Plushie: easy design system for plush toys

I don't know which I like more: this software, which lets you easily design plush toy models and sewing patterns, or the video narrator's delightful accent. Link (Thanks, Saul!)

[#1 posted by cstatman , December 13, 2007 1:10 PM]

umm, errr, not that "I" would do it, but...

would this be a good tool for making furry suits?

[#2 posted by Father Brown , December 13, 2007 1:27 PM]

According to two Furries I know, they prefer working-up their "costumes" themselves...concept-initiation, planning, drafting, picking out fabrics, designing and construction are all important steps in adult costume-making.

Using software such as this takes away some of the thrill (I would think...)

This software does have a lot of potential. Who would've thought knitting and sewing would still have a place in our cultural lives this far into the game (2008)? I'm sure that right after fire was invented, somebody took two sticks and some dried vines and began knitting(!) - so software such as this is merely an extension of an ancient skill.

Just goes to show you how embedded "knitting archetypes" are in the human psyche!

great post!

[#3 posted by drivenbyboredom , December 13, 2007 2:19 PM]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=plushie

[#4 posted by help i cant comfirm my username themelonbread , December 13, 2007 2:28 PM]

This could be really cool for maybe a complicated concept like a Ctulhu plushie or something.

[#5 posted by EnglishNerd , December 13, 2007 2:33 PM]

I think this program is fun. I wonder if it could be used for designing items other than animals... And her accent is delightful.

[#6 posted by teuthis , December 13, 2007 2:40 PM]

Where! Where get! Want! I want it! Where! AAAAH! Lust!

This goes into my top 10 list of 21st century computer apps. It's just too amazingly easy looking!

[#7 posted by Alazon , December 13, 2007 2:44 PM]

Teuthis, if you didn't find it: Right on the site with the video, you can download the program as as windows exe. I encountered some hiccups with it, but I gave up pretty early since I'm not really into knitting - yet.

[#8 posted by teuthis , December 13, 2007 2:46 PM]

Ah.. excuse that last post. My eyes were too clouded with passion to see the link at the bottom of the page.

I'm sewing tonight!

[#9 posted by gabrielm , December 13, 2007 3:33 PM]

My first thought was that they ripped off TEDDY - an intuitive, sketch-based 3D modeling software that I heard about a few years ago. Then I realized that Takeo Igarashi worked on both programs. I love the new application and will have to try it out.

More on TEDDY:
http://www-ui.is.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~takeo/teddy/teddy.htm

[#10 posted by Evil Jim , December 13, 2007 6:39 PM]

Wow, that's really neat. Makes me wish I had any skill whatsoever in sewing. Still, it would be fun to play with the program for a while & try to convince one of my friends with a sewing machine to take a go at the pattern. Ectomo would love this for obvious reasons.

And yes, her accent is to die for. "Prushie" indeed.

[#11 posted by hoffmanbike , December 13, 2007 8:36 PM]

i have a 1957 singer 401a sewing machine that i use more then a few times a week (mostly for repairs) but in the near future I'd like to start making my own stuff or copying other peoples ideas (not for profit, just for my own use/experience) i.e. this NSFW idea :
http://www.liberator.com/products_silksash.php

[#12 posted by dbsboy , December 13, 2007 8:49 PM]

very cute! both the program and the accent

[#13 posted by noen , December 13, 2007 8:49 PM]

I've known about this for a long time. If I'd known it would interest you I would have posted it in "suggest a link".

Have you ever heard of TopMod Mark?

"TopMod3d can create models that can be developed into flat surfaces using software such as Pepakura, Lamina Design, Rhinoceros3D, and Paracloud. It can also create solid models that can be prototyped using various rapid prototyping technology."

It was originally developed by Dr. Ergun Akleman

" Topological Mesh Modeling is my main research direction and TopMod is a manifold mesh modeling system that includes all the work presented in our Topological Mesh Modeling papers. Using TopMod, you can find a wide variety of ways to create high genus shapes; almost all subdivision algorithms, wide variety of ways to remesh shapes, new extrusions and more."

It is now a Google App, like SketchUp. It's pretty fun to play with though you will need Blender or other 3D app to render your models with. It is of course open source.

[#14 posted by Daemon , December 14, 2007 3:28 PM]

I know a few people who will consider this to be one of the coolest bits of software made in the last decade or so.