Plush Super Mario Block with Sound

This life-size Super Mario question mark block plays random Mario sounds when you hit it at the bottom. The step-by-step Instructable explains how you can make one yourself. Design and development by Piem Wirtz and Simon de Bakker.

Plush Mario Sound Block from Piem Wirtz on Vimeo.

Tools
sewing machine
iron
crochet needle
pins
needle & thread
hot glue gun
scissors
cutting mat
sharp kitchen knife
ruler
wire stripper
small screwdriver

Materials
70 cm yellow fleece (140 cm wide), cut into 6 squares (32x32 cm)
question mark template
white and black fleece or felt
fusible interfacing
yellow and white thread
yellow zipper (Optilong, 60 cm)
yellow rope
snap hook
packing rope
custom sound module (order at Simbits)
2 AA batteries
adhesive backed velcro
2 firm plastic sheets (30.5x30.5 cm)
4 light rubber bars (30x5x5 cm)
1 sheet of soft foam rubber (0.5 cm thick)
double-sided tape
aluminum foil
1 flexible plastic sheet

Step 1 The Cover

The yellow cover with the question marks is the eye-catcher of your Mario block. You pull it over the frame later on, so it gets it's final shape.

Question Marks
1. Iron the fusible interfacing to the backside of the white fleece. Make sure you leave the protection in place on the other side of the interfacing.
2. Use the question mark template to transfer the drawing onto the white fleece. Cut the shape out of the fabric. Repeat for the second mark.
3. Cut strips of black fleece to create the drop-shadows on the side of the question marks.
4. Position the question marks and black strips on a yellow square and iron them on. Put a piece of cotton or baking paper between the iron and the fleece so the interfacing will not stick to your iron.
5. For added durability, sew around the question mark (optional).

Cube
6. Pin four yellow squares together (right sides facing each other) to create the walls of the block. Make sure you alternate between a plain square and a square with a question mark. Stitch them together on the sides. You have approximately 1 cm margin for the seams.
7. Take another square and pin it to the top. All right sides facing inwards. Stitch completely around all edges.
8. Take the last square and pin it to the bottom. Leave two sides open! Stitch two sides.
9. Align one side of the zipper along the bottom of the cube. Check that you do not position it inside-out! (You can fasten it with one pin, turn outside-in and see how the zipper will end up.) If all is correct, pin it and sew loosely by hand. Remove the pins.
10. Open the zipper and align the other side to the walls of the cube. Pin and sew by hand.
11. Sew the zipper with the sewing machine. Tip: start sewing with the zipper half-opened. When you reach the pulling tag of the zipper, you cannot pass it with the machine because the tag is too wide. Release the presser foot of the machine. Gently pull the cover towards you so you can reach the zipper tag. Close the zipper, re-position the presser foot and continue sewing.
12. Remove the hand-sewn thread, open the zipper and turn the cover outside-in.

Your cover is now finished.

Comments

[jessyratfink]

This is awesome! Great work. :D