#this is not a sponsored post even though both patterns are by Cholyknight

[tj-crochets]

Heyo! I was wondering, since you know so many sewing patterns, if you have/know one for a very rounde whale? 👉👈

Hey! As a matter of fact, I do! A couple, even! Larger, more complex rounde whale (paid pattern) Smaller, simpler whale pattern (technically a free pattern for a narwhal but if you leave off the horn it's a whale)

If those aren't what you're looking for, let me know, I can keep an eye out for a rounder whale pattern

[repost-this-image]

I made a plush toy!!

First off, this post was absolutely NOT sponsored by anyone in any way.  I was not paid by anyone to make this post.  I want to make that clear up front:  the gushing over this stuff is entirely me nerding out, for free, and is NOT paid advertising.

So.  I’ve always wanted to be able to make my own plush toys, but they’re infamous for being a challenge (mainly because you have to use fleece or minky), expensive (again, because fleece or minky), and I was always waaaay too intimidated.  Even though I’ve been sewing for 18 years now.

When I learned about the Sew Desu Ne? pattern site (thank you, @gothiccharmschool!!) I thought, “Well, at least they don’t look TOO hard.  I could do this if I could get some affordable bits of minky to practice with.”

Enter the fabric remnants bin at JAF, where I got several colors of minky and anti-pill fleece.

I should probably have started with a “beginner” plush, but I like to walk on the wild side, so I made an axolotl.  (This is not a beginner plush--I was only able to complete it without too many mistakes because I have been sewing for a long time.)

Here’s how it turned out:

(I especially love the little tail.)

Notes:

Getting the gills/arms to stay in place is HARD with minky.  Baste well, and go SUPER, EXTRA SLOW on the machine.  These parts themselves are what make this little guy Not For Beginners.

I...screwed up and my gills were only partly-attached.  I fixed this by hand, carefully whip-stitching the gills up to the proper seam allowance.  This took half an hour and was Not Fun.

Instead of ironing on each eye layer to the base plush, then sewing them both on at the end, I sewed the eyeshine to those baby-blues and then applique’d them to the doll.  It worked great, so don’t be afraid to try that method if you want.

Cholyknight’s directions are extra clear, so even if you need a lot of hand-holding, you’ve got it. :)  This can be reassuring when you’re sewing plush for the first time.

The great thing about minky is, you can’t tell where I made little sewing mistakes, because the “fur” hides it.  This little guy has some pretty wonky sewing here and there, but you can’t tell!  I like him a lotl, ha ha.

I think I’m gonna buy the Plague Doctor pattern.  Once I’ve got some vaguely-flesh-colored fabric for it (I...don’t think Bright Pink works all that well as a skintone), I will make the plush lesbian plague doctors of my dreams.

You can access Cholyknight’s store, Sew Desu Ne?, here.

This is where you can find all their free patterns.

Happy crafting, sewists!