Design And Sew Your Own Stuffed Animal Friends That Your Grandkids Will Love

One of the most recognizable and comforting childhood items is the stuffed animal, with literally every child I know – and have ever known – having many of these soft plushes. Though stuffed animals are special on their own, I have found one way to make them even more so: By making them yourself! 

While this task may sound daunting, it is quite simple and makes for an excellent activity to share with your grandchild(ren). Are you ready to get started? Grab your fabric, needle, and thread, and let’s get to it: 

How to make a simple teddy bear with your grandkids

Creating a simple stuffed animal is a fun and satisfying project for all ages. Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating a basic pattern for a teddy bear and sewing it, along with some personalizing tips.

Part 1: Creating the Pattern

1. Draw the Design: Sketch a simple bear design on paper. Keep it simple, especially if you are a beginner. Make sure to include head, body, legs, and arms. For the most basic design, each part can be a single piece (except the body, which is two identical pieces).
2. Refine and Add Seam Allowance: Clean up your design lines. Draw another line 1/4 inch (or your preferred seam allowance) around each part for the seam allowance.
3. Cut Out the Pattern: Cut out each part of your design, remembering to include the seam allowance.

Part 2: Cutting and Sewing

1. Select and Prep Your Fabric: Choose the fabric for your stuffed animal. You can use various types of fabric, such as cotton, fleece, or minky. Ensure the fabric is clean and ironed, if necessary.
2. Trace and Cut Out the Fabric: Pin your pattern pieces to the fabric. Trace around them using a fabric pen or chalk. Then, cut out the fabric along your trace lines.
3. Sew the Pieces Together: Start by sewing pairs like the front and back body pieces and the two sides of each limb and the head. Remember to sew the right (outer) sides together, leaving the seam allowance you accounted for. Also, leave an opening in each part to allow for stuffing.
4. Turn and Stuff: Once each part is sewn, turn them right-side-out through the openings. Use a stuffing tool or chopstick to push out the corners. Stuff each part with polyester fiberfill or your chosen stuffing material, making sure to stuff firmly but not overstuff.
5. Close Openings: Stitch up the openings. This can be done by hand or with a machine if the opening is large enough.
6. Assemble: Now, sew all the stuffed parts together to create your bear. You can do this by hand using a ladder stitch or a whip stitch.

Part 3: Personalizing Your Stuffed Animal

1. Fabric Choice: One of the easiest ways to personalize your stuffed animal is by selecting unique fabrics. Consider patterned fabrics, fabrics with interesting textures, or even fabrics that have a sentimental value.
2. Add Features: Embroider or stitch eyes, a nose, and a mouth on the face of your stuffed animal. You can also use buttons or safety eyes for the eyes.
3. Add Clothing or Accessories: Consider sewing a simple vest, scarf, or hat for your stuffed animal. You could also add a bow, a ribbon, or any other embellishment you like.
4. Personalized Tags: You could sew a small fabric tag with the recipient’s name or a special message into a seam of the stuffed animal.

How to make a stuffed bunny with your grandkids

Part 1: Creating the Pattern

1. Draw the Design: Sketch a simple bunny design on paper. It should include a round body, an oval head, two long ears, and four limbs. You can create the front and back body parts separately for a more three-dimensional shape.
2. Refine and Add Seam Allowance: Clean up your design lines. Add a 1/4 inch (or your preferred seam allowance) around each part for the seam allowance.
3. Cut Out the Pattern: Cut out each part of your design, including the seam allowance.

Part 2: Cutting and Sewing

1. Select and Prep Your Fabric: Choose the fabric for your bunny. You might want to choose a soft, plush fabric like fleece or minky for a cuddly toy.
2. Trace and Cut Out the Fabric: Pin your pattern pieces to your fabric and trace around them with a fabric pen or chalk. Then, cut out the fabric along your trace lines.
3. Sew the Pieces Together: Start by sewing the pairs of pieces together. Sew the right sides (the sides you want on the outside of the bunny) together, leaving the seam allowance you accounted for. Also, leave an opening in each part to allow for stuffing.
4. Turn and Stuff: Turn each part right-side-out through the openings. Use a stuffing tool or a long stick to push out the corners and edges. Then, stuff each part with polyester fiberfill or your chosen stuffing material.
5. Close Openings: Stitch up the openings. This can be done by hand or with a sewing machine if the opening is large enough.
6. Assemble: Now, sew all the stuffed parts together to assemble your bunny. You can do this by hand using a ladder stitch or a whip stitch.

Part 3: Personalizing Your Stuffed Bunny

1. Fabric Choice: The fabric you choose can greatly affect the look and feel of your bunny. You might select a patterned fabric, a fabric with a unique texture, or a fabric in the recipient’s favorite color.
2. Add Features: You can stitch or embroider eyes, a nose, and a mouth on the face of your bunny. You could also add whiskers using embroidery thread or thin pieces of felt.
3. Add Clothing or Accessories: Consider making a little bow tie, scarf, or dress for your bunny. You could also make a little carrot out of fabric to go with your bunny.
4. Add a Tail: A fluffy pom-pom can make a cute tail for your bunny. You can either make a pom-pom out of yarn or buy a ready-made one from a craft store.

Sewing kits and supplies

CiyvoLyeen Sea Animals Sewing Kit

If your grandchild is a beginner, this kit is a perfect place to start, as each character boasts pre-placed holes that are easy to follow. Not only is it simple, but the under-the-sea creatures are colorful and downright adorable!

Make a Bunny Friend Craft Kit

Are you looking for an even simpler way to craft a stuffed bunny? Look no further than this craft set, which includes not only the easy-to-sew stuffed animal but also clothes and accessories.

Made By Me My Very Own Sewing Machine

It’s never too early to learn how to use a sewing machine, and this one is the perfect size for the smallest of crafters.

Enjoy the process, Grandma! Remember that not everyone gets everything the first time, so go into your sewing session with an open mind and a little patience. Have fun, and please show me what you end up crafting with your grands 🙂 I would love to see their creations!