So. Many. Options. I'm going to show you a bunch of photos of other people's cats. Click on any picture to link back to the original source.
Do I want him standing up?
Sitting?
Lying down?
Leaping?
Do I want him to have arms and legs?
Or more of a stump style?
And how do I want to do the tail?
Should he be dressed?
Or naked?
So many choices! It has the potential to be paralyzing. So I start thinking about what I want this kitty to be - how I want it to be used. My #1 priority is for him to be huggable. So I probably don't want something in the style of the standing kitty. Too skinny and too leggy for good hugs. I want something with a bit of a body to him. A fat cat?
I want him to be easy to construct. It's important to me that all my patterns are appropriate for beginners. So I don't think I want to do a head with multiple pieces. It's more realistic, but there's also more potential for swearing. And I don't want my patterns to make you all swear. :-) But. . . I might add a center seam to the front and back of the body. It's a tiny bit more work than the bunny or bear pattern, but still quite easy. And it will let me give him a round tummy. Oooh - and a back seam will make it really easy to attach a super-secure tail and will actually make the stuffing easier. Ok. Definitely adding center front and back seams.
Now - should he have arms and legs? I'm still undecided on that one. Long arms and legs are kind of cool - but I think they'd look better in a skinny cat and I want to make a fat cat. My gut is telling me that he can look like a sitting cat with no arms and legs and be extra huggable. But I may make up a sample and decide that he at least needs some feet sticking out of the base of the toy. I think I'll have to test this and see.
One more thing. I think I want this guy to be kind of lightly stuffed with some weight in his bottom. Maybe some beanbag pellets? I think it will make him extra lovable. And I think I want to make him out of polar fleece - again I'm thinking of extra lovability.
More to come soon - sketches and a couple of prototypes. Any thoughts?
Love your ideas and design process! I just finished my first designed and sewn stuffie (I've crocheted tons). He was a yeti-like monster for a friend's child, and I used the rose pattern Cuddle fabric - it's like a swirly short fur, super soft and lovable, and would make a very pettable kitty! I also think a leaping kitty would be adorable, and I'd be pretending he was leaping into my arms all the time..
ReplyDeleteI don't know I love cat softies and I am a little overwhelmed with all your choices lol...I love them all!
ReplyDeleteWow, my head spins at the options! all I know is that whatever you design, I will love it!
ReplyDeleteI would have him with a tail - after all what cat would want to be born without a tail to flick and display!
ReplyDeleteThe cat needs arms and legs to have something to attach his claws too - "all the better for scratching and padding with my dear"
As for the position, a lying down lay cat would be lovely or a standing up proud cat would also be appropriate.
Thanks for including us in your design process, it is nice to feel like you listen and appreciate our input. Love these cats that you have found for inspiration.
Here is one more - I am not sure he is a nice cat but I love his expressions.
http://avalon-lion.blogspot.com/
I was thinking of designing an extra huggable soft toy, too. Have you ever made one super squeeze-able then added arms that have the beanbag pellets (or whatever weighted materials you like using) in the paws? Just thinking about how to make a toy that would feel like its actually hugging you back. ~ Caren
ReplyDeleteps - I just became one of your followers - thanks for your video tips, thats how I found you (Youtube)!
Thanks everyone for all the great comments! I'm definitely going to put pellets in his body. I was going back and forth between a stuffed tail or a floppy one and I've decided to go with a floppy one - with some pellets in the tip. I think that will be more fun to play with. I'm going to try him with and without hands and feet, but I have a sneaky suspicion I'll end up going WITH paws. Nice fat ones with some pellets in them too. I want to make this guy as huggable as I can possibly get him!
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