Thingamaplush Robot

Step 3 Mark Out the Fabric

You may use my pattern to make your Thingamaplush's body, or design one of your own! However, note that the electronics are designed to fit inside a 3x3x3 inch head, so if you do design a different body then you may have to modify the electronics accordingly (ie. adding wires instead of soldering the pots and LEDs directly to the board)

I decided a cube-shaped robot would look great for this, and I gave it a cute anime-style face to match. For the fabric I used fluorescent green artificial suede, because it's tough and doesn't stretch. Black suede is used for the face, arms and legs. Small bits of semi-opaque nylon fabric are used for the eyes, mouth and photocell hands so that light can get through.

In total, I used about 12x36" of green suede, 12x12" of black suede, and less than 6x4" of white nylon.

Of course, you may use whatever you like, but I do suggest using a fabric that does not stretch for the body!

Cut from green suede:

The head is larger than the body (it looks cuter that way - remember, this is for a two-year-old girl!) The PCB I designed is 3x3, so to accommodate the board with a bit of breathing room, mark out six 3.75x3.75" squares on the fabric. This will give a 0.25" seam around all the edges, and 1/8" of room for the board on all sides.

Mark out the area of the face that will be cut out on one square (2x2"). On three squares, find the exact center so that holes for the neck and potentiometers can be cut. On one square mark out the centers of the switches (this is the top of the head). Leave one square blank (this is the back of the head). Cut out the squares and set them aside.

Next draw out the squares for the body. The body is 2x2x2", so draw six squares that are 2.5x2.5". This will give a 0.25" seam on all sides. On two squares mark the positions of the arms (centered and 0.75" from the top). On one square mark the positions of the legs. On one square find the exact center, for mounting the neck. Leave the last two squares blank. Cut these out and set them aside, too.

Finally, mark out the patterns for the hands and feet and cut them out as well. I used lids from various bottles as stencils.

Cut from black suede:

Mark out the patterns for the arms, hands, legs and soles of the feet. Cut them out.

Mark out a 3x3" square for the face, and draw the face on the back. You don't have to use the same design as I did, but remember the LEDs are positioned on the board such that they shine through the eyes. If you design a different face you may need to position the LEDs differently. Cut out the face and set it aside.

Cut from white nylon:

This fabric is semi-opaque, so that light from the LEDs can shine through, and so that light can reach the photocells. For the face, cut a 2x2" square of nylon. For the hands, cut two 1/2" squares.

Handy Cut List:

Green Suede:

6 pieces 3.75" x 3.75" (head)
6 pieces 2.5" x 2.5" (body)
2 pieces 3/4 semicircles, 0.66" inside diameter, 1.66" outside diameter (foot tops)
2 pieces 1.75" x 1" (hand "tops")
2 pairs (4 pieces total) hand "sides," 1.5" long by 1" high (as per picture)

Black Suede:

1 piece 3" x 3" (with face cut)
2 pieces 5" x 1.87" (arms)
2 pieces 4" x 1.87" (legs)
2 pieces 1.75" diameter circles (foot soles)

White Nylon:

1 piece 2" x 2" (facial features)
2 pieces 0.5" x 0.5" (hand sensor covers)