Zon the Paisley Pillow Snail - Original Design
I wanted to take the plunge into designing an original craft for a while. By original, I mean, I draw and design the pattern myself, without using a free tutorial or pattern, as well as sew it myself. I finally did it today! This is 100% my own design, and I think it's pretty cute.
Zon measures about 8.5" x 6". He's filled with soft hypoallergenic poly-fill fiber filling, and he's made of cotton quilting fabric. He's very fat quarter friendly - I used veeeeery little fabric.
http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/v...sleysnail1.jpg
Apologies for the bad picture. It's dark in here and my desk is cluttered. XD
The process I used to make Zon, if you're curious...http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/v...tingsnail2.jpg
Everything starts with a drawing! Even a bad sketch will do!
Zon: First you draw me without a shell and make me a slug, and then you stick pins into me? This smile is a disguise, Jessica. I'm not happy with you.
Me: I'm sorry!!!
http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/v...tingsnail1.jpg
This photo is a bit misleading, because I've not put the fabric "shell" between the layers of fabric for when I sew around Zon. But it shows you how he's done, basically. Tip: Pivoting corners is a great technique for this project, especially at the top of his eye stalks. To do that, you stop at the point you wish to pivot with your needle in the fabric, lift the zipper foot, and adjust the fabric you make sharp right angles. You can also do this very gradually while turning round corners, so that you don't accidentally mess up your seam allowance. I believe my seam allowance was the standard 1/4 throughout.
Make sure you leave a gap big enough to turn right side out that the shell can fit through!
Then all you need to do is stuff him up, and then slip stitch the gap closed. Depending on big the gap is, and how fast of a hand stitcher you, this can be a very short process, or the longest process of the entire project. XD It was more the latter for me...
Enjoy! :jess:
