“I AM OPTIMISTIC”

FINISHED “I AM”:

SKETCH:

PATTERN:

PROTOTYPE :

prototype 1 (unfinished, pattern lost)

prototype 2 （unfinished）

PROCESS:

The first try didn’t work out well because of the face is weird, so I spent a large amount of time trying to figure out a perfect pattern of the face. Finally, it looks okay, like the picture bellow.

I didn’t finish prototype because of time issue. And I didn’t make the pattern of the prototype until I was sure it worked fine because I had no idea how to make it initially so I just tried it with the muslin at first. Then I made the first pattern and made it with muslin again, then I revised the pattern based on the sewn one. I did many experiments on the pattern of the face.

I began to make it on my final fabric.

It still looks a little bit weird. Then I made a little revision which turned out to be the perfect one.

And I sewed the body onto the head along with the ears.

Then I added the feet.

I closed it at the bottom with a safety pin, which turned out very well.

Parts of words in my “I AM”:

At first when I was designing my “I AM” I kind of knew what I wanted it to be like. I wanted it to be adorable and easy to cuddle. Also, rather than just sewing two different pieces together, I wanted it to look “chubby”, which then I found out so challenging for me to make.

I spent two night trying to figure out how to make a perfect pattern of the face of my “I AM” even though I had indicated seam on my original design. This is not the first time I made an animal but it’s the first time I make a pattern of an animal. The shape and nuances I want make it hard for me to make a satisfying pattern so I had to experiment with muslin again and again. Then I didn’t have time to figure out how to close it at the bottom. But I came up with a solution that I closed it with a safety pin, which turned out to be working well, and I still can put words in it.

The original design has eyes. I tried adding eyes but I think it’s better to not have eyes. The process is torturous and it’s not perfect but I learned a lot from it. She is so adorable and I like her very much. As an empowerment tool, she does make me feel better when I look at her.