Plush Making 101: Hooping Minky Fabric for Embroidery or Applique

[@3brosinwinter781]

This is really helpful. Just got my machine today so im a noob!

[@makeshiftwingsplush]

I'm glad you found it helpful! Good luck with your projects!

[@enelpenel6915]

Thanks for this! I'm new to my embroidery machine and have no idea what I am doing.

[@falsefoliage]

What software would you recommend for making custom embroidery patterns? Preferably not breaking the bank. I just got my first machine and pretty disheartening because I’ve wanted to make plushies for years and I’m not sure how to achieve that goal

[@makeshiftwingsplush]

I use embird which is a one time fee but somewhat pricey. You could try Sophie sew which is free but has some issues like crashing frequently

[@falsefoliage]

@@makeshiftwingsplush thank you so much!!!

[@silentprayers728]

I was wondering how you get your eyes to be even. Do you embroider on the fabric and then appliqué it to the head piece, do you embroider straight on with the piece cut out, or do you do something else and if you embroider straight on, how do you get them to be even, because the head shape is an odd shape so measuring stuff out I don’t think will work - but also, I already cut it out because I didn’t think it through and this is my second time redoing the head. Also tried your paw print method with the quilt batting, and I don’t recommend without an embroidery machine. Because it didn’t go very well. I’m debating redoing it now that I have my embroidery machine. I’m doing a pre-made pattern and the directions recommended 2 yards of fabric. After originally cutting out all my pieces the first time I was wondering why 2 yards was required. I was thinking, “i have so much fabric left though.” I started to realize after I started redoing parts :P but your patterns aren’t pre-made so you must go through more fabric. So how much fabric do you usually get of the main body color? Did you start out with minky or something easier like fleece? Did you start with a 5x7 machine or with a 4x4 machine? If you have worked with fleece, how much harder is minky? I know minky is the standard fabric to use, but it’s more expensive and this is my first time so I opted out. Also, this project has taken me several weeks. I started during winter break (early December) and it’s still not done. And even before I was sewing, I was doing research because I needed to brush up on sewing basics and that took another several weeks of determining my design, mostly because I didn’t have a design in mind. So I used a pre-made base pattern and added stuff onto it. Can you do a video on face sculpting? Also, what brand of embroidery thread do you use? How do you make the ears folded? How do you decide where to put them? Do you mark them with a fabric pen? I tried pinning stuff like you do (I pinned my tail) but they keep falling off. Now I’m going on a tangent :P sorry and thank you. I believe I watched most of your tutorial videos but I didn’t watch the embroidery ones because I didn’t get my machine until yesterday. I can see why you’d like a computerized machine (specifically... automatic needle threader!) Have you used doll joints before? I guess rather than wire. They don’t have as much freedom of movement but I think they stay better (or I should get stronger wire).

[@petrachorplushandcrafts7267]

if you actually did watch all of makeshift’s videos I think you would find that the techniques in your questions have already been demonstrated.

[@makeshiftwingsplush]

you always want to embroider directly onto the fabric, not doing the patch method like you described. i embroider onto a larger piece of fabric and then cut it down to the pattern piece. when i digitize the embroidery i'll also trace the pattern piece with an outline stitch if i can so i don't have to trace it on myself. it's much easier to align by cutting out the pattern piece after than cutting out the pattern piece first and then doing embroidery. i recommend watching my videos on eye embroidery and applique to get an idea. my anthro and animal crossing patterns are "pre-made", it's just that i have to usually align a lot of markings so i end up making test plushies. and i usually have to alter head shapes. not accounting for patterning i will use about 1 yard of fabric per anthro plush, ut this is entirely up to how big your plush is. i started with fleece originally but quickly switched to minky. fleece is somewhat more forgiving because it doesnt have a pile, but i actually find it very difficult to work with personally. i started with an se400 which is 4x4 and switched to se1900 a couple years ago. 4x4 got me by just fine for a long time. i'm not confident in my needle sculpting abilities yet, which is why i haven't done a video on it. i recommend this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoKlimimq5Woo8U i use primarily coats & clark embroidery thread. ear fold, make a flat 2D ear and then fold it before sewing it into your head seam. you'll have to make the pattern a bit longer than usual to compensate for the fold. i use doll joints on my animal crossing plushies, and it will be one of the next videos i make, the new ones i ordered just did not work at all so i'm waiting on some in the mail.

[@silentprayers728]

@@makeshiftwingsplush Thank you so so so much! That cleared up everything!

[@staceykling5093]

thank you!! I was wondering what embroidery machine you use?

[@makeshiftwingsplush]

I use a brother se1900 which does both sewing and embroidery!

[@staceykling5093]

@@makeshiftwingsplush thank you for your response!!

[@anth1996]

Anybody ever use parchment paper as a back stabilizer before?

[@makeshiftwingsplush]

i don't think it would be strong enough unfortunately

[@stauniqueprintwear2705]

Great Video! New subscriber, hi 👋

[@makeshiftwingsplush]

thank you so much for subbing!!