Project 3: Learning to Knit

I have never once succeeded when I have tried to learn how to knit. For the last half a year I have been telling myself that I will learn how to and now I am setting myself the challenge of finally getting it right. 

My first ball of wool and 6mm knitting needles

Managed to cast on by hand. 

Knitted one successful row. This took a couple of hours of failing. I would either cast on too tightly, or I would wrap the wool around the needle the wrong way, or when transfer the wool from one needle to another it would slip off.

After all the failing I decided to switch to a thicker wool.

Which turned out to be a lot more successful. So I am happy to say that I can garter stitch. The next challenge is learning to purl.

Project 2: Paper Craft - Discord

From my second project I decided to go with something I hadn't done since autumn last year, paper craft. Being on a bit of an MLP high, I went with finding patterns to different characters. 

Cut out all the pieces.

Glue together all the double parts.

Cut out each body section.

Rolls the pieces together and attach on the inside, starting at the top. Shape the figure as you work your way down.

Fold and glue the face together then do the same for the lower jaw and attach underneath the snout. Glue the eyes to the indicated section.

Cut slits in the top of the head and attach the horns.

The finished head, minus the beard.

Roll the hoof together and make a slit in the top to attach the leg.

Arms and legs added.

To create the mane, you fold along the sides and fold in the white tags, and then glue it together so it resembles a rectangle. 

 The model with mane and wings added.

Everything attached but the tail scales.

The finished model.

I will find a way to attach the beard in the future.

Credit to www.kna.deviantart.com for the pattern.

Project 1: Pony Plushie

To make use of the two months I have before beginning my BA Fine Art and Psychology at Reading, I've decided to set myself a few projects to keep the creativity flowing and to sharpen up my talents. This first project was inspired by my new found interest in My Little Pony (something that I never thought would happen). Using this project as a trial, I am preparing myself for making something larger and more complicated.

To begin with I printed out the pattern and used spray mount to attach it to cardboard. I then cut out each piece.

Afterwards I drew around each piece of the pattern and cut them out, leaving roughly 2cm for the seam.

I then taught myself to back stitch and attached the face to the sides and the hooves to the underbelly. Eventually adding the tail and joining the sides together, and finally sewing each side of the legs to each other.

Next I pulled the material through the cut in the underbelly, only being unsuccessful in pulling out the tail as it wouldn't fit through. I then cut off the tail and sewed that section closed (planning to add a different material for the tail later). 

Once the material was all successfully pulled through, I slowly began to stuff the pony with "Supersoft Toy Filling", first starting with the ears and working my way down the body. To finish off the body I taught myself to ladder stitch and closed the slit in the underbelly.

To finish off the plushie I am going to add in a tail and sew on buttons for eyes.

Credit to http://voodoo-tiki.deviantart.com for the pattern