Equestria Daily

The world of plushie artists doesn't have many members due to how incredibly time consuming and skill intensive creating these things is. Whenever a post dedicated to their side of the art fandom pops up here on EQD, it usually isn't more than 10 or so crafters.

Some of these people have hit levels that are far beyond what we have ever seen created in the medium. Almost perfect one-to-one recreations of beloved characters from shows and games we all enjoy. In this sphere, Nazegoreng is right up there on the pinnacle.

I'll let her do the talking though. Head on down below the break for a full interview and gallery as we continue our fandom artist spotlight series!

Spotlight Interview

Q:) How did you stumble upon My Little Pony? What was your "origin" story if you will?

A friend of mine told me about a show about ponies and that a lot of guys were watching it. I was curious and watched an episode.. Then another.. Then another..

Q:) What is the process you usually go through when crafting a new plushie? What tools and, if any, programs do you use?

I draw all my patterns in photoshop. After gathering references I draft the first pattern, print and test it with minky fabric. Then repeat as many times necessary till the pattern is perfect. I use Bernina embroidery software to create embroidery files from drawings that I have vectored.

I use a tonne of different crafting tools, including my sewing and embroidery machines, the usual needle/thread/scizzors etc, an airbrush, clay for making 3d ‘sketches’ and a whole lot of other bits and pieces.

Q:) Do you do this professionally? Or is it a side thing to another career or job?

I’ve been plushing full time for more than 4 years now. It started out as a hobby and quickly became more appealing than staying at my then part-time job.

Q: ) Who is your favorite pony and favorite princess? And if it's different, which pony or character has been your favorite to make?

My favourite pony would have to be Lightning Dust, and I’m a Cadance fan as far as the princesses go. I am a big fan of making Rainbow Dash as a plush though, she just looks so good!

Q:) What kind of challenges do you usually run into when using a new body pattern or different mane, tail, and accessories? Has there ever been a concept that completely stumped you?

Most of the time it’s just a matter of how many pattern tests I need to do to perfect the pattern shapes. It gets easier over time, but some bodies I have had to make (in full, 3-6 hours per body) up to 18-20 times. It’s very labor intensive. Thankfully pony bodies are all made with relatively similar patterns.

A big problem with ponies is that a lot of their shapes do not make sense in 3d, and cheat a bit when it comes to perspective. For example pony eyes cannot be as far back as they are shown in the profile view and still be close together for the front view.

Q:) You have branched out quite a bit from just ponies, with some of the most complex and detailed characters I have ever seen in plush form. How do you go about creating the pattern for something as detailed as a dragon or pokemon? And how long does it take to create one from scratch?

As I’ve mentioned it’s a LOT of trial and error. For a simple plush I will usually remake each part (head, body, mane, tail etc) 3-8 times. For more complex patterns (like a dragon) I can have to remake each part up to 20 times. This can take over a month working every day, just to produce the pattern! Ponies will usually take 50-100 hours for mares, 150-250 for princesses and crazy custom projects (like dragons) can take 300+ hours. Not a lot of people realise how much work goes on behind the scenes before the final plush is shown.

Q:) Do you prefer sticking to ponies? Or is the challenge of a new character more fun? Has there ever been a commission request that you had to reject due to complexity?

Ponies became a bit too stagnant to keep remaking after awhile. I felt like only working on the same shape wasn’t helping me to grow my skills. I branched out after making ponies and have learnt so much! It’s helped me make my ponies far better than if I had stuck to making them alone. I enjoy taking on new challenges but making new patterns can be really mentally exhausting. Ponies are always fun to make since they are more relaxing and always come out so cute!

A lot of plush I turn down are more because of logistics. I get a lot of requests for giant plush (like lifesize alicorns, lifesize toothless etc) that just could not be posted overseas. I also don’t have the room to fit them inside where I work haha. Though I wish I could! Making something like a lifesize Charizard or lifesize Luna would be a dream project of mine.

Q:) Socks, sweaters, silly hats, swimwear, full body armor, ponies have worn it all. What is your favorite accessory to create for ponies? And if it’s different, what do you think they look best in?

I think socks are by far the cutest! And also easy to make. You can modify human socks to fit ponies pretty easy. Making pony clothing and armor is really tricky, so if an accessory is cute AND easy to make it’s an A+ in my books.

Q:) What do you like most about Friendship is Magic? What keeps you making so many awesome ponies?

Ponies always seem to make me feel happy whenever I watch them. There are so many violent or depressing shows (and an endless stream of reality tv), it’s nice to watch something bright and fun. I love making ponies since they are what started me plush making. I like to try and improve them even more and push the boundaries of how show accurate they can look. It’s fun to look back on what I thought was my ‘best’ plush and try and make it look even better with new techniques.

Q:) Do you have any tips for newbie plushie makers looking to improve?

Buy a premade pattern and learn how to do basic sewing to start. This way you know the pattern works and you can focus on assembling it. Once you feel comfortable sewing, you can look for patterning tutorials or try to make your own patterns. Just don’t expect a perfect result your first try. I made 13 test ponies before I made my ‘first’ pony.

And don’t start making plush just to make money, believe me, unless you have a passion for it it’s not the easiest or most economical way to earn money.

Q:) Why do you think My little Pony Generation 4 has been so successful? What keeps you here involved in the community?

The show was obviously made with a huge amount of care, but it’s the fandom that has kept me around for so long. I’ve made so many friends through pony and admired so many artists. Without it I would have taken an entirely different path in life. I never would have started making plush if I wasn’t so inspired by the show and the fandom.

Art Gallery

[1] Source

Twilight Sparkle Custom Plush by Nazegoreng