Plush Dice
Wil Wheaton challenged the internet to create a full set of polyhedral gaming dice pillows. I may not actually send these to him, because my daughter loves them, and she is really cute.
These dice are good for rolling, kicking, bouncing, snuggling, etc. As a side bonus, if your character has to take 4 damage, it's easier to cope when that damage is dealt through the medium of a big fluffy polyhedron.
These dice are good for rolling, kicking, bouncing, snuggling, etc. As a side bonus, if your character has to take 4 damage, it's easier to cope when that damage is dealt through the medium of a big fluffy polyhedron.
Materials
Consumables:
Tools:
- Fleece (remnants work great!)
- Old t-shirt torn into strips
- Polyfill
- Thread
Tools:
- Cutting stuff
- Measuring stuff
- Sewing stuff
- Dice (for reference)
Applying the Numbers
For a 4-sided die, cut 4 triangles of the fleece. For this one, I went with 10" on each side (60 degrees on each corner).
Lay out the t-shirt strips (pink in the pictures below) onto a side of the die, I pinned down the first few before sewing, but it wasn't too bad to just feed them into the sewing machine freehand.
Using the same color(ish) thread as the t-shirt, sew a zigzag stitch along the center of the first number, then finish it up by sewing another zigzag stitch along the outside of the number.
Be sure to lay out the pieces as you go, so you can keep the numbers in the correct corners.
Lay out the t-shirt strips (pink in the pictures below) onto a side of the die, I pinned down the first few before sewing, but it wasn't too bad to just feed them into the sewing machine freehand.
Using the same color(ish) thread as the t-shirt, sew a zigzag stitch along the center of the first number, then finish it up by sewing another zigzag stitch along the outside of the number.
Be sure to lay out the pieces as you go, so you can keep the numbers in the correct corners.
Attaching the Sides
Match the numbers and sew the back side with a straight stitch.
Do the same for the rest of the sides, but leave an opening in the middle of one of the sides to put the polyfill in later. Be sure it's the middle, because it will be easier to add stuffing in the corners if you have all the corners machine-sewn.
Do the same for the rest of the sides, but leave an opening in the middle of one of the sides to put the polyfill in later. Be sure it's the middle, because it will be easier to add stuffing in the corners if you have all the corners machine-sewn.
Finishing the Edges
Flip the die good-side-out, and sew an additional straight stitch from corner to corner along each edge. Just match the foot of the machine to the edge of the side, and this will give you a good corner on the die.
This step isn't -strictly- necessary, but it makes the dice roll much nicer, and gives them a sturdier feel.
Note: You won't be able to do this on the open edge until you stuff the die and sew it closed.
This step isn't -strictly- necessary, but it makes the dice roll much nicer, and gives them a sturdier feel.
Note: You won't be able to do this on the open edge until you stuff the die and sew it closed.
Stuffing and Finishing
Add polyfill in the die. Be sure to tuck some in the corners, too.
Keep the dice from being too lumpy by using small clumps of polyfill, not big handfulls.
When you are satisfied with the heft of the die, hand-stitch the opening. I just did a whipstitch down and back, and tied it off at the end.
Machine sew the edge you just closed to give it the same edge as the others.
Then, roll for damage!
Keep the dice from being too lumpy by using small clumps of polyfill, not big handfulls.
When you are satisfied with the heft of the die, hand-stitch the opening. I just did a whipstitch down and back, and tied it off at the end.
Machine sew the edge you just closed to give it the same edge as the others.
Then, roll for damage!