Introduction: Make a Moe Syzlak Doll

By
About: I am a domestic engineer, aka. a stay at home Mom. A former science geek, scenic carpenter, and quilter.

My 3 year old daughter loves the Simpsons (don't we all?), and she really loves Moe. She says 'I like him because he's always so angry.'
Well, I've been hunting for a Moe doll for her, and I can't find anything, so I decided to make one.


It's pretty simple, and takes about 2 hours.
You need:

Fabric
Sewing Machine/ Needle and thread
Markers
scissors
Stuffing
Pipe cleaner

Step 1: Print and Cut

Find a good picture of Moe. (use google image search)
Print it out to how big you want your doll. I made mine fit a standard piece of paper. Too small, and it's hard to make the doll.

Cut out your paper moe, and trace him onto your fabric. (onto the wrong side of the fabric). I am using a piece of pale yellow cotton fabric for the front of the doll, and a piece of fleece for the back, to make him soft and snugglie.

Note: I wasn't thinking, and traced Moe right side up, so when I make him, he will be facing the other way. Flip your moe upside down when you trace him.

Step 2: Sew

Now that Moe is traced, sew him.

Sew through both layers, following the line you traced. Be careful to keep the fabrics from bunching up. (You can pin them together if you'd like.)

Leave an opening so that you can turn him right side out. (I left about an inch on his back. You hand stitch this closed later)

here's a trick for sewing: when you get to a turn, put the needle down, lift up the presser foot, turn the fabric, put the foot back down, and keep sewing.

Go slow and steady, and try to stay on the line.

Step 3: Trim and Clip

Now that he's sewn up, cut off the extra fabric, and clip the corners. Then turn him right side out.

Turning takes patience, especially if he's on the small size. You can use tweezers, and the end of a pencil, etc. to help.

Step 4: Stuff Him

I wanted Moe to have some bendy legs, so I put a pipe cleaner in. Cut a pipe cleaner to the right size, and bend to the right shape. Make a little ball on the end of the pipe cleaner so that the wire doesn't poke through the doll. Wrap a little stuffing around the pipe cleaner and put it in the legs. Stuff the rest of moe. Make sure you stuff him pretty full, and get the stuffing into all the little crevasses.

Step 5: Sew Closed

Now sew him closed. I used the "Ladder stitch".

Step 6: Color Him In

Now for the fun part. Time to color him in. I used different color sharpies.
I did the lines with a fine tip sharpie, then colored the rest it. The markers bleed, so be careful. Apply near the line, then let it sink in. You might want to do the yellow first, then draw the lines after. (the yellow over the black made the black bleed a bit.

You could try fabric paint, or something else that might stop the bleeding. I had sharpies on hand, so that's what I used.


Moe also had a little hand towel. I gave him one on the prototype, but I didn't like it that much. I you want to add one, I used a scrap of terry cloth, and just sew it in place.

Step 7: Give Moe a Hug!

Now you have a Moe doll to call your own. Give him a nice big hug.

And keep him company so he doesn't have one of his "Christmas Accidents".


Now, an easier way to do this project would be to print him out in color, on an ink jet printer on an iron on transfer, but I only have a black ink printer. (and sharpies are more fun, and he looks more home made this way)

Now I'm going to try to make Barney.

Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!!!!!

Step 8: Funzo!

So this year for x-mas, the girls wanted Funzos ( from the simpsons). They're made the same way, ( no pipe cleaners in the legs though) They're made from an old white t-shirt, and they were a big hit under the x-mas tree this year.
They're soft and cuddly, although they don't have lots of fire power.



Homemade Holidays: Holiday Gifts

Participated in the
Homemade Holidays: Holiday Gifts