ThursDIY: 8-foot giant squid pillow
Me and Squiddartha
So I love to make things as presents; the idea of giving someone something that nobody else has is much more appealing to me than giving someone another book or DVD. I thought that I’d share some of my projects here so that other people can try them if they want.
I do ask that if you make one, you send me a picture at eguendelsberger@philadelphiaweekly.com for my gallery of squids.
So to start off, I thought I’d post instructions on how to make my boyfriend’s 2008 Christmas present: an 8-foot giant squid pillow.
You’ll need:
- 2 yards of felt
- 1 yard of patterned fabric (I suggest a polka dot-type pattern so it looks like suction cups)
- 1 medium piece of black felt, 1 medium piece of white felt (for the eyes)
- white thread, black thread and thread of the same color as the felt you’re using
- pins
- about 5 lbs. of stuffing
- a couple big sheets of paper to draw your pattern
You can find many of these things down at the many places on Fabric Row, on 4th Street between Bainbridge and Catherine. Pearl, at 417 South Street, sometimes has stuffing if you can’t find any.
First, you need to draw out your patterns. Here’s a basic template to get you started, although most of the measurements are reasonably fudgeable. If in the likely event you don’t have any four-foot-long pieces of paper lying around, just tape a few pieces together.
Once you’ve drawn out your eight patterns, it’s time to cut the fabric. Pin the pattern to the fabric, laid flat, and cut out the following, leaving a half an inch or so of extra fabric around the edge of the pattern:
FOR THE ARMS: 8 felt and 8 fabric cutouts of piece 1
FOR THE, UH, LONGER ARMS: 2 felt and 2 fabric cutouts of piece 2
FOR THE BODY: 2 felt cutouts of piece 3
FOR THE FIN: 4 felt cutouts of piece 4
FOR THE HEAD: 1 felt cutouts of piece 6
FOR THE EYES: 2 white felt cutouts of piece 7 and 2 black felt cutouts of piece 8
So now you’ve got all your pieces ready, it’s time to start sewing them together. I did mine by hand because my sewing machine is busted and I get a kind of Zen buzz from sewing by hand, but if you have a non-busted one I recommend that you use it as it will be MUCH EASIER. You’re going to be sewing everything with the nice side of the fabric facing in, then turning it inside out to stuff it.
THE ARMS: Pin together one patterned fabric piece 1 and one felt piece 1 (with the nice sides facing the inside). Sew down around the U-shape and back up, leaving the top open. Then turn the arm inside out, stuff it (it’s easiest to do both of these things if you sort of scrunch it up like you’re trying to put on a pair of tights, excuse the non-dude-friendly reference) and sew the top closed. Do the same for the other seven arms and rejoice in the fact that this is the most tedious part. Same deal with the two long arms, they’re just harder to stuff.
THE FINS: Pin together two of your piece 4s and sew together the curvy outer edge. Turn the piece inside out, so the seam you just sewed is on the inside, and start sewing up the other side, stuffing gradually as you go along. You should end up with a triangle-ish puffy thing. Repeat for the other two piece 4s.
THE BODY: Put down one piece 3, then place the two fins you have down with the point up and the curvy side pointing in, then make a sandwich by putting the other piece 3 down on top. Pin it all together and sew around the edges with the two fins still inside, as shown. Turn it inside out and move on to…
THE HEAD: So take piece 6 and the ten arms you’ve already done. Lay the arms, fabric side facing you, out with the arms’ top seams in a line half an inch from the top of piece 6. The order should be arm arm arm arm BIG ARM arm arm arm arm BIG ARM. The legs should be almost entirely covering piece 6. Pin them in place and sew a straight line through the individual legs seams to attach the legs to piece 6.
When you pick up the other side of piece 6, you now have something resembling a really weird untied hula skirt. Sew together the two 9-inch ends of piece 6 with the fabric side of the arms on the outside, and keep it inside out for the moment.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: Fit the open end of the body through the arms (still fabric side facing out) and pull the edge all the way through the felt cylinder so it’s even with the edge that DOESN’T have arms attached to it. Sew around the diameters of the head cylinder and the body cylinder to attach them, then pull the legs down over the head and you’re almost done!
Stuff the body, then seal it off by sewing piece 5 over the open end (even if you do have a functional sewing machine, you’ll probably have to do this part by hand).
THE EYES: Sew the black circles on the white circles and whipstitch the eyes onto the head. You do this last because you can’t tell where they’re going to end up on the end product if you put them on before stuffing the body.
And now you have your very own 8-foot giant squid to hug! Although I figure that, since this is a project that requires quite a time investment, there won’t be a ton of people making them, if you do make one, please send a picture of yourself with the finished product to eguendelsberger@philadelphiaweekly.com! I’ll update the gallery with your entry.
This is out of control.
I want a landshark!
holy shit dawg
Awesomeness!!
I think I’ll try a smaller one -maybe 4 feet- for my brother!
Too many topics, too little time. » 8-foot giant squid pillow says:
[...] [From PW Style » ThursDIY: 8-foot giant squid pillow] [...]
The giant squid pillow is so cool! But, I cannot see the templates you have on this page… =(
WOW that’s one cute squid. I would love to make one, but the template is not showing. Help!
Works perfectly as a body pillow and may somebody soon be the perfect addition to our growing squid-craft collection! Thanks for sharing! You’ve been mentioned here at our blog: http://www.favecraftsblog.com/?p=986&preview=true
I’m thinking about starting a flickr group on squid crafts for reals…
How to Sew a Giant Squid | FaveCraftsBlog says:
[...] rampant in my house! This *amazing* out-of-control tutorial by Emily G shows you how to sew an 8 foot Giant Squid pillow. I simply had to share this on Tutorial Thursday. I think I’m going to start a Flickr pool [...]
Whoops, that was http://www.favecraftsblog.com/how-to-sew-a-giant-squid/
Obviously too excited, hehe
No way! This is AWESOME! Seriously hilarious and creative, I love it! I’ll be linking.
Thank you, you have done the world a great service.
LOL! That rocks! I don’t know whether the hubby will feel left out if I pick the squid over him.
Now I know what I’ll be doing over spring break. This is badass.
OMG people that say they’re going to make a squid: my price for this tutorial is PICTURES. Post a link in a comment here or send them to me at emily.guendelsberger@gmail.com
i’m going to make one of these… but much, much smaller… for a marine biologist friend. i’ll send a picture when i finish. THANK YOU for the pattern, all i have to do now is a little math and i’ll have a miniature in no time!
ahh i tried commenting the pics of mine but it wouldn’t work :/
oh wait hmmm
http://i41.tinypic.com/2wrg7pg.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/65n7na.jpg
the patterns and some other pictures aren’t showing up. can you fix this?
I am not sure why the patterns aren’t showing up for some people… I’ll bug the internet people on our end; in the meantime, the inclusion of details such as your browser and operating system along with “I can’t see it!” will help us figure out what’s going on more quickly.
Here’s the direct link, in case that will work:
http://style.pwblogs.com/wp-content/uploads//2009/02/squid1.jpg
It seems to me that you could make a very spiffy handbag/carry-bag by doing this pattern at about 1/3 the scale, leaving out the stuffing and piece #5, and adding a button and buttonhole to each of the long arms and at least a couple of the short ones. That would let you have a sturdy two-button connection, and a long, medium, or short strap depending on which arms you joined.
I can not view the pattern pictures on this page. OH NO, squiddy rapture is so close…yet so far away. What should I do?
Sorry… forgot the technical stuff… my browser is internet explorer, my operating system is windows vista
mine is the same a mantraodoom…internet explorer, vista. mayybe i”ll try firefox…
ok i tried it on firefox and it said the picture contained errors…maybe convert the pictures to another file type, like png
YES!!!! Thank you JML!!! I will have your babies…for dinner, of course
OK, I’ve tried re-exporting the pictures I made in Illustrator, cuz those seem to be the ones that are giving some people problems. They are now pngs, please let me know if you still can’t load them!
yay they work!!!!!!! im gonna go make them now
thx!
YES
This is neat. I want to make a big pillow shaped like…well, like something else, sort of similar, and I didn’t know how to go about it. This helps. Don’t be offended, please.
I can honestly say I have never seen a giant squid pillow before. You are certainly imaginative and creative. Great idea. Thanks for sharing.
this is the ugliest thing i have ever seen
There are no words to describe the awesomeness. Might as well stop the internet, no one will ever beat this.
Friday Squid Blogging: Make a Giant Giant Squid Pillow | dsecure.net says:
[...] Photos and instructions. [...]
This is really neat, and I want to do it. However, I don’t know much about sewing. Could you tell me what stitch you used to sew the pieces (i.e. backstitch, or whatever)? And what kind of thread (I would assume just regular thread, but when I go to the craft store they have so many kinds)?
Anton Olsen.com » Blog Archive » Bookmarks for March 23rd says:
[...] PW Style » ThursDIY: 8-foot giant squid pillowA giant squid pillow pattern. [...]
Mark’s Link Blog » links for 2009-03-23 says:
[...] PW Style » ThursDIY: 8-foot giant squid pillow (tags: diy patterns sewing squid) [...]
Oh wait, http://squid.us/giant-squid-by-cassandra-nguyen/ from 2007.
shopped
this is great! will use different fabric i think hmmmmmmmm :/
thanks
GREAT! You know? I made a giant salamander with glittering felt! And it was for a gift! So.. I really like your idea! Wonderful!
I. MUST. Have. One.
http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=13291357%40N00&q=plush+squid&m=tags
http://bunsen-h.livejournal.com/26494.html
Thanks for the pattern!
Better than a pillow to sleep with…this one will keep you awake…
I made one! Her name is Demelsa Howard.
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i70/littlebrokenbutterfly/100_4772.jpg
It was challenging for a beginner … my very first sewing project … my mom helped me with the tough bits. :3
OMG!!!
that is soooo adorable! im gonna make one RIGHT AWAY!!! that is soooooo creative…must be left handed
i think squids are wet and wily and always cold,they need a iconic
woman to help us undertand their plight….squidon….
wow, i love squid and this looks amazing!
thx for the instructions!
wuz piece 5 for?
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=219872&l=283e82fc4a&id=1657050027
Cool Pillow! Great instructions too.
poor Ben…. « Winkin’ at witches and howlin’ at moons says:
[...] http://style.pwblogs.com/2009/02/12/fridiy-8-foot-giant-squid-pillow/ [...]
mental_floss Blog » You Can Have Your Squid & Eat It, Too says:
[...] An 8-foot giant squid pillow! [...]
This is awesome–I’m SO making this for my friend! I’m very glad you’ve worked out the pattern (and my sewing machine does work, whew), but I’m going to try to find some giant googly eyes instead…I’ll definitely send a pic when it’s done–can’t wait to get started! THANKS!
So, we have achieved squidness, and I sent a pic…wondering if you got it? Right now, SquEd sits on a nearby futon watching me out of his right googly eye. Heh.
Yup, I got it! I’ve just been somewhat lax on updating the squid gallery. You’re up there now!
Mahlegeth is not suffering. But Mahlegeth will devour us all.
Daily Digest for July 16th | Snow Fox Creations : The Blog says:
[...] Shared ThursDIY: 8-foot giant squid pillow | PW Style [...]
My boyfriend made me one of these as a substitute cuddle buddy before he went on his six-week camp canoe trip. I love it!
WHO NAMES THEIR SQUID SQUIDDARTHA?!
this is made of win.
thanks so much for the pattern! i’m making my toddler one for christmas now. i just don’t know where i’m going to hide it until december…..
Postcards from L.A. | PW Style says:
[...] found another plush giant squid! WTF! Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, I walk into one with a plush giant [...]
I LOVE YOUUUUUUUU
Thank you, Thank you so much for the pattern you posted for the squid. I used felt which was inexpensive and easy to work with. My son had to represent a scene from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea for school and he choose the scene where he needs to fight off the giant squid. The science teacher liked to so much, she took it for her classroom decoration. The kids in my son’s class named him Marty.
Again thank you!
Thank you for posting the pattern… I just finished mine and he is AWESOME. http://www.flickr.com/photos/laoffscreen/4123502314/
My son fell in love with the giant squishy squid last summer when we found Cassandra Nguyen’s squid online. I’ve been promising him I’d make him one, and now here you are!
THANK YOU!!!
You have helped me make what I am sure is going to be my daughters favorite Christmas gift. She wanted one of Cassandra Nguyen’s but they are $2500.00 So I made her this one with your help. It’s 9 feet long and made of a quilted material and heavy courderois, with a hidden pocket inside.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/20725893@N00/4208947409/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/20725893@N00/4208946471/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/20725893@N00/4209710964/in/photostream/
(Not so) high heels | PW Style | A blog about style, fashion, beauty, arts and culture by Philadelphia Weekly says:
[...] of high heels I tend to forget that there’s a large portion of ladies (like our favorite Emily G) who do not share in my enjoyment of tip toeing around in four and five-inch [...]
What To Do This Weekend | PW Style | A blog about style, fashion, beauty, arts and culture by Philadelphia Weekly says:
[...] the lovely PB&Js by My Paper Crane, below. (I’m dedicating this event to Emily G., who’s giant squid pillow still sticks in my memory of Style blog associations.) Jack McBrearty will be performing at the [...]
This may be the best plushie tutorial ever. #_#
Finally, the perfect addition to my 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea room.
im lost on the head and legs being attached to the body.. HELP? ):
It’s name is squiddhartha… brilliant.
wow…she has a LOT of free time…but i MUST have one
My first sewing project.
A lot of work, but so much fun!
http://i44.tinypic.com/2z5nj13.jpg
I’m going to make one! I can’t see the gallery, though; I just get a blank page.
I made mine out of some flannel i had laying around, so its a little different, but, I also got one eye made, and decided, I kind of liked the one eye look, so i moved it to the center, his name is Shirley.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30900726&id=62400986
TBM… « Savalou Blogged says:
[...] awesome squid pillow gamer quilt (like this tetris one) tetris necklace iris folding (looks so much fun!) spirella [...]
i.need.it. will flannel work too? how long does it take to make? i was planning to make one over the summer… btw WAT IS PIECE 5 FOR?????
I just finished mine! My boyfriend gave me a snuggy for xmas a couple of years ago (why you ask?! joke gift)… anyway, it has been reincarnated as “Squiddita” the snuggly giant squid, and I’m about to give it to him as a birthday present
Blame it on the Ovaries « Open Source Stitches says:
[...] almost 21 years old, and I want one of these things! Who wouldn’t want an 8-foot-tall giant squid body pillow?! Thank you, Philadelphia [...]
i’m making mine now! i’ll be sure to send you pictures when it’s done!
Just wondering, are the pattern pieces shown to scale? I’m an awful artist and was considering getting the pattern enlarged at FedEx Kinkos.
My two friends and I have a squid joke, so I’m making three of these that are half the size.
Thanks for the pattern, this will be about 100 times easier!
Wow!!!! I absolutely love this! Its so squishy and huggable looking!!! I totally am gonna have to make one of these!! It will be perfect for my dorm XD
I just learned how to use a sewing machine… I’m going to give this giant squid a try! Its funny because I’m going to give my giant squid to my boyfriend as a present as well!!! ^^
I’ll send you pictures as soon as I finish it
Hmm… I might make one in red over the summer holidays, if I have the time (and the money for materials). Thx for publishing this, I’ve been wanting to make another plushie (I’ve already made a silvery baby gryphon). I’ll post it when it’s done. That is… If it ever gets done!
Me again! Mine is about 1/4 done. It’s a classic squid-red colour with big cute eyes:)
AWWWWW! I need to make one of those…. Or 2. They’re so cute!
Awesome pattern!
I made one of these about two months ago, and it was pretty fun. The finished product is here: http://mizutaka.deviantart.com/art/KEITO-the-NINJA-SQUID-174162622
Love the pattern. I had to make one. I named him Steve. It turns out Steve is sort of a party animal. He is currently in Boston. but I am sure he will be having fun where ever he is.http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#!/album.php?id=1565839978&aid=2072911
This is amazing!! I’m getting some fleece for my birthday so I can make my own. His name is going to be Bo Squiddly. I wish the gallery worked though so I can see other people’s squids.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs458.ash2/73142_1628043191261_1542013476_1500678_1824052_n.jpg
His name is Frank
an 18th birthday present for my friend Sam.
Thanks for sharing the pattern this will really be helpful to me when I decided making one squid pillow for my own.
I’ll post pictures soon, but this was definitely a difficult project for my first sewing machine. To be honest though, it turned out amazing. So thank you very much for the pattern and I’ll post pictures as soon as I finish his cape
This pattern is so great, thanks a bunch! I’ll send pictures soon :]
You are fabulous. I am going to make one as soon as possible and sen YOU an email.
I made one for my friend the other night. This is my friend Mike with the now dubbed~~ Grandmaster Skwiddlz. lol. I’ve been asked by like 5+ people to make more. thanks for the pattern! ;] https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/284294_126438770776401_126437640776514_207367_3432804_n.jpg
F*ckin¡¦ awesome issues here. I am very happy to peer your post. Thanks so much and i’m looking ahead to contact you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?
LOVED it!!! i made my own, half the size, but adorable none the less! thanks for the pattern!
Welcome August! | Paganites says:
[...] squid fan in me wants to make an eight foot squid pillow that or have a tentacle couch. Maybe in our new [...]
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I do accept as true with all of the concepts you’ve offered in your post. They’re really convincing and can certainly work. Nonetheless, the posts are too quick for starters. May just you please lengthen them a little from next time? Thanks for the post.
Good post, I just forwarded the link to a cousin who was doing a little research on this. Thanks again.
i made one bigger!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nearly… finished… but it’s after midnight… but it’s so close to completion… but my back hurts so much… It’ll be so worth it when it’s done. I will finish stuffing and stitching my giant purple squid shut tomorrow and will send pics shortly thereafter.
Gonna make them the third of that size and give them out as Christmas presents! So excited!
This is my Christmas present. I can’t wait toward on it. Mine is bright blue and polka dotted inside!
Hi!
I saw this post last summer and were amazed! I made one 9,5 feet long squid for my husband this Christmas. I tried to email you photo, but there is something wrong with your email I guess
contact me, if you like – mine is a little bit different.
http://carpe-diem-anamb.blogspot.com/2013/01/divovska-lignja-giant-squid.html
made this for a guy i liked….. he is now my boyfriend hahah!!
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