Barbara Chapman's Plushie Demo

Onigiri
All photos by Barbara Chapman

Plushie Making
by Barbara Chapman

This is just a simple plushie demo. At the end of this introduction is a demo where you’ll learn how to create your own Onigiri (rice cake) friend! To skip ahead to the Onigiri Friend plushie demo, click here.

Introduction to Sewing and Basic Plushie Making

Some Sewing Vocabulary:

Seam allowance - Since you never sew pieces of fabric raw edge to raw edge. This will be the invisible line that you’ll stitch on to sew two pieces of fabric together. It’s usually at least ¼ inch wide all around the outside of the pattern. Most patterns take seam allowance into account. It’s usually represented by a dotted line on a pattern. If you’re making your own pattern just add at least ¼ inch to outside of your final desired piece size.

The “Right” and “Wrong” side of the fabric - Most fabrics have a “right” side and a “wrong” side. The “right” side will be the side with the pattern, design or have more saturated coloring. This side is also usually the smoother of the two, if you’re having trouble locating it. The “wrong” side is the ugly side of the fabric- it’ll be rougher or lacking any pattern or a different color from the “right” side. This is side you’ll be seeing when you sew and will end up on the inside of the plushie where no one else will be able to see it. If your fabric doesn’t have an apparently “right” side like some fleeces, choose a side to be the “right” side and stick with it.

Fusible web - It is a product designed to stiffen fabrics and make them easier to sew. This will make the fabric stand up on its own depending on the stiffness of the fusible web. It’s purchased by the yard and make sure to ask for instructions as they don’t always give them to you when you buy it. It’s ironed on to the “wrong” side of the fabric. Typically, the fusible web has two sides: one smooth and one slightly bumpy. The bumpy side is the side that touches the “wrong” side of the fabric. It has adhesive on it. Be sure to read the instructions though, as the fusible web you purchase may be a bit different.

Gusset - A gusset is a piece of fabric, usually a strip, that’s used in a pattern to bring about a plump look or a more dimensionality. Look at some of the professional plushies you own and odds are they have a gusset in them somewhere- typically in the nose for snouts or on there bellies or along their backs. Think of them as bridges between two pattern pieces or as your own back is the bridge between your left side of your body and your right side. It’s not always necessary to have a gusset, it just depends on the final look you’re going for.

Raw edge of the fabric - It is simply the cut edge of the fabric. Some fabric will fray on their raw edges. Most fleeces (exception: for example, hairy fleeces or curly haired fleeces) and definitely felts do not fray.

Continue to Basic Plushie Making Tips and Steps