SEW A SOFTIE

Handsewingproject
Name:Jade
WellbeingGroup:7CI
GeneralDESIGNBRIEF
Outlineofthesituation
AnewpopuptoystorehasopenedinBridgeRoad,Richmond.Theyrelookingforyoung
designerstogenerateuniqueandcreativesofttoystosellintheirshop.Thetoymusthave
characterandpersonality.Yoursoftywillbemostlymadefrompolarfleece.Youmayalso
usearangeofdifferentpatterned,recycled,plainorevenvintagefabrics.Thereareanumber
ofreadymadepatternsyoumayusetohelpyoudevelopyourdesign.

Constraints(thesearethethingsyoumust/shoulddo)
Thedesignmustbeascreativeandoriginalsofttoyappropriateforthe
popupshop(Function)
Thesoftyshouldhavelotsofcharacterandpersonality(Innovationand
Creativity)
SizemustnotbebiggerthanA4(Size)
Themainbodyofyoursoftymustbemadefrompolarfleece(Materials)
Onlyhandstitchingshouldbeusedintheconstructionofthetoy
(Technologiesprocesses)
Toystuffingmustbeusedtomakeyoursoftylookthreedimensional
(Function/Materials)
Itmustbeneatlystitchedandpresentable(Quality/finish)

Considerations(thesearethethingsyoumay/coulddo)
Youmayuseanexistingpatternasthebasisforyourdesign
Youmayusefeltorotherpatternedfabricstodecorateyoursofty
Considerallowing1cmseamallowanceforjoiningfabrics
Youcoulduseappliqu,embroidery,buttonsandbeadstoadddetailto
yoursofty
Alsoconsider:Colourandfabriccombinations,facialexpression,clothing
andaccessoriesforyoursofty,usingrecycledfabrics,socks,gloves,curtainsetc.
1SoftieResearch
Thefirstthingyouneedtodowhendesigningsomethingistoresearchsothatwecan
understandwhatwearemaking.Italsohelpsuscomeupwithideas.
Onthenextpage
Findatleast3imagesofsoftiesthatyoulikefromtheinternet,actual
softies,etc.
Insertthemonthefollowingpageremembertostatethesource.
Annotatetheimagebypointingoutspecificdesignfeatureswhichmight
beusefulforyourownideas(usearrows).

Whensearchingforimages,trytheseasstartingpoints:
GoogleImages
etsy.com
Flickr.com
Pinterest

TrysearchingthetermssoftieandstuffieDIY,handmade,etc.E.g.softiedog

1SoftieResearch
https://www.google.com/search?q=RAINDROP+SOFTIES&safe=strict&rls=com.microsoft:enAU:IE
Address&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj7mZyJiKDSAhVHfrwKHTPTDcEQ_AUICSgC&biw=1920&bih=934#imgrc=1pUyVVLmwiV1AM:
https://www.google.com/search?q=RAINDROP+SOFTIES&safe=strict&rls=com.microsoft:enAU:IE
Address&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj7mZyJiKDSAhVHfrwKHTPTDcEQ_AUICSgC&biw=1920&bih=934#imgrc=1pUyVVLmwiV1AM:

Address&biw=1920&bih=934&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj43te1iKDSAhXGyLwKHYHTD1MQ_AUIByg
C#safe=strict&tbm=isch&q=cute+softies&imgrc=JaqiLPX_C7DlM:

https://www.google.com/search?q=SOFTie+MARSHMALLOWS&safe=strict&rls=com.microsoft:enAU:IE
Address&biw=1920&bih=934&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj43te1iKDSAhXGyLwKHYHTD1MQ_AUIByg
C#safe=strict&tbm=isch&q=cute+softies&imgdii=sf9k3akWwsi__M:&imgrc=rHDxyfPot9UYhM:

https://www.google.com/search?q=SOFTie+MARSHMALLOWS&safe=strict&rls=com.microsoft:enAU:IE
Address&biw=1920&bih=934&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj43te1iKDSAhXGyLwKHYHTD1MQ_AUIByg
C#safe=strict&tbm=isch&q=cute+softies&imgrc=XLahcIvzyDS_AM:
2PersonalDesignBrief
WhatisaDesignBrief? A design brief is an outline that helps to tell a designer what things
they need to include in their design. We are going to write our own design brief for our
softie design.

Answer the following in full sentences:

Who will your softie be made for? Describe the person.
e.g. will you make your softie for yourself or as a gift for someone, what are their
likes/dislikes?

The softie that I will make will be for my friend Ella! She likes summer and something that I
associate with summer are watermelons! Therefore I will be making her a watermelon softie.

Will your softie have a theme or a certain style to it?

e.g. Will your softie be colourful, animated, traditional, stylised?

What kind of fabrics will your softie be made from?

e.g. Felt, buttons, printed fabric, recycled fabrics, beads, etc.

4Generatingideas
Nowyouneedtogenerate(brainstorm)ideasforyoursoftiedesign.Atthisstage,weneedto
puttogetherallofourideasthatwehavegatheredfromourinspirationresearchanddraw
themupinroughsketchform.Tryanddrawasmanyatleast5COMPLETELY
DIFFERENTideasforasoftiedesign.
Weneedtodothisbyusingquicksketcheswhicharecalledthumbnailsketchesbecause
theyaresmall.Theydonthavetohavelotsofdetailbecausewearebrainstormingwhich
meansthedrawingswillbesimpleandroughtogetourideasontopaper.

Onthenextpage,tryanddrawatleast5COMPLETELYDIFFERENTideasforyoursoftie
design.Yourpagemightlooklikethis:

Orlikethis....

4Generatingideas
5Refiningyourdesign
Torefinesomethingmeanstochangeitandtweakituntilitisperfect!
PickTWOofyourbestideasanddrawthemupproperly.
Useonefullpageforeachdesign
Showthefrontandbackview
Drawanyimportantdetailssuchasstitching,threadcolour,etc.
Uselotsofcolour
Annotate(explainwitharrows)keyfeatures

Exampleoffrontview:

DESIGNONE- FRONT

DESIGNONE- BACK
DESIGNTWO- FRONT

DESIGNTWO BACK

6 - Preferred Option Evaluation

Evaluating each of the design options is crucial in the choice of preferred
option (final design). A decision matrix is useful because they allow you to
judge each design separately and then compare the results to find the
best design solution.
Select 3 important criteria from your design brief that relate to the design of your
product. Write each of these criteria as an open ended question in the table below.
You will use these for judging your design ideas.
5 Very high 4 High 3 Medium 2 Low 1 Very low 0-
None

Criteria
Option 1
Option 2

1.

/5

/5
2.

/5

/5

3.

/5

/5

Totals:

/15

/15

Preferred option: _____

Justification of preferred option (explain why the design you have

chosen is the best):
How does this option satisfy the products required purpose?

Why isnt your other design suitable?

What feedback did you gather? Who did you talk to about your design
options and what did they think?

7MYSTITCHIONARY

8Planningandmakingyour
design
A.Makingapattern

Processes and materials

Tools and Equipment
Risk Management

1. Draw/trace the pattern/s for your softie onto paper.

Make sure you allow for a 1cm seam allowance for joins in different fabrics. Also allow I cm extra
so that your softie looks more 3D when stuffed.

Paper, pencil, ruler

Watch out for paper cuts....ouch!

2. Pin the pattern onto the fabric (be sparing with fabric; avoid waste) and cut out and label all
pieces. You might need to trace very small pieces and then cut out.

3. Pin pieces together and check all pieces fit together as they should.

4. Sew any appliqu, embroidery or buttons/beads before you join the main body sections. You
may want to apply some iron-on interfacing to the back of the fabric (for extra strength) at this
stage.

5. Pin together main body pieces with right sides of fabric to outside then use blanket or running
stitch around the edge. This will depend on fabric type or design. *Important leave an opening
for stuffing.

6. Use toy stuffing to fill your softy. Tiny features like tails or arms may need to be stuffed as you
go, use a pencil or short piece of thin dowel. Or small parts may be sewn and stuffed separately
then stitched into the seams as you sew the body.

7. Sew up the opening.

8. Attach extra buttons, beads, accessories etc. or these can be done in step 4.
B.Completetheproductionplanbelow

EVALUATIONREPORT
Whatdidyoulearn?
Whatdidyoudowell?
What/howcouldyouimprove?
Trytoanswertheabove3questionsforeachofthefollowingareasinBOLD.Belowisalist
oftheproductionprocess,itmayassistyouwithyourevaluationreport.
PRODUCTIONPROCESS
PATTERNMAKINGdrawingoutyourdesignontoA4paper,readytocutitoutand
makeit3D
PINNINGusingpinscorrectlyandplacingthepatternproperlyontothefoldedfabric
CUTTINGusingscissorscorrectlyandneatly
STITCHINGvarietyofstitchesusedandhowneattheyare
CONSTRUCTIONhowsuccessfullyyouhaveattachedyourpiecestoeachother,
stuffing,etc.
EMBELLISHMENTthingsyouhaveaddedon,e.g.fabric,buttons,beads,bells,etc.
OVERALLQUALITYCONTROLneatness,stuffingnotpokingoutofholes,etc.