Toy Design
&
Prototyping
&
Prototyping
Week 4
If you are a beginner using the sewing machine, you will create a a 3D shape using a 2D pattern. This will be a bigger version of what you did last week (twice the size, no more) or you can also create a new shape (max 20 by 20cm).Finally describe in one paragraph the challenges you faced and how you solved them or could solve them.
This week, I worked on creating a "Dark Cloud" plush doll. My goal for this project was to practice all the techniques covered in class, so I incorporated as many elements as I wanted to experiment with.
First, I sketched a rough draft of the design I envisioned:
Next, I outlined each step required and cut out the necessary pieces.
Here, I encountered my first challenge: constructing the feet.
After reviewing the slides, I learned that the feet follow a sphere pattern, composed of three parts—the top of the foot, the sole, and the leg—forming an oval shape. Using an online reference, I drew a 3-centimeter-long ellipse.
I didn’t dare start sewing immediately due to my limited experience, so I first prototyped the feet with blue and green fabric scraps.
However, the fabric was too stiff and difficult to turn inside out. To achieve the fluffy, cloud-like texture, I switched to black fabric for the final stitching.
Sewing the feet remained one of the trickiest parts. To hide the seams, I marked guidelines on the fabric and meticulously aligned each stitch to prevent loose threads from showing.
Finally, I sewed the two black fabric pieces together using a sewing machine, turning it inside out, stuffing it with filling, and completing the piece.
The final issue I encountered was that the eyes were too loose due to the hole I had made, causing them to keep falling off. I attempted to secure them by sewing the fastener onto the fabric, but it didn’t work. Eventually, I resolved the problem by stitching up the hole and making a new one in a different position for the eyes.