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Here are the basics for making your own: You'll need a good sewing machine that can make variable-width satin stitch, a well-lit and well-ventilated sewing area where things can remain undisturbed if need be, sharp shears, decoupage scissors, thread, new sewing-machine needles, a printer and computer, cloth, spray starch, an ironing board, an iron, a stylus, dressmaker's carbon (in white, red, blue, and yellow), dye pens in a variety of colors, ribbons, quilt-tack, Scotch-guard, fabric, thread, and high-quality oil pencils.

To start, you’ll print out a color copy of the avatar you wish to make a block of. I enlarge the avatars by about 4x. This color copy will be the color selection template, the appliqué template, and will be the reference for the block. Each avatar is examined and notes made about background fabric, details, and which pieces will be appliquéd (most of the clothes), and which pieces will be reversed appliquéd (most wings, the eyes, portions of the hair and body). You then wash, iron, and starch all of your fabric selections. Stick to one type of fabric, such as all cotton, or all cotton-poly blends, as different fabrics will behave differently. Using the shears, you cut out the background fabric (I bias cut the background) and align it with the paper template and the dressmaker’s carbon, and trace all of the outlines with the stylus. Then, using the decoupage scissors, you cut away portions of the background for reverse appliqué portions (such as flame wings, or the celestial scarf swirl). Quilt-tack is very flammable, and should be used only in a flame-and spark-free area with good ventilation—I usually use quilt-tack outside. Swatches of fabric are stuck in place behind the background with the quilt-tack and covering the holes. The body is cut out of a suitable color, and holes are cut away for the eyes. Eyes are inked with dye pens on a face-shaped piece of white fabric and layered behind the body. Clothes, hair, and other features are either layered in front or behind other fabric, and excess fabric is cut away where it won’t be visible. All layers are stuck together with quilt-tack. All of your fabric pieces should be cut with the grain aligned as much as possible to control "wiggle" when sewing.

Using a new (and sharp) needle on the sewing machine and matching thread, all raw edges are satin stitched, tapering on points and around corners, and being narrowed on finer features, such as around the eyes. Additional details are added with decorative stitches, with dye pens, and with oil pencils and the colors set with a hot iron. Small bits of ribbon are added for special features, such as Lanzer's orchid. The avatar is then “blocked” or starched, ironed, and cut straight, and given a coating of Scotch-guard.

Happy sewing! I'll discuss assembly at another point, when I have pictures of sashing.