How to make BAMF! Please read ALL the instructions before commencing It has been established that AMANDA SEFTON has a stuffed doll based around the physique of her lover, KURT WAGNER a.k.a. NIGHTCRAWLER. The first appearance of the doll was in X-MEN #145, but it wasn't until after #153 - KITTY'S FAIRY TALE - that it got the name: BAMF! Which as we all know is the noise that NIGHTCRAWLER makes when he teleports and seems to have entered the MARVEL DICTIONARY for anyone who does so. A lot of discussion has gone on about having designs available to make your own BAMF! & so here is probably the first of its kind. It should be pointed out that the plane here have been reduced down from A3 to A4. The dimensions of the materials used are all based off the A3 format. Unless you have the necessary photocopier enlarger available graph line have been incorporated for those who wish to enlargen by hand for the larger doll. If you desire a smaller BAMF! choose the size of your material accordingly. Construction-wise, the BAMF! is easy to make & even the most novice Club member shouldn't have any difficulty. If LAMPREY can make one, anyone can!!! MATERIALS Try any NEEDLECRAFT or WOOL SHOP for the FELT. Most should stock squares of 24cm x 24cm, with perhaps a size larger. FUR FABRIC can probably be bought at the same place. I found it cheaper to go to the MARKET for things like buttons & braid. 48cm x 48cm of BLACK FELT 48cm x 48cm of RED FELT 24cm x 24cm of BLUE FELT 24cm x 24cm of WHITE FELT 24cm x 24cm of BLUE FUR FABRIC** 12 inches of BLUE BRAID 2 YELLOW BUTTONS & piece of cardboard ** You may only be able to get a yard strip as the smallest quantity TOOLS Raiding your mother's sewing bag is all very well. So that you don't leave it a complete ruin, what you need is: 2 large pieces of paper BIRO(?) or FIBRE TIP PEN TAILOR'S CHALK or CHIROGRAPH PENCIL SHORT STRONG NEEDLE BLACK, WHITE, RED & BLUE COTTON (to match felt) PINS or TACKING COTTON KNITTING NEEDLE FABRIC GLUE (optional) PATTERN When you have the pattern to the size you want TRACE the shapes onto your paper & cut them out. Arrange all the shapes for 1 colour on your felt; folding in half if necessary for duplicates. Pin in place or draw around them with FELT TIP or CHALK & cut along all thick black lines the following: 4 of #1 in RED FELT - GLOVE/BOOT TRIM 2 of #2 in BLACK FELT - BODY 4 of #3 in BLUE FELT - HEAD 2 of #3 in BLUE FUR FABRIC - HAIR 2 of #4 in BLUE FELT - TAIL BARB 4 of #5 in WHITE FELT - HANDS 2 of #6 in WHITE FELT - FOOT (sole) 4 of #7 in BLUE FELT - EARS 1 of #8 in BLACK FELT - FACE SHADOW 4 of #9 in WHITE FELT - FOOT (upper) 1 of #10 in RED FELT - TUNIC (front) 1 of #11 in RED FELT - TUNIC (back) STUFFING - suggest KAPOK Not on plans but also required are a circle of BLUE FELT approx. 7cm diameter & 2 smaller (2-3 mm less) #6 & a 30mm square of cardboard STITCHING TECHNIQUES a) RUNNING STITCH (fig_1.JPG) Tacking stitch is a wider stitch of above & used to hold pieces together temporary b) BACK STITCH (fig_2.JPG) Make a single running stitch & emerge as if to make a second(?) & double back over the gap (marked with cross) emerging at the dot. Repeat, etc.. CONSTRUCTION Everything below, unless otherwise stated, will be folded inside-out after being stitched together. 1. Match the 2 body pieces (#2) together. Take the 4 hand-pieces (#5) & pair them up & sew one to the end of each of the arms, checking that they will match when the 2 body pieces are sewn up. 2. Sew the body pieces together from neck, Round hands to the bottom of the legs on both sides, sewing a double row around the hands. Sew up the crotch leaving the legs open at the bottom. 3. Pair & sew the 4 ear pieces (#7) on all but a straight edge. Turn out & turn under the 2 striaght edges & over-stitch together. 4. Pair the 2 tail pieces (#4) & sew right round leaving a 5mm gap at one point. 5. For each foot use 1 sole (#6) & 2 uppers (#9). Sew up back seam of the 2 uppers to create a back toe. Tuck in front slits & sew. Still inside out, sew sole into place starting from the back toe. 6. Pair the 4 head pieces (#3) & sew together along one side. Leave 1cm gap at one end so that it can be turned out. Sew both halves together. 7. Sew the 2 hair pieces (#3) together alone one side only. 8. Turn out head & place cap of hair on top. Mark appropriate spots beneath on either side for ears & stitch into place. (You may find it easier to put some stuffing in the head to do this.) 9. Place the mask (#8) along line between the 2 ears on the head & cut a hole birectly below it for the nose. Sew a running stitch 5mm in on the circle of felt. Pull this stitch in & a nose will take shape. Put some stuffing into it before drawing tight & tying it off. Push trim of the nose through the nose-hole & pin in place. Turn out head & stitch nose into place. Turn out head again. 10. Place the mask in position again & mark positions for eyes. Stitch the 2 yellow buttons into place on mask then sew mask to head. 11. Replace cap of hair & pin into position. Start from behind one ear & sew into place about 4mm in. Use a very small stitch so as not to trap pile of fur under it. 12. Make a hole in the bottom of the body for the tail. Turn entire body right side out. The blunt end of a knitting needle may be needed to poke the fingers out. 13. Turn feet right side out. Insert pieces of card into sole. Stitch onto body turning both right side out first. 14. Stuff legs through open seam at neck. (With all stuffing spread it out before inserting DON'T put it in lumps) 15. Tie a knot at one end of braid. Pierce square of cardboard at centre & thread braid through. Using the cardboard as teh washer, insert into body & draw tail out through the hole in the bottom. 16. Cut braid to suitable length & sew tail barb into place. 17. Continue stuffing body & arms, using knitting needle to fill hands & fingers. 18. Stuff head through hole left open. When head & body are firmly stuffed pin head to body. If it wobbles stuff further. Turn in neck seam & overstitch onto head. 19. Sew tunic (#10 & #11) top edges together. Turn out & place over head of BAMF! Make sure V-neck is at front. mark point where tail will penetrate #11 & make hole. Push tail through. Sew up tunic between legs. Tunic need not be stitched to the body. If you with tunic to be raised like Nightcrawler's - Run a few stitches from sleeve-side in about 5mm in. 20. Take the 4 pieces of glove/leg trim & check widths to appropriate arms & legs. You can then sew these directly on....or if you prefer, sew the seams of each first & roll over feet/hands into place. If you with to secure into place some fabric glue would be effective. (Don't forget to turn the seam in by this method!!!) 21. Finally, the mouth. Cut a small semi-circle line from the remaining black felt, out-turning the ends. Use fabric glue to stick to head. You now have in your posession your very own BAMF! WASHING: Ill-advised to do so. Apart from shrinkage the stuffing probably wouldn't dry & would then rot. Fiona Jerome & Geoff Lamprey '83 'BAMF!' & its likeness is a trademark and copyright of MARVEL COMICS GROUP 1983. The design, instructions, & pattern of 'How to make a BAMF!' are copyright Fiona Jerome & Geoff Lamprey 1983. All rights reserved.