Kenzie's+Fortune+Cookie+Project



Finished pictures! These are the shots of the first of two Yetis (the second is still a work in progress). The bottom left-hand picture is what it all looked like prior to sewing it all together.

**Yeti #1 Details:**
This was also the longest time I've ever taken to sew anything. But it was still SO worth it in the end, because I can squeeze it all the time! It also has a magnet in one of his paws, so he can hold hands with the other Yeti who will have a magnet!
 * Amount of time taken to complete:** Over the span of two days (the weekend) taking approximately ** 18 1/2 ** hours total. D:
 * Dimensions:** Approximately 7 in. tall x 6.5 in. wide x 3-3.5 in. diameter.
 * Materials Used:** The fabric used is the softest fabric probably in existence. :) The white part of the body and blue ear muffs is called Ultra Cuddle, whereas the face and nose was called Minky (both can be purchased either online, or at the most amazing store ever: Jo-Ann's Fabric and Craft). The eyes were black fleece, the paws and head band for ear muffs were cotton quilting flannel, and the eye whites and mouth were embroidery floss.
 * Tools of Trade:** Brother SE400 sewing/embroidery machine, needles, thread, and A LOT of pins (as demonstrated on bottom left picture). :D
 * Additional Details That Probably Don't Matter But That I Will List Anyway:** The butt and legs of the yeti are stuffed with bean-like things held in sewn-up pouches to add weight and a squishy-ish feeling, and makes him so he can stand up on his own!

The drawings below vary slightly from the actual plushies: My original plan was to create a plush piggy bank, as my fortune was about wealth. I tried sewing it, and succeeded in a replica. But it just seemed too simple and unchallenging, and boring. so I decided to pick a new fortune. This one was about friendship, so I thought to create a pair of plushies that could be called friends. And then, for whatever reason, yetis, or abominable snowmen, came to mind. And thus, the idea of plush yetis was born. And I rather like the idea, even if the blue yeti is an unrealistic color. The above drawings are of my own, and are the basis of what the plushies will look like, in simplified, 2D form. They will even have the hat and earmuffs to go along. :) The material of these guys will be the softest fabric probably in existence, called minky and ultra cuddle, both of which are fabrics that I have never touched with a sewing machine or needle before. The video link below shows the basics of how to work with it, and how to get the best results out of the fabric. http://youtu.be/FI_PQu9SARU

This is a simple sketch that I did to describe the basic pattern of the plushies.

Here is the official pattern I created that I will be using for making for the plushies-

Even though only one of the two Yetis are complete, I LOVED this project. Sewing is my passion, especially when it comes to creating adorable, soft, and fluffy plushies. And that is why I chose to sew plush Yetis. I can't exactly explain why Yetis popped in my mind, but I had a 'seamstress's vision', as some would call it. I then began going through loads of paper and fabric, trying to come up the ideal combination to make an adorable plush that I would be satisfied with. And thus, the Yeti pattern was born! (As pictured directly above)

Problems I had with this project were limited compared to past project in the CCC class (too long of a story, but let's just say this has been a complicated road up until now). This was a new fabric material that I had never worked with before, and I had to learn the hard way that it is EXTREMELY messy to sew with. It sheds. It got in my hair, on my clothes, in my mouth, eyes, the floor- it was floating all over the air, collecting itself all over the room and distributing itself everywhere throughout the house. It was a pain to work with, but the end result is well worth enduring the fuzziness. Besides, it's //really// soft fabric! It was also very stretchy fabric, so I had to use dozens and dozens of pins to hold everything in place, resulting in my fingers getting a fair share of stabs from the tips of the needles.

To say that I am happy with the outcome of my project is an understatement. I LOVED THIS PROJECT! It felt like I had a lot of freedom, in which we all did, as there really were no boundaries as to where our inspiration could lead us. That in itself made this project all the more fun to explore. It also feels like such an accomplishment to hold the plush and hear people ask, "You actually made that?!" Plus, stuffed animals are fun to hug and squeeze, especially when they are sooo fuzzy!