Home Made Stuffed Toy - How to Make a Stuffed Monster
92How to Make an Easy Stuffed Toy
In this article, I will show you how to design and create a home made stuffed toy - in this case, a simple, handcrafted stuffed monster. I have included step by step instructions as well as photographs that illustrate details of the instructions on how to make this cute stuffed toy. It's quite easy to make.
The stuffed monster would make a nice Christmas gift, or birthday gift; a handmade toy that really shows you care.
You can see that this little monster is not at all frightening, but rather cute and cuddly. Since you create your own pattern, you can make this stuffed toy any shape or size that you like. The stuffed toy can be made out of scrap fabric (for a small one) or any fabric that suites your fancy. I chose a soft, brown fleece, but any color will look adorable. I am thinking of making a more brightly colored one in the future.
This little monster has been made for a baby so the eyes and tongue are sewn firmly down for safety. For an older child, you could use buttons for eyes, allow the tongue to protrude, or add some yarn hair. Once you get the hang of it, you can come up with your own version to create a unique stuffed toy.
Home Made Stuffed Monster
Materials to Create a Stuffed Monster
Materials include:
- Fabric ( the amount depends on the size you wish to make)
- Stuffing
- Thread
- Sewing Machine
- Stiff Paper for the pattern (I used an old grocery bag)
- Scissors
- Felt for the eyes and tongue
- Embroidery thread (and hoop) for adding eyes, eye details, and mouth
Create the Pattern
How to Create a Pattern for a Stuffed Toy Monster
Decide on the size and shape that you want to make the toy.
Try out a few sketches first until you find one that you like. Remember that the completed project will be somewhat smaller than the pattern due to seam allowance.
Do not make the arms and legs too thin, as they would be too hard to stuff.
Outline your pattern on a piece of stiff paper. Outline the body, arms. legs, and ears separately.
Cut the pattern pieces as shown on the right.
I added some stiffening and tacked it onto the inside of one piece of each arm, leg, and ear. This is not really necessary but seemed like a good idea at the time. (As such things go when you make it up as you go along)
Homemade Stuffed Toy - All the Pieces
- Next, cut the fabric, two pieces for each part - so that would be 2 torsos (front and back), 4 pieces each for arms, legs, and ears.
- Make sure that the pieces match up. To the right is a picture of all the cut pieces.
Create the Monster's Face
- Create a face for the monster. If you are making monsters for several children, or siblings, you can make each face with a unique expression.
- Cut 2 ovals for eyes and a small piece for the tongue.
- Pin felt to the outside of the monster.
- Sew down and add detail with embroidery thread.
Sew the Appendages Together
- Sew the pieces of each arm, leg, and ear together.
- Lay right (outward facing) sides together (in other words, inside out).
- Sew, leaving the ends that attach to the monster body open for stuffing.
- Turn right side out. You can use a pencil if the fabric gets bunched.
- Stuff each arm, leg, and ear. Use a pencil to make sure the stuffing is dispersed to the edges of each piece.
- Leave a bit of fabric for sewing onto the body
- Now, line up the monster and all the pieces as you want it to look.
- This part may be a bit confusing. Or it was to me when I was trying to figure it out.
- Turn the main body of the stuffed toy inside out (lay outer pieces facing one another)
- Place arms, legs, and ears inside (against the outside of the monster), allowing the edges to protrude so they will sew on easily
- Pin all into place. Pin along the edges of the monster's body
- Attach the legs a bit apart to leave room to turn it when you are done
Sew it All Up - Leaving a Small Hole for Stuffing
You can see from the picture on the right that your creation now looks like a big mess. Trust me.
- Sew as you have it, leaving the crotch open so you can turn it right side out later. You can leave a surprisingly small hole. The monster will be a lumpy mess and a bit of a pain to work with.
- Make sure that you remove the pins as you go and keep the edges lined up neatly.
Now Stuff the Toy
- Turn the toy right side out, easing out the arms, legs, and ears so as not to rip the torso open.
- Stuff. Make sure the stuffing goes all the way to the top of the toy's head. A stuffed toy will use up a lot of stuffing!
Hand sew the small opening at the bottom of the stuffed toy closed.
And there you have an adorable, handmade stuffed toy.
Now that you have created this, you can come up with all sorts of different creatures!
Good Luck!
Homemade Stuffed Toy - Complete
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What a cute idea. I'm going to make one for my granddaughter for Christmas. thank you. Very clever.
drjb - haha! Thank you! This is my combination Halloween/
Christmas hub!
K. - thanks! Now that I've made the one, I am coming up with different versions, but have quite a bit of the brown fleece. I'd like to try to make a teddy bear.
What a great idea, Dolores. I love it. Good to see a monster I don't have to be afraid of.
I just may tackle this for my new grandson-as alekhouse said, it's a monster that's not scary. Adorable!
What a clever idea and how beautifully all your pics are to boot! I have a stuffed monster and his name is Griffin the malamute....he's always stuffed with my good food that he snatches from my counters....but if I need another stuffed monster, I'm comin' back and making this. I love to sew and unfortunately since joining Hubpages, I've not visited my sewing room that much! Well done!!
You did it again, my friend. I love this hub very much. This hub shown how creative you are. I thought some of us want to follow your tips to make this toys. Thanks for completing this hub with step by step picture. Very helpful. I give my vote special for you.
Prasetio :)
Love your creativity! Great creative ideas for projects to do with my daughter, thanks for the ideas! Looking forward to providing some that my daughter and I come up with!
I'm going to have a go at making three of these for my grandchildren.
It seems a shame but all the younger parents buy everything these days from halloween items to costumes. Apparently it is not cool to make things anymore.
That's where we used to have most fun from was the creating all sorts.
However that doesn't mean that I can't still have a go.
Thank you so much for sharing Dolores.
alec - I don't know, there's something a bit creepy about those eyes!
lorlie - the best thing is that it is an easy project if you are not a top notch seamstress - thanks!
Audrey - I know, HP does cut into the projects but the projects don't make any money. (I love Malamutes!)
prasetio - thank you very kindly, dear.
Jeremy - oh yes, should have put that in the hub - so easy a child can do it! Projects like this are great for kids, following instructions to produce something that they can design for themselves! Thanks for the input!
Eiddwen - the parents are working too hard to take time to make this stuff. But actually, the DIY and craft movement today is huge! Have fun making your stuffed toy!
who knew.. it actually looks like I could do it!!
I'm not telling but there is this old coot who has a serger and a com machine that's gonna try some of these for the kids in town.... 50
Oh how cute! I can't sew. I can't even cut a straight line, but these sure are cute.
Very cute idea for the stuffed monster. Thanks. I also liked your article on making homemade soap. Thanks, again.
50 - hi! Well good luck with that - I don't even know what a serger is! Thanks!
loria - the beauty of this stuffed toy is that you don't have to be good at sewing - I'm not! Thanks!
dps - thanks! And glad you liked the soap article too. I'd rather make soap than sew! haha!
Totally awesome and you make it look so easy (it probably really is easy, but when I try sewing, I have two left hands). I would like to try making this for my 2 young nephews for Christmas. Bookmarking now. ;-)
steph - you would not think it so easy (which it actually is) if you saw me standing there above the table filled with cut pieces trying to figure out how the heck to do it. Just hoped to save others the torture! haha! Thanks!
These are just too cute. Isn't it great how you can make such and easy little toy, that is just so adorable. Kids will just love them too. Thanks for the idea.
Very creative... Love your work
Let me know what think of my blog
That guy reminds me of somthing I've seen before likely on tv is he suppose to resemble some charicter?
Magnifico! I want one! :)
What an adorable stuffed monster. The pattern and directions look clear and easy to follow. Rated up and funny.
diane - thank you! I need to start another soon!
mag - glad you enjoyed the hub! It's so much fun to make stuffed toys!
mimind - not that I know of. But I have seen similar stuffed monsters elsewhere. Thanks!
Woody - well why don't you get started! haha! Thank you!
Koffee - glad you liked the stuffed toy. I tried to make this as clear as possible which can be as hard as tryiing to figure out how to make the durn thing to begin with! Haha.
So cute stuffed Monster! I am sure children will love to have something like that. Very creative Dolores! :)
I want one! It looks great...so much personality. His eyes remind me of cucumbers.This would make a great present, not least because of the uniqueness.
I made a giant Humpty Dumpty once from scratch, using my own design and if I do say so myself, he turned out pretty smiff.
Cheers
I like the little tongue sticking out of the homemade toy in your example. Homemade stuffed toys can have a unique element in the design.
hat - thank you! I must make another soon.
Jane - well cucumbers are good. I was afraid the eyes turned out a bit scary. But cucumbers are not frightening at all! Thank you!
jtrader - okay! Thanks! Unique elements rule!
Awww, that is very cute, I can't sew it though, but I will ask my aunt to try this for me :)
Thanks for cute sharing.
Thanks, Tim! Glad you liked!
Ms.Islander - you can use any fabric that you want. If you make a small stuffed toy, you can use scrap. I used a fleece because it seems cozy and warm! Thanks!
I can't wait to try this!
I like this hub! thanks for the great instructions
lovely , i like diy too, great hub!
I really like the photos you took for the hub. I am going to show it to my daughter and see if she wants to make one too. It will be fun to see what variations we come up with. Great project. I look forward to reading more of your hubs.
it's scary looking.... joking! It's adorable! I LOVE LOVE LOVE making stuffed animals and stuffed crochet animals. Let me know if there's more coming =)
skivvies - good luck!
clearblue - glad you liked it!
sally - love projects myself! I wish I had time for more. Thanks!
Susan - this stuffed toy would make a great project to do with kids. The child could design a facial expression and choose their own fabric for a truely unique toy! Thanks!
thebell - I want to attempt a Teddy bear or a rag doll! Thanks!
Cute idea. I can just imagine my practical joke loving 7 year old telling me there's a monster under her bed and when I go to check I find that yellow-eyed monster staring back at me.
This seems to be very easy to do, but i bet is not.
but is a great idea and very creative too.
cute.. I like it.. ThanK you for the hub.. Great job very artistic
Zurich - haha, thank you so much!
Romeo - haha, you are both right and wrong. Some people have a knack for this sort of thing. I am not one and figure that I am not alone so thought to share. Thank you very kindly!
flinsura - glad you liked my stuffed toy!
This is a precious hub. I am grateful to have landed here. What a grand idea. You have stirred me for Christmas gifts. God is amazing who he puts on our path. You are a woman of many gifts. I am Blessed. Beautiful and Up I voted. Thank You. Keep on my friend. Be SO Blessed today and always Hugs galore Love ya Dolores. In Him.
That is such a cute handmade monster. Thanks for sharing your instructions to make one!
THis is perfect I love it. My little sister sews and when I go back home I stay at her house and we have littel ones. We are always looking for things to do with them awesome thank you for sharing this.
That's a fantastic idea which I can implement to other puppets. Thanks a lot for sharing!
You have talent! This is so amazing. Since I can't sew with a sewing machine is it possible to sew by hand?
skye - thank you for such a sweet comment!
Mary - thank you - glad you enjoyed the stuffed toy!
Wendy - yes, this would be a fun project for kids! I used to love projects with my own children when they were young. Thanks!
Muriah - oh yes, puppets would be a lot of fun to make. Funny how one hub can inspire you into a whole different direction. Happens to me here all the time! Thanks!
Giving - I love to hand sew projects. You seem to put more of yourself into hand sewing. This stuffed toy would not take too long if you created it totally by hand and I think it would actually be more fun to make that way. Thanks!
I know quite a few kids who would just have a blast with these! I may have to break out the sewing machine one of these days.
lender - thanks! Now, I'm thinking that the same concept would make a cute bean bag.
Yay monsters! Good directions too.
Moon - thanks!
Cute and creative!
No-no, it can't be a monster since it's lovely! :) Thanks for this fantastic hub!
Tim Tim - thank you, glad that you liked the little monster!
Daniel - hope this monster puts a new wrinkle on the monster under the bed - this one the kids will want with them! Thanks!
Very nice and details! Thank you so much for this! I'm definitely going to be doing this.
karen - oh, thank you! I hope you make yourself a little monster and have a wonderful time!
This is so cute, Delores! If you were wondering what to get me for Christmas, I'd like one in green, please! Thanks for the fun!
Christoph - haha! The one that inspired me was in green. Would you like a sage, forest, dark, or lime green monster? Thanks for stopping by!
creative
Delores, what an adorable monster. He has such an endearing smile. Perfect for a child. Your directions are just the type I like - clear, concise, and easy to follow. Thumbs up all the way around. Voted up, awesome and bookmarked. I must make it for my granddaughter. I like him so much I have visited and commented twice. I am also sending the pattern to my sister-in-law. I know she will love it.
Gals - thank you! I gave the stuffed monster to an 8 month old baby this Christmas and he laughed, grabbed it, pulled it close and bit it! I was so happy. He loved it!
So cute and your step by step instructions make me feel like I can do it too. I've bookmarked this one for later.
what - I need to make another one. I have tons of extra fabric! Thanks.
Interesting article which quite an intelligent creative work.thanks for writing.
crystolite - thank you!
What a wonderful idea to make a stuff toy.
Hi, Sweetie Pie - thanks for stopping by. I love home made stuff and it was a lot of fun making this stuffed toy!
Cute easy to follow. Thanks for the inspiration. This may be my next project to work on.
Icbenfield - easy is what I was after! Thank you and good luck on the sewing project.
I've never made a stuffed toy, thank you for the detailed guide.
Great idea.
Love this cute little monster! I need to make one for my 3 year old son so maybe he won't be so scared of monsters! Great instructions, too :)
Jamie !!! The irony here is that I made the monster for the child of a different Jamie Brock. You had me so confused for a moment. Thanks!
Oh my goodness, Dolores.. HOW funny! I bet you were a bit confused LOL!
What a delightful and simple-to-make design. Made large enough, Mr. Monster would be a nice pillow, too. Maybe make a matching fleece blankie!
Sally - what a great idea! Too bad that I have craft project ADD. Do it once and move onto the next thing. Thank you!
Very cute idea for the stuffed monster. Thanks. I also liked your article on making homemade soap. Thanks, again.
drbj Level 8 Commenter 19 months ago
This was really clever, Dolores, a monstrous thank you!