If you’re a kid at heart and want to make a stuffed animal, you’ll want to check out this guide. From sewing to stuffing and everything in between, we’ll walk you through the entire process of making your stuffed animal. These cute animals are great for kids of any age as they can be made with basic sewing skills and don’t require much time or money – just dedication and determination! Making your stuffed animal is a fun project that will keep your hands busy and give you something cuddly to call your own. If you think you’re ready to take on this challenge, read on to find out more about the process and what supplies you need before getting started!
Here’s an excellent place to find a pattern you will like:
Step 1: Choose Your Stuffed Animal You Want to Make
Before you make a stuffed animal, you’ll want to choose which animal you want to make. While you can undoubtedly create other animals besides these options, these are some of the most common animals to produce. These are all excellent choices for making your stuffed animal and are easy to find at most craft stores. Make sure you choose a suitable fabric for your animal, such as fleece for a polar bear or flannel for a sheep. You can also make one out of wool if you want to make a stuffed animal that is suitable for all ages, is hypoallergenic, and will last a lifetime. Another option is to make your stuffed animal out of felt – this one is great for beginners as it is straightforward.
Amazon Stuffed Animal Patterns
Step 2: Gather Your Supplies that Match Your Stuffed Animal
The following list includes everything you’ll need to sew a stuffed animal.
- Pattern – You can find patterns for almost any animal online.
- Fabric – Choose a suitable material for your animal.
- Scraps – You’ll need fabric scraps to make the stuffing for your animal. You can use anything you like: cotton, flannel, polar fleece, etc.
- Buttons – These are helpful if you make a polar bear or another animal with a nose.
- Yarn – You’ll need yarn for the stuffing for the arms and legs. Choose whatever color you like: red for arms (the heart) and blue for legs (the veins).
- Filling – Choose the filling for your animal. For example, if you make a polar bear, you’ll want to use polar fleece for the stuffing.
Step 3: Cut Out Your Pieces of Your Stuffed Animal
Start by cutting out the pieces of your animal’s body. Your cuts will vary depending on the animal you are making, but each pattern will have the details you need. You can either trace the pieces onto your fabric or use the original pattern as a guide. To save time, you can cut out multiple pieces of fabric at once. When all the parts are ready, set them aside.
Step 4: Sew Your Stuffed Animal Parts Together
Once the pieces are cut out and the fabric is ready to go, it’s time to start sewing. First, you’ll want to combine the head, body, and legs. You can either follow the pattern or do it by hand. If you do it by hand, use a tight stitch, so it doesn’t come undone. Once sewn, press down the seams, so they don’t show.
Step 5: Stuff the Body of Your Stuffed Animal
Now that your body, it’s time to add stuffing. When you make a stuffed animal, ensure the filling is in the right places so that the animal and each body part look proportioned when you’re finished. Start with the bottom of the body, working your way up to the top. Once you have all the stuffing in the body, use your hands to shape the animal and make sure it looks right.
Step 6: Sew on the Face and Ears on Your Stuffed Animal
Once the body is stuffed and ready to go, it’s time to sew on the face and ears. Follow the pattern to make sure of accuracy. For a polar bear, this would mean sewing polar fleece on the face and ears. Buttons or felt work well for the eyes.
Step 7: Add the Tummy Stuffing and Tail
It’s time to stuff the tummy and sew on the tail. As before, make sure you put the stuffing in the right place. For a teddy bear, you’ll want to use polar fleece for the filling. Now sew on the tail. Sewing a tail will vary depending on the animal you are making, but again, you can follow the pattern to ensure it looks right.
Step 8: Add the Arms and Feet
Now it’s time to add the arms and feet. Adding arms and feet will vary depending on the animal you are making, but you can follow the pattern to ensure everything is correct. You’ll want to use yarn for the arms and feet of a polar bear. You can use red yarn for the arms (the heart) and blue yarn for the feet (the veins). Now your animal is almost finished!
Step 9: Zip It Up!
We’re at the last step to making a stuffed animal! Now that the arms and feet are sewn on, you can start putting the animal together:
- You’ll want to pull the body inside out (the way you would turn a sweatshirt inside out).
- You can take the head, turn it inside out, and put it inside the opening of the body.
- You can take the arms and put them inside the opening of the body.
- You can take the feet and put them inside the opening of the body.
When complete, use a needle and thread to sew the opening closed. Sewing it shut will keep the stuffing in place and makes the animal more durable and ready for use!
Final Steps
Now that you’ve finished making your stuffed animal, it’s time to put on the finishing touches. Ensure everything is inside the animal and it’s all sewn shut. You can also add any decorations: a bowtie, a scarf, or a tutu. Maybe add a cute hat if you like what we did with our octopus. Now you can show off your new friend and tell people how you built them! You can also write a note if you gift this animal to someone. If you enjoyed creating your stuffed animal, you could try making a softie or a knitted stuffed animal next! These are great projects for kids of all ages and are excellent ways to keep little hands busy.
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