Plushie FAQ

Hey everyone
I'm used to getting many questions about my plushies, tutorials and general sewing, so I've made a new FAQ
If you have a question that isn't on the list, please ask away and I'll include it on here

Commission Info
Commissions - OPEN!!
Trades - Not at the moment, no.
Plushie prices - Based on plushie, complexity, and shipping. See ashfantastic.deviantart.com/jo… (here) for details!

Plushie FAQ
Where can I find your patterns and tutorials?
All my patterns and tutorials are located here.
Or you can go into my gallery and click on the 'Tutorials' tab. There is also always a link on my journal

Which tutorials are best for me?
If you are a begginner, I suggest using my oldest pattern:

These are good for beginners, very simple and easy to use, and it also includes how to make basic clothes and tips on how to customise them
Begginners should also take a look at:

Because it shows a few stitches that will come in handy
If you consider yourself more than a beginner, or you'd like a bit of a challenge, try these:
or

What materials do you use?
For skin, I use Craft Velour which is easy to work with, and comes in many skin tones. The colour I use is called 'Dollface Pink'. Craft Velour looks more professional than felt, but felt is easier to work with.
I like to use fake/faux fur for hair, it comes in LOADS of different colours and patterns so there's loads of choice, and because it's wispy, you can style it, but it gets a bit messy I also use felt cut into strips, which is better for smaller plushies. For my old plushies, I used to use wool, which is also great, but not very professional.
For the bigger plushies, clothes are made from sheets of cotton, which looks good, but frays easily, so everything needs to be hemmed. For smaller dolls I use felt, which is EXCELLENT to work with I also use fleece, doesuede and sometimes fake fur.
I use polyester filling for stuffing, I used to use cotton wool when I was just starting out, but polyester filling is much cheaper, springier (so it fills more of the plushie) and you get LOADS in a bag that will last for ages.

Do you have your own plushie clothes patterns?
I do indeedy!
Simple clothes patterns (for simple plushies).
Cap
Trilby/Fedora Hat
Zipped Jacket
T-Shirt
Sleeveless Shirt
Jeans
Basic Shoe
Converse

How do you get the eyes to look like that?
I use Iron-on Transfers. I have a tutorial located here.

I used an Iron-on Transfer, but it doesn't have any white in it... What did I do wrong?
I did this the first time too!
You just bought Iron-on Transfer paper for light material rather than dark. The Iron-on Transfer paper for DARK material will have white on it, the white on LIGHT Transfer paper comes out transparent (see-through).

Sewing FAQ
When handsewing, which stitch is the best?
Definitely backstitch. Backstitch imitates that of a sewing machine, making it the strongest handstitch you can do

How do I get my fabric to stop fraying?
The best way is to hem it with really small, neat stitches. Time consuming if you're doing it by hand, but very worth it

Ash's FAQ
How long have you been sewing and making plushies?
Sewing has been a hobby of mine since I was really young, I recall being the only one in playschool knowing how to thread a needle and tie a knot! So I've been sewing since I was about three.
As I grew up, I knew how to make basic flat plushies, but not any that could be classed as 3D, but I dreamed of owning a Chun-Li doll!!
I started plushie making (as a serious hobby) when I was in my first year of  college, so I was about 17. This is when I found a tutorial online, then altered it to make my first tutorial.
I then came across BabyLondonStar's patterns and my obsession grew from then on

Why are your tutorials and patterns free?
I keep my patterns and tutorials free purely because it means other people can try out plushie making themselves. When I first got started I could only find BabyLondonStar's patterns and another humanoid pattern (not on dA) so I wanted to make it easier for other people to find and enjoy.

If you have any more questions, just ask!!
Ash xx

Artists I Like To Keep An Eye On