plushkitsunecrafts

[plushkitsunecrafts]

Don't know what this fabric is, but it's kinda cursed. It stretches along the edges and the direction of the fibers completely changes in different areas. Also despite being a blanket or something, it was very much not square. It also shifts massively at the slightest touch; I had to use the floor and lay the entire thing completely flat.

But whatever, it's for an outfit, and for the outfits I have lower material standards than the plush.

Oh also the minky that was the back for it is somewhat stretchy, which is weird, and it was not the same dimensions either. Thrifting material can be ... interesting sometimes.

[plushkitsunecrafts]

Working on making her a dress for pride. First step, getting a trace of her body shape.

[plushkitsunecrafts]

It's pride month and you know what that means...

...a mad rush to finish the project with the rainbowy fabric. If all goes well, she'll have a dress by this time next week.

But after that I really do want to do Artfight this year. Not that I've actually drawn any of them yet, but that's the mad rush for next week.

[plushkitsunecrafts]

Big plush fox supplies, all thrifted. Also all machine washable, so maybe something to take to conventions and such.

I'm going to try fan art the build a bear style with this project, but I'm definitely going to drift well into making something more detailed than they do. Although I can probably get a pretty decent match on the profile. Well, if I don't intentionally drift away from the shape too much. If nothing else, I'm definitely making the body and legs longer to get more realistic proportions. But I think I can do more detailed paws and still get that general shape.

I don't actually know what the generic name for Sew Lush Fleece is, but whatever that fabric is called, that's what most of this is and it's right around the minky and short faux furs BaB uses. So materials wise it should be pretty close. Especially the sparkly bits in the ears, it looks like I found the same stuff just in pink.

[plushkitsunecrafts]

Did something different and made a teifling tail.

You can't see it in the photo, but the tail has a twist to it as a result of rotating the weave of the fabric 45 degrees between the sides. Fabric shifts differently along the diagonals, which can be used to add a twist to a curve.

[plushkitsunecrafts]

And the pattern for her is good to go. Although it doesn't include her pajamas, dress, or cape.

[plushkitsunecrafts]

Test looks good, but as usual, there's a ton of tiny fixes that need to be done. Plus I haven't started on the paws yet.

[plushkitsunecrafts]

First draft of the revised cat pattern. No paws or fancy nose yet, as both will be hard enough to sew full size.

I feel like the tail should be longer. Also I'm seriously considering black paws even though the color scheme is pink and white. From thrifting, I have a nice pair of short black faux furs that'd work really well with the more detailed paws.

[plushkitsunecrafts]

As a former librarian I'm actually required to remind you that many libraries that subscribe to Libby are opted into a program that lets you subscribe and access magazines for free with no wait

And that this is actually a really fun, low cost way to not only access news and larger cultural magazines, but also to get free patterns for many different crafts that you can screenshot if need be and that lower the financial barriers to entry for trying new things

From my experience working in both academic and public libraries, many libraries are use it or lose it funding-- I have to say this because a lot of patrons feel guilty for how much they use the library and how often they're using it funny enough, but the worst thing you can do for libraries is not try out new features and not use what's already given to you as much as possible.

The numbers that come as a result of your patronage are how most libraries justify their continued existence in times of financial hardship, which sucks but, go check out some magazines on Libby!

[plushkitsunecrafts]

Not a current project, but I got enough swede cloth to make a full length coat. $3.50 at the thrift store. It was half off for having been sitting there too long, because these are curtains and faux leather curtains is just such a weird concept. Plus they don't have a backing, so are almost fabric right off the bolt, to those who sew at least.

[plushkitsunecrafts]

It's kinda humorous that increasing by half is a big change and yet after doing that to the length of the legs, the distance between the legs, the length of the muzzle, and the length of the tail, the result is just, yeah that's a cat.

On a related note: I highly suggest dropping a profile shot into photo editing software and giving changes a try. Even if that requires sewing a test first, it's worth it.

But the current project is redoing her because the current version of her pattern is way too much of a mess to share

I resized her to fit the lab coat, but I made her skinnier instead of smaller and longer. Completely messed up her shoulders and hips. Also rushed through cleaning up the rescaled pattern and messed up her head pretty bad too. Plus I don't have the pattern for that lab coat anymore. And the material choices were pretty much just whatever the local JoAnn's had that day.

I got the good stuff from Mendel's SF and I have a fancier paw and nose design I want to try. I found a plush at a flea market with interesting paws and I've been looking for a project where I can give sewing that style of paws a try. (I'll leave the current style paws and nose as an option in the revised pattern. Those all actually came out pretty well. Although the long leg fur would go better with a more pronounced paw shape.)

Also since she is quadruped, it'd be more interesting to just drop the lab coat styled for bipeds and make a ground up science outfit for her. Probably something that's more of a vest, but have the top extend back? Maybe attach to hip bags? (Something like saddle bags would be a bit far forward for her to access herself, while a hip bag isn't extra weight to lift when standing upright and with a leg strap it would stay level regardless of how she's standing.)

[plushkitsunecrafts]

But the current project is redoing her because the current version of her pattern is way too much of a mess to share

I resized her to fit the lab coat, but I made her skinnier instead of smaller and longer. Completely messed up her shoulders and hips. Also rushed through cleaning up the rescaled pattern and messed up her head pretty bad too. Plus I don't have the pattern for that lab coat anymore. And the material choices were pretty much just whatever the local JoAnn's had that day.

I got the good stuff from Mendel's SF and I have a fancier paw and nose design I want to try. I found a plush at a flea market with interesting paws and I've been looking for a project where I can give sewing that style of paws a try. (I'll leave the current style paws and nose as an option in the revised pattern. Those all actually came out pretty well. Although the long leg fur would go better with a more pronounced paw shape.)

Also since she is quadruped, it'd be more interesting to just drop the lab coat styled for bipeds and make a ground up science outfit for her. Probably something that's more of a vest, but have the top extend back? Maybe attach to hip bags? (Something like saddle bags would be a bit far forward for her to access herself, while a hip bag isn't extra weight to lift when standing upright and with a leg strap it would stay level regardless of how she's standing.)

[plushkitsunecrafts]

Also I got supplies for the quilted turtle plush I wanted to do.

The idea is to do a stained glass style thing with the shell, one color family per hexagon, and use the browns for the head/legs/tail.

This will be a lot of work, but it is mostly 2D design which allows for more artistry than I usually get to do.

[plushkitsunecrafts]

Hey i’m a fashion design student so i have tons and tons of pdfs and docs with basic sewing techniques, pattern how-tos, and resources for fabric and trims. I’ve compiled it all into a shareable folder for anyone who wants to look into sewing and making their own clothing. I’ll be adding to this folder whenever i come across new resources

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16uhmMb8kE4P_vOSycr6XSa9zpmDijZSd?usp=sharing

[plushkitsunecrafts]

Also an update to the craft dragon project. While I liked the idea of making the scales from a huge solid colors scrap pile, I got enough 4" cotton print squares at a garage sale to make every single scale a unique design, across the coat, vest, pants, and tail.

[plushkitsunecrafts]

And Sylvester all restored

There's still a bit of a mark from the previous zipper though. I have no clue why they sewed the zipper where they did.

Also got him properly stuffed. How tightly the plush is supposed to be stuffed varies a lot between patterns. This pattern requires tight stuffing. Kinda ironic that he was very under stuffed, considering the sheer number of different stuffing materials that were in there.

[plushkitsunecrafts]

And as a side project, I'm restoring a 25ish year old Sylvester plush.

With JoAnn' Fabric closing, now I cannot get a zipper without a 30+ minute drive. There's a thrift store on the way. I couldn't resist.

The first task is always washing. And still having the original cardboard tag is a mixed blessing, for that means poor Sylvester here hasn't had a bath for 25ish years.

The second task is fixing the poorly sewn zipper on Sylvester's back. And figuring out why the zipper.

Update: I found out why the zipper. Poor Sylvester here has been restuffed, and badly. He has at least three different fiber fills, Styrofoam, and what I'm pretty sure is quilt batting scraps.

The third task is a complete stuffing replacement. It's pretty much impossible to separate the Styrofoam from the fiber fill, and separating the batting and bad one of the three fiber fills out is not easy either. It's usually best to fully remove the previous stuffing material before adding new stuffing.