Sure, you can buy a stuffed animal in just about any toy store, but there’s nothing quite like getting a gift of handmade stuffed animal. Your kids will appreciate the uniqueness of each stuffed animal and treasure it for years to come. If your kids are old enough to handle sewing with needle and thread, you can let them design and construct this handmade stuffed animal craft project on their own and just supervise them. If your kids are too young to sew, you can still get them involved by letting them design the stuffed animal or asking for their opinion. And they don’t have to stop with the animals, either. Those ugly monster dolls are ever popular and imagine designing a doll from your child’s monster-under-the-bed imagination. How fun and therapeutic that might be!
Handmade Stuffed Animal Material:
Felt in a variety of colors
A bag of poly stuffing
Needle and thread
Piece of paper & pencil
Pins
Embroidery thread
Buttons & ribbons (optional)
Handmade Stuffed Animal Instructions:
- Draw out the shape of the animal or monster or other creature on the piece of paper with your pencil. The size needs to be the same as the finished project. Try to avoid shapes with sharp edges as they will be hard to stuff later.
- Cut 2 pieces of felt; both pieces should be slightly larger than the drawing.
- Place the paper pattern on top of the two pieces of felt and pin it down. Cut out the animal/monster/creature shape with scissors.
- Remove the paper pattern.
- Decorate the front side of the creature. Add an eye or two by attaching two small felt circles. “Draw” a nose with embroidery. The mouth could be a half moon shape from a piece of red felt or a zig zag shape cut out with a black felt. Dress up the creature with ribbons and buttons. Maybe add a decorative flower on the side of an ear. Let your kids drive the process according to their imagination.
- When you’re done with the face, place the two pieces of felt together, with the right sides of the felt facing inward. Pin these pieces together and start sewing. Leave a small opening (big enough to turn the fabric inside out and stuff the creature).
- When you have about 3 inches opening left, turn the fabric inside out and start stuffing the creature.
- Once you’re done stuffing the creature, you can close the opening by hand sewing it using hemstitch.
