Project KnitBod Part 1 – foam skeleton

We have already made the organ patterns the size you need for your body, so there is no scaling to do. You just need a body. Here’s how we made ours.

Materials:

• Foam – I used 2 pieces about 1 metre long, 50cm wide and 2.5cm deep.
• Roll of paper (1 metre of wallpaper or wrapping paper is ideal)
• Pen or pencil
• Sharp scissors
• Chalk
• 1.5m Skin-toned stretch fabric (like t-shirt fabric)
• Hot glue gun and sticks
• Matching thread, needle
• Zip

Directions:

1. Draw a child on a roll of paper – I cheated and drew around my daughter, who was a smallish 8 year old at the time.
2. Stick the 2 pieces of foam together to make a piece about 5cm thick. Copydex spread thinly works, or a hot glue gun. I’m sure there are lots of other suitable glues.
3. Transfer the drawing to the foam using the chalk. Make sure the neck is wide enough to support the head and check it looks in proportion.
4. Stand back and check it looks in proportion again, making any necessary changes.
5. Make sure the glue is dry and, using sharp scissors, cut out the body. You can round the edges by holding the scissors at an angle.
6. Hollow out the chest cavity through one layer of foam.
7. Once you are happy with the body, use the hot glue gun to stick fabric to the back then front of the skeleton. You may want to stitch it for a better finish, in places like the arms and legs.
8. Cut an extra piece of fabric to cover the top of the chest. Cut it in half and sew in a zip.
9. Glue or sew the chest onto the skeleton.