#laoshugan

STEP 1: GETTING THE DAMN MODEL SET

Prepare a 3d model of your blorbo in an A-pose or a T-pose on blender, CSP, DAZ, MikuMikuDance etc. For this example, I would be using Wesker from Sketchfab on blender*. You can usually find 3d models on deviantart, etc too! If you cannot find any, you can always commission many 3d model artists!

(if you are commissioning someone, remember to ask if it is okay for you to do this with what they have created! keep in mind about copyrights even for downloaded models and all of that, too.)

Generally, 3d models already come in an A-pose or a T-pose! So we usually just need to take a photo of the model with a transparent background so it's easy to print & sew!

*Please note that I am not in any way actually qualified to troubleshoot because I can barely use blender lmao

this example is on blender, but you can always apply the same idea on mmd, daz, etc, etc.

OPTIONAL (if you are not making your own camera/light set up). This is a link on google drive to my .blend file that already has the light + cameras to easily copy paste. Open the light.blend file on blender, then select all of these and copy it (Shift + click at each part, ctrl + c or cmd + c)

2. Then open a new .blend, and import your model. I usually use fbx lol. Then press ctrl + v or cmd + v to paste the cameras and shit

3. Make sure that the textures are good, and turn off any pesky armatures if you don't need to pose him. (usually it would look like a dancing green man on the right, and just click the eye on that to turn it off)

4. Then, click the view by camera

it should look like this. Your character may be facing you depending on what the .fbx was initially saved as lol

5. Make the background transparent (by clicking the camera symbol on the right, and then going to film and make sure transparent is checked)

it should now look like this:

6. finally! it's render time, baby! click render > render image. and a new screen will pop up.

on the new screen, click image > save (as .png)

final image:

7. Now we just need to do the same thing for his front facing part! To do so, select the model (I usually just click + drag them, and make sure that none of the lights camera etc on the right are highlighted as orange, because that means that we have accidentally selected more than what he wanted. We just wanna make sure the model is the only thing that is selected). When selected, the model should turn orange:

8. press N so you can see the XYZ position axis of the model. And then click the armature for the model (the one with the green man) then, on the rotation (the field that says 0d in blue there), change the Z value to be: 180 (if the starting point is 0), OR to 0 (if the starting point is 180)

9. the boy should be flipped. lol

10. repeat step 6, and now you have the front and back part of the model!

11. optional: since I am shit at adjusting lights on blender, I edit my light on CSP to make it look less murky lol. The final version should look like this:

For step 2, there are two options: either you order a custom one from a seller (generally from taobao, aliexpress, etsy (for the small one), etc)* or make it by hand (because it is possible LMAO). I have listed both options here.

*because this trend originated in china (afaik, since the name first circulated on rednote last I checked lol) it should not be a surprise that the sellers that are available atm are based on china & are using chinese platforms!

BUT, if you can support someone who is doing this locally, do so! (I certainly would if I could)

STEP 2 (option a): ordering the model!

If you are ordering via aliexpress/taobao/etsy/etc, make sure that you:

check the size that you are ordering (generally they are 10cm, 25cm, 30cm, and ... well, 180cm (I got mine from this seller, where I got my 180cm raphael)* (note: it has been brought to my attention that this seller took down their listing 💔 if I find another, I will list it here!)

Check with the seller how they want to receive the file (they usually list the steps on the description).

Most of the time, you may need to message them first to see if they can make the custom order. If they say yes, then you can put in the order. They usually would ask you (or you can ask them) to email the HQ picture of the model. IMPORTANT (for aliexpress): some of these sellers rely on alibaba translate when communicating. So be sure to be clear with your language while being polite and kind! limit the use of emojis unless necessary. This is just so it is easy for the automated system to translate for them! (in china, afaik based on my chinese speaking cousins, for these sellers: 🌹 after saying thank you is seen as polite. and the usual ☺️ emoji is also seen as polite. they may send you a :kiss: back, but thats just like a thank you gesture lol)

IMPORTANT 2: I cannot say whether or not these sellers are always reliable. these sellers are reliable on my experience. BUT i have had experiences with other sellers (not mentioned) where sometimes things go smoothly, sometimes they don't! even though they are the same seller! so please, proceed with care, read the reviews! read the rules on how to claim a refund or ask for a return if things go wrong.

3. keep an eye out as necessary for messages from them throughout the production time! sometimes they may need to reach out to confirm if you are ok with the final mock up etc. Disclaimer: again, if it is not clear, I am not in any way promoting/affiliated/paid to promote the sellers i have mentioned. i am just sharing the ones I have used if you are curious. you can always do your own research as well to see if they are reliable or if any other ones are reliable or not.

STEP 2 (option b): making the doll yourself

i see that you have decided to take on a really important task for us all.

I am going to give you a listed step by step on how to technically make one. But i myself have never made one physically, only in my head. and these steps are based on my general doll making experience. but hopefully when I make haarlep next, I will be able to attach more pics for visualization.

prepare thy picture for printing. I personally use CSP to add borders outside of the png model to make it easier to know where to cut and where to sew.

if not, you can technically just send the pic w/o border to be printed as a pattern. and just use a marker later to mark where you need to cut manually

2. Print the fabric!

some notes: a) If you are a beginner, get it printed on stretchy fleece fabric so you dont have to serge/hem the edges, and so its easy to sew.

there are multiple options on where to print fabrics, I usually use spoonflower, but you may have local printshops who offer this as well! just make sure it is not the kind that you print on inkjet/laser then iron on fabric. Sometimes these iron on decals are not stretchy enough and are prone to cracking when bending the doll

b) make sure that when you are printing it on fabric that you have the scale of the model correct! (for the tiny ones, usually you need to make sure the model comes out to be 25-30cm), always chat with the production team first before ordering to make sure that it comes out correct!

because sometimes they may even need to print at a specific size (i.e., 1yd x 1yd), you can probably ask your friends to join in and add the models they wanna print on a square png before sending it to the printing company!

3. OPTIONAL: if you want the model to bend,

prepare some wires that are bendable. You can even especially use long ass pipe cleaners if you want.

if you are making a life-size model, keep in mind the thickness of the wires. i notice that you have to use the ones that are almost hard to bend without two hands to maintain stability (theyre fucking heavy)

if you are feeling fancy, you can technically order a doll skeleton base online lol

Here is an illustration of how the pipe cleaners/wires should look like underneath the model:

4. buy some cheap ass pillow/doll fluff or gut a pillow.

5. sandwich front part and the back part right sides in. (wrong sides out)

remember, if you want it to look like a dried rat, you dont have to be perfect at sewing it.

sew as close as possible to the actual edge of the character so there wont be any white borders.

6. sew just partially. leave a hole on the left or on the right of the model (i usually leave room between the armpit area)

7. flip it inside out

8. shove the skeleton

9. shove the fluff (use chopsticks to get to hard to reach areas)

10. stitch close the hole

11. ????

12. profit

congratulations, you are now a proud owner of a doll of your blorbo as a dried rat!

i hope this helps! sorry that it is written super rough. you may choose to follow the instructions out of your own free will.

any opinions mentioned here are of my own. it is within your free will to stop following these at any step at any point.