Archives for March 2025

The toy I made is a fat bird designed for my cat. He could play the toy in all ways he wants, biting, scratching or kicking.

[As my cat is not with me in Shanghai, I cannot provide his response. This is a video showing the toy and my cat’s daily playing.]

When I started to design the toy, I was inspired by Cas Holman that play is an intuitive process. I realized the importance of designing for engagement rather than rigid functions. Instead of forcing my cat into a specific way of interacting, I incorporated multiple elements that allowed him to explore different ways of playing. I hope the toy could stimulate the natural instincts of my cat.

I selected blue and yellow as the main colors, as they are eye-catching for cats. My cat also likes fluffy blankets, so I choose a similar fabric. Adding a bell inside the toy could easily catches his attention. He also usually grinds his teeth, so I added an airbag in the head part. Consequently, when he bites the head, the toy could make some sounds just like real bird. Yarns are also his favorite elements, so I added some on wings and tail part. He can scratches them with his paws for fun.

I think the overall appearance of the toy is good. And this making process helped me greatly improve my sewing skill. However, currently, the airbag moves within the toy, which reduces its effectiveness. I would fix it in the head to ensure a consistent sound response. In addition, I could consider filling the toy with catnips to increase its attraction to my cat.

 

Here is my process documentation:

This is a Kapibara toy. It has a pull ring on top, which is connected to a string. When you pull the ring, the string retracts, and Kapibara’s wings move and produce some mechanical sounds. The string and the wings are involved in the movement. We think that the string is connected to a machine that moves rapidly when the string is pulled. Inside this machine, several gears likely work together. To make the wings move, the machine should be linked to the wings in a way that enables synchronized motion, as shown in the sketch.

Documentations and Analysis: 

The toy features a wind-up mechanism containing three gears. When the string is pulled, it activates a thick gear, which in turn drives a larger, thinner gear beneath it. This thinner gear then transfers motion to the smallest adjacent gear, causing it to spin rapidly.

The smallest gear drives a plastic piece, which is interlocked with the wings. As the string is pulled, the plastic piece moves, causing the wings of Kapibara to flap. The plastic plate is a rectangular shape with a hole in the center. This hole connects to a movable gear in the spring mechanism. When the gear is pulled into motion, the plastic plate moves along with it. The rod at the top of the plastic plate is connected to the wings. This setup likely utilizes the lever principle—when the plastic plate moves up and down, the wings on the other side follow the same movement.

Two white plastic pieces are securely attached to both sides of the body. The wings, together with these plastic pieces, form a small mechanical system. A round, elongated rod beneath the wings keeps them fixed within this system, allowing only up-and-down movement. This design prevents the wings from moving freely or detaching.

Suggestions:

1. Sound or Light Effects – Integrate a small sound module or LED lights that activate when the wings flap. A gentle sound or a soft glow could make the toy more appealing.

2. Upgraded String Material – Use a low-friction, durable material for the string to reduce resistance and make the pulling action smoother, which would enhance the overall user experience.

3. Weighted Base for Stability – Add a slightly weighted or a bottom with legs to keep the toy stable while not in use. This would prevent wobbling, ensuring a more consistent play experience.

Reflection:

Through the process of analyzing and deconstructing the toy, I gained valuable insights into how simple mechanical systems work and how each component contributes to the overall movement. It allowed me to understand the relationship between gears, levers, and structural elements, as well as how they work together to produce motion. The key takeaway was the importance of precision in design. Each gear and connector had to fit perfectly for the mechanism to function smoothly. Even a small misalignment could lead to inefficiencies or complete failure in movement. I aim to apply these learnings to future projects, especially in designing more attracting toys.

For my needle felting task, I made a cat head pin based on the image of my cat.

Here is how he looks.

I started with basic shape of cat’s head and then add two small triangular ears. After these steps, I gathered wool in black the color matching his fur and his yellow eyeballs.

This is what I sewed for the assignment.

I met some problems when making it. The ball turned out a bit flattened, likely because I didn’t leave enough seam allowance for sewing. The non-woven fabric’s toughness also posed a challenge—it resisted detailing, and hiding the stitching was very hard. To solve the flattening issue, I could redesign the pattern with a larger seam allowance (perhaps an extra 0.5-1 cm). For the fabric, I would consider using more fluffy and soft material for my soft toy. And if the stitch evidence is inevitable, a decorative one could turn the visible seams into an interesting feature.