Sweet Plushie Cake

Plushie Making Tips:

General Tips:

Basic--Moderate sewing skills are needed.
You don't have to be a sewing whiz to make a simple plush!
Buy a basic pattern, one that uses less than a dozen pattern pieces
Simple plushie patterns are easy to modify and alter
My first few plushies were made using a pattern with only 2 pieces!
Try buying/catching a few simple plushies, then taking them apart to get an idea of how parts are put together.
Take pictures if you can, and keep good notes so you know how to put them back together.
Have sharp scissors, and plenty of thread and needles
ALWAYS use double strands of thread. It's stronger.
ALWAYS cut more thread than you think you're going to need.
Using 12" to sew that foot shut? add an extra 6" just in case.
Work in a well lighted area.
Have something on (TV, Radio) to keep you alert, but not distracted.
Take breaks every few hours, especially if your wrists/hands start to hurt.
Plan out all details in advance so you don't get stuck.
Know exactly what you want your plush to look like.
But don't get discouraged if things don't turn out like you expect.
You can always sew a new ear/foot/whatever
Don't be afraid to sew practice pieces if you're not sure how they'll turn out. It may take a little longer, but it will be worth it in the end

Fabric Tips:

Skin:

Suedes are always a good choice.
Microsuede, Alova, Suedecloth, etc.
They are thin and easy to turn and manipulate.
Moleskin is good, comes in a variety of colours, but frays like crazy.
You can get a tube of frayblock/fraycheck and like the edges however.
Fleece also comes in a variety of colours but is thick and not reccomended for small projects.
It also can wear down and be pulled at and stretch.
Felt is cheap and easy to find, but most plush artists look down on felt.
This is because it can pull, wear and "pile" and it is not a woven fabric.
Robe velour is very soft, but I've never used it so I can't really say.
Velvets are very nice but shed sparkly fibers everywhere!
Crushed velvet doesn't shed but tends to roll so it may not be good for small parts
There's stretch velvet, crushed velvet, velours, etc. Many nice colours
You can use any kind of fabric you feel comfortable with.
Even basic cotton can have wonderful results.

Hair:

Velboa is always nice. It is a fake fur and very soft.
It can be hard to find in the right colours though, and is expensive.
Fleece is good too. It is easy to find and reasonably priced.
It is thick, comes in almost every colour you need, and doesn't fray or shed
You can use felt too if you want stiffer hair.
Again, any fabric you are comfortable with can be used.

Most importantly, have fun!