The Magnificent Sofa Suit! -Halloween Contest Entry

Step 5 Legs

This is probably the most difficult part.

For the overcomplex design that took about two hours to perfect, I take full credit.

Yesss!

Anyway.

Start by checking your calf measurements. Using the same method you did with the torso and hat, make a box for your leg. This ought to be overly wide to make some room for the armrests (i.e. your arms). Tape the edges together. Now cut a box with the same width and depth for your shin. Again, these measurements vary depending on your 'build'. Now attach the two together with a piece of tape on each side. Check the pictures if you'd like. Put a bit of tape the right length onto one segment with half of it (widthwise) hanging off. Press the tape onto the edge of the cardboard and affix the remaining tape onto the other segment. Repeat for the inside.

Now, the awesome part. Cut a strip of cardboard that will fit snugly within the segments. this should be about a foot and a half long. Score lines every inch or so and bend the cardboard over a hard surface. It should resemble a curve. Now trim this so it can fit between the leg segments when they are bent 90 degrees with about two inches of overlap on each side.

Now cut two strips a bit shorter than the segments and about three-quarters of an inch wide. Hot glue these to the inside of the top segment about an eighth of an inch away from the wall (in other words, just enough to let a piece of cardboard side between). Having said that, slide the rolled cardboard into the slot created. Tape and/or glue the other end onto the bottom segment. Now, flex the leg. In theory, the cardboard should slide up and down the tracks. If this doesn't work, try adding another piece of cardboard in the middle as a sort of stiffener.

Ta-da! If you managed to pull yourself through that narrative, you ought to have yourself a finish leg.

Now guess what's next?

Repeat for other side.

Ducky Boy:
Of course, how in the h e double hockey sticks (??????) can you put put it on? Why, straps of course!
However, it turns out Mr. Geoffrito had forgotten to write how to make these so called straps, and so I must do it myself.
Pah.

First we must make something to run over your shoulders and hook into the leg.
Hopefully you have some spare cloth lying around, not rope or string as it will either
a: Cut into your shoulder
or
b: Feel very, very uncomfortable.

Cut a long strip of cloth, this should be about your height minus the leg -- times two.
Add a foot or two so you don't run out.

Make a hole at the top + middle of the front of the leg and the back of the leg.
Thread/force the cloth strip into the hole, and tie a knot. Hot glue it secure and/or add a safety pin.

With a friend's help (Hello, Geoffrito) or by yourself, put the other end of the cloth strip into the back hole, while wearing the leg to adjust tightness of the strap.
I hope that made sense.

Make two of these, wear the legs, and cut another strip of cloth to run across the straps, resembling a sort of "Pair of suspenders." It should be on the tight side so the straps don't run off of your shoulders.

Now you can wear the leg(s) around!
But oh noes! :'( When you bend your leg and un-bend it, the leg might not go back into its original position!

No worries-- which is why Geoffrito came up with this sweet contraption which is arguably over-complex.

Find some string -- this string should be a couple feet long, and you will cut it in the end.
Tie one end onto the cloth strip, where your shoulder is. Hotglue it for security.
Remember that Cardboard strip used for the joint?
At the top of the strip, make a hole. Tie the other end of the string into the hole so it is tight, but not too tight.

When you sit down and bend the knee at a 90 degree angle, it should allow the bend, but when you stand up, the string is tight again and pulls the strip back in, making a much smoother joint.

^_