Do you know anyone into the Manga and Kawaii Characters? I have students who love them and create their own in their artwork. Today I get to share a craft book with you that makes it pretty easy to sew your own plushie or mochi doll in this style. The book is Cute Plushies and Mochi Dolls: Sweet Manga-style Kawaii Characters to Sew by Eriko Teranishi. Don't know how to sew? Don't worry there are tutorials in the book! And how cute would these be in Easter baskets, May Day baskets and more!!
About the Book:
Create your own Chibi and manga-style dolls with this adorable book!Plushies are squishable, stuffed dolls. Mochi are the cute, limbless little dolls that are shaped like a bread loaf. Dress them, squeeze them, display them, hang them on your computer and carry them around with you. Cute Plushie and Mochi Dolls will turn everyone into a plushie doll expert quickly with:
- One easy-to-sew basic body pattern
- Templates for 27 different dolls based on this body
- Patterns for 10 adorable palm-size mini mochis
- Templates for an array of hairstyles and facial features
Small enough to be handstitched using very simple techniques, these little dolls make perfect gifts for manga, anime and kawaii fans of all ages. Designing their wild hairdos is easy and fun. Try different faces and hair and clothing combinations to create dolls that resemble your friends-they will love it! And the adventure doesn't stop there—you'll be able to make over 50 mix-and-match outfits and accessories for everything, from everyday clothes to cosplay costumes.
Illustrated instructions, patterns and templates take you all the way from start to finish. Whether you're a seasoned sewing enthusiast or a novice just beginning to explore the world of plush toy crafting, let this book be your guide to some seriously creative fun!
From Me:
This book takes the reader step by step on creating one of these adorable dolls. There are options for hairstyle, facial features, clothes and more. Once it gives all the choices, it begins with a detailed tutorial with lessons on how to do simple embroidery stitches for the face and photographs galore on each step. I decided to try making one. I looked for the material they suggested in the book but could not find it. I decided to use materials I have on hand like old fleece and ultra soft fleece for the hair. I also found some flannel from pants I made for Hazel when she was young and want to make a dress for the doll out of it even though the pattern isn't quite small enough. (I made a spring outfit from cotton material with a similar pattern too and she loved it!)
My doll is going to have a brown bun hairstyle and brown eyes. I am using a cream fleece that I had from projects long ago for the face and body. I began embroidering the eyes thus far. Unfortunately, I haven't had a lot of time to work on it. I have all the pieces cut though!
The book goes step by step in designing your doll. There are several pages of hairstyles. With each hairstyle there is a photograph of a doll and then the pattern pieces needed to create it. All the hairstyles also need the basic back of the head and top of the head pieces that literally help make the head. There are also pages of facial feature patterns that can be mixed and matched. Then there are clothes with everyday clothes to cosplay outfits.
After the reader decides on the features of his or her unique doll, the tutorials take the reader step by step with many photographs. The dolls can be handsewn or machine sewn. They are small enough to sew by hand and could easily be done in a day with the time committed to it. They are also a fun project to teach a child to sew. The child will love designing the doll and then get to actually create it.
After the plushie section is a section on mochi dolls. They are plushies that are small and look like mochi rice cakes. They have a round shape and are perfect for the doll on the go. Again, there are photo tutorials on how to make the basic mochi doll and then to customize it with different hairstyles and clothes. Since the facial features are embroidered or attached there are different ways to customize there as well. Plus, both doll types have a rabbit outfit perfect for an Easter basket! Happy sewing!
