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Special-Measures — Rainbow Dash Tail Tutorial
by-nd
Published: 2013-03-04 00:14:49 +0000 UTC; Views: 14460; Favourites: 136; Downloads: 114
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Description
So here we have a step by step tutorial on how to make a tail for a Rainbow Dash plush, I found this super difficult - and documented the 2nd attempt so hopefully you can learn from my mistakes!== Advice:==
-Scale: I copied Voodoo-Tiki's pattern down from the screen by hand and without seam allowance it came out 13" or 33cm high, the tail pattern I made here was about as small as I could get it, with the body join being about 0.5 cm thickness per colour stripe, fattening out to about 2.5 cm for the orange and yellow colours.
-Time to make: In total I spent about 6 hours on this in an afternoon (+ another 6 for my failed 1st attempt) - you have to draw and cut a pattern, cut iron on interfacing, cut fabric, draw seam allowance before you can even START sewing! And the tail is made of 12 parts!
- Sewing curves: This is the trickiest part of the whole tail, you have to sew facing curves which are also known as drunkards curves, and you dont have much space to go wrong. Check out this tut as the video goes a long way: shecanquilt.blogspot.co.uk/201… - I found it was also helpful to stop and pull the foot of the machine up regularly (with the needle down) to turn the fabric so you stay on course.
- Attaching to the body: I made this mane/tail pattern to fit with Voodoo's body pattern: voodoo-tiki.deviantart.com/art… - so when I was sewing the body, I left gaps for the mane/tail using temp stitching to keep shape, then I pulled the seams through the hole i left in the tummy and sewed across the gap i left. Doing the mane is tricky, I had to comprimise by splitting it in two and having the bottom half join at the nape of the neck.
== Links: ==
Matching pattern: special-measures.deviantart.co…
Sewing facing curves tutorial: shecanquilt.blogspot.co.uk/201…
The finished plush Rainbow Dash can be seen here: special-measures.deviantart.co…
Inspirational body pattern courtesy of Voodoo-Tiki: voodoo-tiki.deviantart.com/ and is here: voodoo-tiki.deviantart.com/art…
My first attempt, or how NOT to do it: special-measures.deviantart.co…
Feedback and credit would be appreciated
I'd like to hear from you if you use it!**Wow, it made it to 100 Favourites and 4000 views? Seriously thanks you guys! ^__^
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Comments: 18
I spent ages doing a tail like this when I made a Rainbow Dash plush, but it turned out to be WAY bigger than I wanted it to be. What size is your pony roughly?
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Hi, I copied Voodo-Tiki's pattern by hand and it is 13 inches (33cm) tall (without seam allowance) from top of head to bottom of hoof, The thickness of the tail I made here starts at 0.5cm where it joins the body, and gets thicker to about 2.5cm for yellow and green stripes at their widest points.
What i'd reccomend you do is cut out all your patterns first and lay them out next to each other so you can judge by eye how they look.
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Thanks! Your plush is much bigger than mine but I just don't think I measured it out properly
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At first it seems big but then you try get the little details in and its a total FUUUUU.jpg moment like.
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Wonderful tutorial! I'll be finishing my Rainbow Dash soon and definitely need this sort of guide so I don't screw it up royally.
Thank you!
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This is awesome! I had to learn the hard way--by myself--but this is sure to benefit anyone who wants to sew colors together but doesn't know how.
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Glad you think its awesome, getting feedback on how to get better is one of my goals, is there anything you would change?
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Hmm...well, I would say that the pieces don't have to be so thick, but that's a matter of taste really. Of course they can't be too thin either, or it'll look royally messy...I learned that the hard way too.
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omgosh you're my hero. ;-;
I've been trying to figure out how to make Rainbow Dash's mane and tail for ages. I'd just put it off. Thank you so much for whipping up this tutorial! 
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Thanks this helps I've never attempted a Rainbow Dash because I'm afraid of the tail
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Well it took me two goes to get it looking good enough, and i still wasn't 100% happy. Sewing the fabric face to face in the curves required can be tricky, so I'd have a seam ripper ready and review your progress as you go, and take it slow.
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thanks for the tips very helpful
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Ermagersh! This is exactly what I was looking for! Thank you so so so so much!
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Hah, glad you like it!
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Like it? I love it! 
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If you have difficulty with the facing fiddly curves, check out this tutorial: [link]
Helped me out no end
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Thanks! You're so helpful!
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