with it (though I don’t really like those eyes). If there isn’t let me know and I’ll see if I can find mine and scan it for you.
Check out the book store as there are lots of pattern and how to books in the craft section

You can also PM me if you have questions. I don’t do a lot of plush but have been sewing and pattern making for years! 😀

[Carolyn]

I’ve made some from my own patterns too . Bats , a tiny shark of felt ( still have him ) made him after seeing Jaws . Made spiders , a loch ness monster , couple foxes and mice . They are cute on Christmas trees . I make my patterns out of card board . Easier to reuse them .

[Nina]

I make plushies! LOL Anyway feel free to ask me anything you want.
My DA gallery http://enchantmentsart.deviantart.com/
Main website http://www.featherheart.com

Best tip I can give is practice your pattern on some cheap fabric first. Say like a cheap felt or cotton before moving on to you fabric that might be more expensive. When I first started making plush I bought every book I could get my hands on LOL and joined every message forum that had anything to do with plush/teddy bears. Here is a really great forum for stuffed animal makers http://www.teddy-talk.com/index.php

[Author]

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