Introduction: How to Get Wookie Hugs (aka Make a Wookie Pillow)
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About: I like to think of myself as a renaissance man. I'm interested in a lot of things, but most importantly I'm interested in learning, being capable, and doing things for myself. I've learned to knit, sew, and ma…
Look at that wookie. Doesn't he look so soft and warm and fluffy? Don't you just want a big Chewbacca hug? I know I do. So I decided to make a Chewbacca pillow.
If you're unfamiliar with who Chewbacca is, or for that matter who wookies are, here's a backstory. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away there was an alien race called wookies who lived on the planet Kashyyk and they gave the most amazing hugs. There was also an evil emperor who was so mean that he didn't want anyone to get any wonderfully soft wookie hugs, so he enslaved them all so no one could get hugs and feel happy. Boo, mean emperor.
Han Solo was a smuggler who saved the mighty wookie Chewbacca from the emperor and as a reward got a lifetime supply of wookie hugs. Later Chewbacca helped defeat the emperor and free all of the wookies so that everyone else could have wookie hugs too and the whole galaxy could be happy. YAY!
It's a beautiful story until you realize that you don't get any of those wonderful wookie hugs... unless of course you make this pillow! I actually made this for son for Christmas. I hope he likes it!
If you're unfamiliar with who Chewbacca is, or for that matter who wookies are, here's a backstory. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away there was an alien race called wookies who lived on the planet Kashyyk and they gave the most amazing hugs. There was also an evil emperor who was so mean that he didn't want anyone to get any wonderfully soft wookie hugs, so he enslaved them all so no one could get hugs and feel happy. Boo, mean emperor.
Han Solo was a smuggler who saved the mighty wookie Chewbacca from the emperor and as a reward got a lifetime supply of wookie hugs. Later Chewbacca helped defeat the emperor and free all of the wookies so that everyone else could have wookie hugs too and the whole galaxy could be happy. YAY!
It's a beautiful story until you realize that you don't get any of those wonderful wookie hugs... unless of course you make this pillow! I actually made this for son for Christmas. I hope he likes it!
Step 1: Supplies
You will need:
-Faux fur: Amount and type can vary. It depends on on what size you're going for and what you want your wookie to be like.
-Some scrap fabric for the face: I used a combination of flannel and felt
-Stuffing
-Eyes: I used buttons
-Needles, Thread, and Sewing Machine
-Wide Silver Ribbon
-Black strap or Ribbon
-Faux fur: Amount and type can vary. It depends on on what size you're going for and what you want your wookie to be like.
-Some scrap fabric for the face: I used a combination of flannel and felt
-Stuffing
-Eyes: I used buttons
-Needles, Thread, and Sewing Machine
-Wide Silver Ribbon
-Black strap or Ribbon
Step 2: The Pattern
I started by getting the right size and shape. I folded the fabric over and then placed the button eyes and some scrap fabric in place to make sure it looked alright. Then I cut the fur into two identitical rectangles.
Then I drew a pattern for the mouth on a piece of paper, cut into separate pieces, and traced it onto the fabric.
The teeth I traced onto white felt. The tongue I traced onto red flannel. The background on the mouth area was done with brown fabric.
At this point I wasn't sure what I was going to do with the nose so I had a paper nose standing in.
For the bandoleer I just layed the strap diagonally across and cut it a few inches too long. The little grey "pouches" I made by cutting grey ribbon into sections long enough to wrap completely around the strap.
Then I drew a pattern for the mouth on a piece of paper, cut into separate pieces, and traced it onto the fabric.
The teeth I traced onto white felt. The tongue I traced onto red flannel. The background on the mouth area was done with brown fabric.
At this point I wasn't sure what I was going to do with the nose so I had a paper nose standing in.
For the bandoleer I just layed the strap diagonally across and cut it a few inches too long. The little grey "pouches" I made by cutting grey ribbon into sections long enough to wrap completely around the strap.
Step 3: The Odds and Ends
I wrapped the ribbons around the strap and used the sewing machine to sew it in place. I just sewed a line down either side.
I chose to sew all of the mouth pieces together separately from the fur because I thought it would be easier that way. It turned out very well so I'm glad I went with that method.
I hand stitched the tongue in place. You can see that I left a little extra fabric on the bottom so that it would be secured behind the teeth when I sewed them on.
Once the tongue was in place I sewed the bootom teeth in place and then the top teeth. I didn't use the sewing machine for any of the mouth. If the picture with it is causing any confusion I was using the built in light for the picture because the room was kind of dark.
I chose to sew all of the mouth pieces together separately from the fur because I thought it would be easier that way. It turned out very well so I'm glad I went with that method.
I hand stitched the tongue in place. You can see that I left a little extra fabric on the bottom so that it would be secured behind the teeth when I sewed them on.
Once the tongue was in place I sewed the bootom teeth in place and then the top teeth. I didn't use the sewing machine for any of the mouth. If the picture with it is causing any confusion I was using the built in light for the picture because the room was kind of dark.
Step 4: Coming Together
I sewed the eyes and the mouth on. Then I finally decided on black felt for the nose and sewed that on.
I also attached the bandoleer to the main body with a few hidden stitches here and there behind the edge of the ribbons.
After everything was done I put the second piece of fur over top of the first and pinned them together inside out. You can see the ends of the bandoleer protruding from the sides. Those will get sewn into the hem.
Then I sewed the two pieces together leaving a small hole at the bottom for inverting and stuffing.
I also attached the bandoleer to the main body with a few hidden stitches here and there behind the edge of the ribbons.
After everything was done I put the second piece of fur over top of the first and pinned them together inside out. You can see the ends of the bandoleer protruding from the sides. Those will get sewn into the hem.
Then I sewed the two pieces together leaving a small hole at the bottom for inverting and stuffing.
Step 5: Stuff It!
Try not to think about how terrified Chewie looks at what's about to happen.
Invert the pillow and stuff as much stuffing as you can, or want, in.
Once it's filled to your satisfaction sew the hole up. There are various stitches out there meant to be concealed stitches, but with the fur it's really not all that easy to see any stitching anyway.
Invert the pillow and stuff as much stuffing as you can, or want, in.
Once it's filled to your satisfaction sew the hole up. There are various stitches out there meant to be concealed stitches, but with the fur it's really not all that easy to see any stitching anyway.
Step 6: Finished!
Now you've got a wookie to hug! Unfortunately you'll have to do most of the work, since he doesn't have arms or hands, but just think how cozy he'll be next time you want to curl up and watch your favorite Star Wars movie!
And he shouldn't have any problem at all evading the Empire because he can smuggle himself anywhere concealed as a pillow!
And he shouldn't have any problem at all evading the Empire because he can smuggle himself anywhere concealed as a pillow!