I Tried Out A New Bat Pattern With Wired Wings

I've been looking for something simpler to make, and smaller, than the hanging bats and located some soft to the touch upholstery fabric in the remnant bin at the fabric store recently.  It's fairly thick, sort of like a foam backing on it, but it makes some cool feeling wings.  I sewed two layers together like I do the felt bird wings, and did a sewn channel along the upper edge where I inserted some wire. 

 

I use 14 gauge electrical wire which I get by the 500 yd spool, it's plastic coated. You have to use a needle nose pliers to bend the end back on itself so it won't chew through the fabric, but it's a nice way to wire something without the wire kinking up (unlike floral wire). 

 

One end down one side of the wings, one down the other side, meet at the center and twist together. Then lay the body of the bat on top and tack it down. I used fake fur and once tacked down I sheared the fur close down on the muzzle of the bat.  Two bead eyes, a set of ears, and it looks pretty good.  The wing vein was done same as I do all my wings, you fold where the vein is and sew a narrow line, this gives the 'finger' on the wing a nice visual.

 

He turned out cute. I brought him along to brunch with a friend - who liked him - and then two waitresses came over and picked the bat up to look at it too (unusual for there).  They both liked it too. 

 

Hmm.  Reactions from the general public, all three on the positive side. Cool!