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Tutorial: How To Replicate A Plush Toy
February 9, 2010 by Craft Passion
in Highlight, Sewing, Tutorial
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Update: I made extra 3 as the giveaway prizes, click here to win it!
I can’t help it, I replicated this cute tiger – I am a copy cat, omg!!!
The origin of this tiger is a “limited edition” stuffed-toy mascot of a 100% Malaysian made Chinese New Year movie, “大日子- Woohoo!” (Big Day – Woohoo!). Tiger is this year’s animal in Chinese astrology, they came in a set of 5 with different colors represented: Opulence, Abundance, Harmony, Auspicious, Peaceful.
I bought the last set from “Eu Yan Sang” (EYS), an Asia’s leading healthcare company specializes in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The set was sold at only RM68 (approx. US$21) and with every set sold, EYS will donate RM10 to the Spastic Children’s Association. I would buy more to giveaway as a Chinese New Year gift, such a meaningful gift to my loved ones while contributing to a good cause, win-win, why not?
I showed this 5 little cute tigers to my nieces and nephews, they want them too but my kids wouldn’t let them go. Aren’t they too cute for not owning 1? Perhaps EYS should reproduce them again for the charity cause. At the mean time, I have no choice but to replicate it and make a few for my sibling’s kids.
What about the movie? It is beyond my expectation…. it is superb, the 1st 100% local made Chinese New Year Movie, from story board, to casts, to film director, all Malaysians!!! Speaking of the casts, you’d be surprised….. they are Radio DJ’s (My FM) , TV hosts (Astro) & singers, and many of them are first timer in movie acting. To-date, they have broken 3.5 million box office since premiered on Jan 14. Bravo! “Malaysia Boleh”! (Malaysia Can).
This tutorial is meant to show you how to replicate a stuffed/plush toy for exceptional case , eg. replacement of your favorite plush toys which is no longer in production. No way to copy a plush toy that you can still get it from the shop, it is cheaper to buy than to make. No pattern will be given for this tiger as it might be copyrighted by EYS or the movie production company.
Material you need:
1. The plush/soft/stuffed toy you want to replicate.
2. White cotton or muslin fabric.
3. Pencil and fabric marker
4. Tracing paper
5. Pins
6. Poly-fill for stuffing
7. Fabric glue
8. Sewing essentials
As shown I the photo, I detached one of the ears of the tiger so that it is more accurate and easy to trace the pattern.
Wrap the plush toy as flat as possible with white fabric and secure it with pins.
Pin at the seam lines.
Trace an outline along the seam line. Cut away extra fabric by leaving about 1/4″ – 1/2″ seam allowance.
How it looks from front view.
Poor tiger with only 1 ear left… don’t worry, I am going to put it back for you after I finished the tracing, yay…
Do the same for the bottom and other pieces if you have more than 2 parts.
Trace the pattern onto the tracing paper for record.
Mocking up.
Pin the traced pattern to another fabric and start sewing according to the original. Join the bottom piece as well.
Leave a gap of about 2 – 2 1/2 ” (A to A) for turning inside out.
Turn the fabric inside out and stuff it with poly-fill. Sew the opening with whip stitch.
Compare to the original and made necessary alteration to achieve closest possible to the original shape. You might want to use measuring tape to measure some various points and check the dimensions or just merely from your judgement. Remember to update it on your paper pattern as you go.
Trace the ears and mock it up as well.
Same to the eyes and all other decorative bits on it.
Put on the ears and eyes and compare to the original. Make alterations if needed.
Satisfy with the mock-up? Then, let’s make the real replica!!!
I used silk for the back of the tiger since it is a Chinese New Year Tiger.
Tada!!! What do you think about the replica tiger I made? The one on the left! Woohoo!!!… I am a MARVELOUS Copy Cat!!! Now, I am going to make another few more for my little nieces and nephews.
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You’re such a pro in replicating plush toy! Can make one for my son too? Be careful that the supplier will sue you for the copyright yeah! Just joking! LOL!
emmm…. I would like to make as many as possible as a giveaway but…. let me grow 2 more hands before I can do that LOL….
Hola: Preciosa la replica, nunca me hubiera dado cuenta si es el original o no
Me hubiera gustado hacerlo porque es lindisimo ¿Hay patron?
Muchisimas gracias por compartir.
Besos.
Translation from Spanish to English (Google translate):
“Hello Beautiful replica, I never would have realized if the original or not
I would have liked it because it lindisimo Is there pattern?
Thank you very much for sharing.
Kisses.”
Hi Doris, no pattern for this tiger. Just showing the method in this tutorial.
Wow- this is amazing! I have a much loved stuffed horse from my childhood that is all but destroyed. I can’t wait to try this. Thanks so much! I’ll be linking as well.
Hi Rachel,
Can’t wait to see your stuffed horse replica
Thanks for the link
a hi…i wanna make 1 my own design tiger plush toy…can u help me make it? i will pay for it…but you tell me me the price 1st…=)
You are brilliant!!! I’m so impressed with how much your replica looks like the original – and you did it without all kinds of complex math and geometry.
I linked to your tutorial over at Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-how-to-replicate-a-favorite-softie/2010/02/10/
–Anne
Hola: Ya entendi, Si pues no necesita molde porque en el tutorial se ve muy claramente Muchas gracias y disculpa por no haberme dado cuenta. Muchos Besitos
Doris de Lima-Peru
wwaaaooo …. so clever … thanks for sharing … I wanna make one.
I love your blog … (^.^)
I linked your tutorial over my blog
I LOOOOOOOOVE IT!!!!
FANTASTIC!! I keep wanting to give pattern making a go but it always looks soo complicated! mmmmmm maybe I will give it ago after all. Thanks!!
Oh my gosh! This is fabulous! You are so smart the way you created that pattern, fabulous!
Hi, it’s lovely, u r genius!!! I want to make one too!!! But I do not have the original tiger woohoo
do u mind to provide me the measurement or the draft mock-up template??? pls email me, pls pls pls …
Sorry, I can’t furnish the pattern as it could be copyrighted. Btw, I will be hosting a giveaway for this tiger soon, please participate and win one back
Good luck!
I just found your blog through craft gossip-I love the replica and really cant tell the diffence, and even like it a bit better. thanks for the tutorial, i am imspired to try that on something laying around here, toorn and tattered. I will a regular here now, love all your cute thingy’s!!!
Brilliant! I love it!
[Now there's only the small matter of recreating plushies from photos. But I'm ghetting better! LOL]