Stitches
Random sewing tips...


Today's topic is: Poseability?

There are various methods on how to make a plush poseable. Which method you use is totally up to you. I've tried most of these methods below at one point or another. My favorite(s) are jointed and beanbag. And I'm sure there's lots more ways to make a poseable plush, these are just the ones I'm familiar with
I should also add that you can mix/match any of the methods in a single plush (usually a couple methods...... I don't know what kind of result you'd get if you combined all the methods into a single plush O__O )

+ Jointed
This method uses doll joints. There are a couple types of doll joints. One version is the cotter pin/disc. It's the traditional or old-fashioned method to joining dolls. Very ideal for a traditionally made doll.
The other version is a plastic locking joint. These look like plastic screws with a locking washer. I should add that the plastic locking joints are impossible to separate once the washer is "locked" on. They're deemed "child-safe" (supposedly).

Limbs of a doll are sewn separate from the body. Small holes where the parts will connect are poked or cut out (using needle-nose scissors). And the joints connect the parts through the holes -- you insert half of the joint inside one of the parts and the other half to the part it's connecting to. Uh.... I make no sense...


+ Armature
This method uses Skeletons! O_O ..... NO! Not those kinds of skeletons.....
The skeleton can be either Wire-Frame or Plastic. Some places sell pre-made Wire-Frame skeletons. Most plastic skeletons are pre-made. (I never figured out how to make a custom plastic skeleton -- though I tried.....)
A wire-frame skeleton can be made by going to a hardware store and purchasing around a 14-guage wire -- preferrably one with an acrylic coating, naked wire has a lot of cons.....
The wire can then be cut with wire cutters, and bent into the desired shape to fit your doll. Most plastic skeletons are pre-made to fit a certain size and shape doll. Plastic armatures also make a lot of strange popping noises when you bend it to pose your plush (the noise is normal).


+ Beanbag
One of my favorite methods, cuz the plush ends up floppy and soft. XD No surprises here, cuz I have some of those TY babies --especially all those Snowmen!! ... and the almost complete set of "Jingle Beanies" Ok... I'll shut up about that

Plastic bean pellets can be purchased at almost any craft store. Just don't Over-fill the plush with pellets.
About 1/2 full is about what I used. But you can use more or less depending on how floppy you want the plush to be.
And an interesting thing I discovered in my self-studies with beanbag plushes....... There's an inner "skin" that is sewn to the shape of the plush, and it's inserted into the plush itself and then filled with pellets. The inner "skin" may also be sectioned off -- in other words, if they want to keep a certain amount of pellets in the limbs, then the limbs of the inner "skin" is filled, stitched closed and then the rest of the body is filled with pellets. AcK! I can see this makes no sense..... I might provide diagrams to explain this better at some later point in time.


+ Um.... Floppy Limbs....???
Sorry, I really don't know what it's called.
But anyways.... in this case, the limbs are sewn separate from the body, and stuffed. Then the limbs are lined up with the seams of the body -- the limbs are sewn into the seams of the body. This makes the limbs floppy. But they can be posed!




Plushformers
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I'll be manning this account at least for several more months though after that it'll be used for non-robot junk


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