Introduction: A 7' Spider for Halloween...
So first time post many year reader, so be gentle (Like we have not heard that one before...).
Here is a spider I started making a few years ago out of plastic. This year he get's an upgrade to Ripstop Nylon or parachute material.
Items needed...
7 2/3 yards black Ripstop Nylon. I got it on ebay $4.50/yd it was 60".
28.5 feet 1/2" pvc pipe.
8 - 1/2" pvc 45 degree elbows.
8 - 1/2" pvc end caps.
PVC Cement.
16 - 1/2" copper pipe hangers.
2' x 3' x 3/4" plywood.
2 - 2" x 4" x 24".
6 - 2 1/2" galvenized screws.
32 - 1 1/2" galvenized screws.
1 - 42 gallon contractor trash bag, about 32" x 46".
18" of sticky velcro
Stuffing - Living in New England I used 4 - contractor bags full of leaves.
Tools needed...
Sewing machine.
Scissors.
Rotary cutter and mat - Optional makes cutting legs much easier.
Large roll of black polyester thread.
4 -5 bobins loaded with the black polyester thread.
Pencil.
Silver permanent marker.
Yard stick.
Tape Measure.
Square.
Hand saw and mitre box.
Circular or Sabre Saw.
Cordless or Corded drill.
1/8" drill bit.
#1 Phillips screw bit.
A broom.
Here is a spider I started making a few years ago out of plastic. This year he get's an upgrade to Ripstop Nylon or parachute material.
Items needed...
7 2/3 yards black Ripstop Nylon. I got it on ebay $4.50/yd it was 60".
28.5 feet 1/2" pvc pipe.
8 - 1/2" pvc 45 degree elbows.
8 - 1/2" pvc end caps.
PVC Cement.
16 - 1/2" copper pipe hangers.
2' x 3' x 3/4" plywood.
2 - 2" x 4" x 24".
6 - 2 1/2" galvenized screws.
32 - 1 1/2" galvenized screws.
1 - 42 gallon contractor trash bag, about 32" x 46".
18" of sticky velcro
Stuffing - Living in New England I used 4 - contractor bags full of leaves.
Tools needed...
Sewing machine.
Scissors.
Rotary cutter and mat - Optional makes cutting legs much easier.
Large roll of black polyester thread.
4 -5 bobins loaded with the black polyester thread.
Pencil.
Silver permanent marker.
Yard stick.
Tape Measure.
Square.
Hand saw and mitre box.
Circular or Sabre Saw.
Cordless or Corded drill.
1/8" drill bit.
#1 Phillips screw bit.
A broom.
Step 1: We Are Making a Template...
Start by triming off the tie tabs on the trash bag (if there are some).
In the next picture open the bag up and cut down the two sides.
The next picture we open up the bag then halve it the length of the open bag.
Next from the left hand side measure over 17" we'll call this point A.
Then from the left measure over 6.5" then from the 6.5", up 10" we'll call that point B.
Now connect point A and point B.
The next picture from the left at the 10" mark measure up 3", we can call this point C. As show in the picture draw a swoop from point B to point C then swoop again just above point B try and keep it straight near the top.
Next from the middle measure left 14" we will call this point D. Then from the middle measure up 10", we will call this point E. Draw a line between these two points.
Next at the top middle measure to the right 36" we can call this point F. Connect point E to point F with a b ig swooping line as shown in the picture. As you come to point F try to keep the line straight.
Now cut out your template.
Important note - I did not take a picture but I folded the bag in half body to abdoman then half again. I had to take an extra inch off of the bottom as my cloth was only 60" wide and the template was 33". Use your jugment measure the material halved and your template and cut what you need.
In the next picture open the bag up and cut down the two sides.
The next picture we open up the bag then halve it the length of the open bag.
Next from the left hand side measure over 17" we'll call this point A.
Then from the left measure over 6.5" then from the 6.5", up 10" we'll call that point B.
Now connect point A and point B.
The next picture from the left at the 10" mark measure up 3", we can call this point C. As show in the picture draw a swoop from point B to point C then swoop again just above point B try and keep it straight near the top.
Next from the middle measure left 14" we will call this point D. Then from the middle measure up 10", we will call this point E. Draw a line between these two points.
Next at the top middle measure to the right 36" we can call this point F. Connect point E to point F with a b ig swooping line as shown in the picture. As you come to point F try to keep the line straight.
Now cut out your template.
Important note - I did not take a picture but I folded the bag in half body to abdoman then half again. I had to take an extra inch off of the bottom as my cloth was only 60" wide and the template was 33". Use your jugment measure the material halved and your template and cut what you need.
Step 2: Cutting Out the Boday and the Legs...
Depending on where you get your material, measure off 7' and halve it good side to good side so it should measure 30" x 7'. Most all material has what is called a good and a bad side. Try to keep an edge of the template along the fold for less sewing on the body and abdoman. Lay your pattern on the material and trace as shown. Then cut it out.
Next find the center of the abdoman and put your rotary board inbetween the two pieces. Draw an 18" line down the middle and cut it with the rotary cutter. Now put the body aside, it is time for legs.
Now measure off 16' which should be the rest of your material. Now roll it as shown so its 60" by about 18". Cut off the salvage edge. Keep the sides square on the rotary cutter and make sure the width of the material is the same.
Next measure every foot and mark on both sides for four feet.
Now using your rotary cutter and mat cut them every foot four times.
This gives us 4 pieces at 12" x 16'.
Next find the center of the abdoman and put your rotary board inbetween the two pieces. Draw an 18" line down the middle and cut it with the rotary cutter. Now put the body aside, it is time for legs.
Now measure off 16' which should be the rest of your material. Now roll it as shown so its 60" by about 18". Cut off the salvage edge. Keep the sides square on the rotary cutter and make sure the width of the material is the same.
Next measure every foot and mark on both sides for four feet.
Now using your rotary cutter and mat cut them every foot four times.
This gives us 4 pieces at 12" x 16'.
Step 3: Now We Sew...
I am not going to go into detail on how to sew. Just that I used a polyester thread and a medium zig zag stitch. When starting and stopping reverse then go forwared to strengthen the start and stop. When you get to the two points where the body and the abdomen meet reverse back and forth a couple times for strength. I then put an 18" peice of velcro along the slit we made in the previous step. I bought the sticky kind. When done with velcro and sewing, reach in through the slit to the fangs and turn it right side out. Then stick the opposite side of the velcro to the other side. This is to close it up after you fill it.
Sewing the legs is not to bad. First of the four pieces cut them each in half to get 8 - 8' pieces. To sew fold each one in half the 8' length good side to good and sew down one short end then down one long leaving the third short side open. Now you should have 8 legs and the body all sewn.
Sewing the legs is not to bad. First of the four pieces cut them each in half to get 8 - 8' pieces. To sew fold each one in half the 8' length good side to good and sew down one short end then down one long leaving the third short side open. Now you should have 8 legs and the body all sewn.
Step 4: Creating a Base and the Skeleton for the Legs...
Like sewing i won't go into to much detail on plumbing, other than using the hand saw and mitre box cut the PVC pipe to 8 @ 9" and 8 @ 30". Using the PVC glue, I glued the elbows to the 9" pieces and the caps to the 30" pieces. Optional if you want to glue the 9" pieces to the 30" pieces. I did not as there is a storage issue once it is all together.
Center the body of the template on the plywood as shown in the picture. On the four corners since the width of the plywood is 6" less than the width of the template I moved the lines in 2 more inches. Cut these four lines and mark the front of the plywood. On both ends of the plywood mount the 2"x4"'s. As show in the picture align the edge of the 2"x4" at the corner on both sides for front and back. Using 3 - 2 1/2" screws per 2"x4" pre drill then screw them in each 2"x4"
Now we need to draw the lines to mount the lower part of the skeletal legs.
On the front to the right from the center line of the 2"x4" measure to the left 6" and draw a 10" square line. Repeat on the other side. From the same center line draw a 3" line to the right and draw a 10" square line, also repeat on the other side.
On the back end of the plywood from the center line measure towards the front 3" and draw a 10" square line on both sides. On the two back corners measure 6" toward the 2"x4" and draw a 10" square line for both sides. We should now have 8 - 10" lines.
Now we mount the 8 - 9" pieces of PVC. For each one first just start two 1 1/4" screws with two copper hangers. Then turn them over and align the middle of the elbow with the edge of the plywood and put the other two 1 1/4" screws. Repeat for all 8. Now you can add the 8 - 30" pieces.
Center the body of the template on the plywood as shown in the picture. On the four corners since the width of the plywood is 6" less than the width of the template I moved the lines in 2 more inches. Cut these four lines and mark the front of the plywood. On both ends of the plywood mount the 2"x4"'s. As show in the picture align the edge of the 2"x4" at the corner on both sides for front and back. Using 3 - 2 1/2" screws per 2"x4" pre drill then screw them in each 2"x4"
Now we need to draw the lines to mount the lower part of the skeletal legs.
On the front to the right from the center line of the 2"x4" measure to the left 6" and draw a 10" square line. Repeat on the other side. From the same center line draw a 3" line to the right and draw a 10" square line, also repeat on the other side.
On the back end of the plywood from the center line measure towards the front 3" and draw a 10" square line on both sides. On the two back corners measure 6" toward the 2"x4" and draw a 10" square line for both sides. We should now have 8 - 10" lines.
Now we mount the 8 - 9" pieces of PVC. For each one first just start two 1 1/4" screws with two copper hangers. Then turn them over and align the middle of the elbow with the edge of the plywood and put the other two 1 1/4" screws. Repeat for all 8. Now you can add the 8 - 30" pieces.
Step 5: Stuffing the Stuffing Out of It...
Now to stuff him. I used leaves as they are quite in abundance in New England. Turn each leg right side out. But then start to turn them inside out just half way this is so as you stuff it and gently tamp it with a broom handle it is easyer. I would put about 10 handfulls in at a time and tamp. In between each group I would unravel a little more until the end and I would leave about 6" unstuffed for draping at the plywood. Repeat 8 times. As for the body keep stuffing until you can not, and close the vecro.
Step 6:
Now with the seem side down gently slide each leg over the 30" capped piece of PVC. Don't try to slide it through the center of the leaves have the PVC between the material and leaves.
Then place the body on the plywood and pull it a little forward. And there you have it, a nice guard spider for the house. If you leave it on the ground be carefull that small children do not try to ride it and break it. Also because it is on my roof I use fishing line to space the legs out and keep them in place.
Then place the body on the plywood and pull it a little forward. And there you have it, a nice guard spider for the house. If you leave it on the ground be carefull that small children do not try to ride it and break it. Also because it is on my roof I use fishing line to space the legs out and keep them in place.