Studies: Quilted Bunnies
Hey all! Time for a sneak-peek behind the curtain!
Fun fact about me: I love art studies. Have ever since I was a little girl. I used to keep a pencil behind my ear and practically had a sketch pad attached to my hand.
For a long time, I actually thought about becoming a professional artist. Until one day I realized something important: technically I already am! And, like any dedicated artist, I try my best to keep up with the basic sewing skills in my arsenal. Especially since there’s one order-type that requires a healthy mix of fundamentals and creativity -
Customs/Replicas:
In this category, the commissions I most commonly get are for smaller, decorative piece - think cute little ornaments and small keepsakes - and sometimes for the more esoteric gifts (a certain Godzilla plushie comes to mind!).
For these types of orders, I typically need a reference image to work off of; several photos from different angles are better, in addition to any measurements or details that can inform the product’s scale and size.
But… sometimes that kind of data isn’t always available (and for a variety of reasons). In those cases you’ll need a couple different knives in your belt (metaphorically speaking) in order to make something from nothing, - and with as little information as possible.
In this study, we’ll be focused on creating a replica of this cute little bunny:
Now, just for the record, I’m not going to be making an “exact” copy of this pattern - I don’t believe in stealing other maker’s designs. Rather, this is going to be an exercise in the process of what I would do if someone where to call or text and say:
“Hey! I’d like to give my set of triplets these matching bunnies for Easter! Can you help?”
Sometimes it’s not always possible - especially if the client can’t supply me with an acceptable photo or video (though a tangible pattern would be even better). But in the cases where it is, here’s the working process:
Step #1: The Reference photo
Okay, so we’ve accepted this commission.
The picture they’ve sent is clear, and they’ve included measures for how big they would want it (between 9-12 inches tall).
The company who sells the pattern is out of stock for the moment, and our client needs these bunnies in a pinch.
The first thing I would do is gather a small selection of materials in order to draft a new pattern:
In order to keep costs low and recycle as much as possible, we’ll be using some scrap pattern paper I’ve got from a different project. Ideally, I’d prefer to draft it first on cheaper pattern paper (and then copy the pattern onto the good stuff) - but, time is of the essence on this project, and, since the pattern they’ve offered is relatively simply, we can afford to skip a few steps this time out.
Step #2: dRafting a pattern
Using the measurements our client has supplied us, we’re going to start by creating a rough outline of what we think the pattern should look like.
Bare in mind, the design will always look slightly bigger on paper, and for good reason…
Anyone guessed it yet?
110 points to anyone who said: “seam allowance!”
Never forget, it’s always easier to “shrink” a pattern piece than it is to “enlarge” a pattern piece; having extra material can also allow you the flexibility to change the shape of the pattern in certain areas if need be.
This is the primary reason why I often tell customers: “when in doubt - size up.” On just about everything (but most especially clothes). And, since we don’t know the exact specifications on this pattern in particular, we’re going to keep it nice and loosey-goosey so that we’ll have some wiggle room later.
Pre-emptive strategics will always be a part of patterning, in some way, shape, or form.
Once we’ve settled on rough pattern of what we think we’re looking for, it’s time to cut out the pieces and make a quick prototype:
Step #3: Making a mock-up
Many non-sewists don’t really appreciate this step; which is fair, since many of them simply don’t know enough about this skill to understand it.
Typically, I like to fall back on an old adage that helps put this step into perspective: “Do you want it done fast, or do you want it done right?”
Creating a mock-up of any replica is the best way to see the pattern “in action”; how is it going to look? How is it going to sew? Is there anything that needs to change?
When I was first up-and-coming, I used to try and cheat by skipping this step all together… and it came back to bite me in the Alps. Every. Single. Time.
Now, it’s one of the first things I try to make sure people are aware of before starting any project. It’s just TOO important a step.
Additionally, since this model is essentially a ‘rough draft’ of sorts, we can afford to be a little frugal and use our scrap-remnants for stuffing.
This is actually a trick I picked up a little while ago - and it has changed my life forever as a craftswoman!
I now keep a large jar on the shelf that is perpetually filled with scrap fabrics and yarn clippings; essentially anything that’s too small to be used in even small projects. They’ll get new use as filler and stuffing, and I’ll save a little extra money on poly-fil and cotton stuffing (which, like most things, is getting frighteningly expensive!).
Step #4: Refining the pattern
Now that our little bunny is stuffed and finished, it’s time to do a comparison and see how it turned out:
So - a couple things of note here for re-working this pattern:
the legs are little too long, and the body a little short and wide; this makes the bunny look ‘squat’ compared to ‘long’ like we see in the inspiration photo
The ears, while the right shape, need to be crossed over the corners, not aligned in the middle like I’ve been doing
additionally, we can probably insert a cut of fusible interfacing into each ear to create stiffness (though I personally prefer the ‘floppy’ look for bunnies); this is an aesthetic feature that the client must decide on
The head, similar to the body, is also too wide and short compared to our inspiration photo; it creates a “squat” look
So, based on what we’re observing in our mock-up, we’ll definitely have to make some adjustments to our pattern. Fortunately, they’re incredibly simple adjustments to make because the most of them require one thing: just trimming down the pattern!
Easier to make a pattern smaller than larger, remember?
However, this is not an actual commission - and I really don’t want to get hit with a copyright complaint! - so, we’re going to leave this design as is and skip the “editing” step (step #5); instead we’re going to jump right into the final step of this process:
Step #6: Practice and the final product
It may seem counter-intuitive to a lot of folks, but I am a stickler for making at least 1-2 more “drafts” of a pattern before completing the actual product. This is a rule I tend to follow if I’m making a brand new pattern from scratch, mainly because different materials will create different outcomes.
On this project in particular, I’ve noticed that using remnant cuts creates a heavier feel in the doll. This is great if extra weight is needed (for example, to help a doll sit up on its own), but does make the arms heavier - which can affect posing.
If I were creating these dolls for children, I would want to use some of the dry doll stuffing I keep on hand; it’s as soft as the regular stuff, but is less inclined to “leak” out of the doll’s seams (or porous material like crochet).
Additionally, working several patterns over (once we’ve settled on a final draft), makes it easier for me to gauge the actual labor costs of making the thing. For example, with this doll in particular, my timing averages out to around 30-40 minutes - from cutting the pieces to finishing the stuffing.
Had the pattern been provided to me, that would mean a cheaper finished product - because I don’t have to spent the extra time drafting and perfecting the pieces.
Now, I’ll be honest - I haven’t quite decided how to calculate that expense. Simply because it’s different for each new product. A close-up of a crochet “worry worm” has zero drafting time for me - I just look at the picture and instantly know which stitches are used; an elaborately quilted gift-box meanwhile, taken from a grainy, black-and-white photo, is a different bag of cats.
In the past I’ve never even thought about charging for this part of the process, because there’s so much variety to consider. But, as I currently write, it occurs to me that this is a lot of extra work - and just for one stuffed bunny…
And I am magic, and I know it now!
If you’ve hung out this long, thank you so much for following along! Even though I’ve been at this kind of stuff for a while now, I feel it’s important that I try to keep my skills sharp. And the only way I can think of doing that is to just practice, practice, study, and practice.
Do you have a difference process? Is there an extra step I should consider incorporating? Is there a completely obscure and totally-out-there-project you want to see me work through? Share your ideas and let me know in the comments section!