Soft Toy Making (Part 1)

Soft Toy Making
Three super little toys to make in next to no time! Our cat, rabbit and teddy are ideal soft toys for kids and they’re completely safe!
These little friends are very easy and fast to make so you can satisfy several young customers very quickly. Pink Rabbit is made from a cotton stretch material and little Ted from a nylon stretch velour, both easy to find in fabric shops and not expensive.

You will need
Pink Rabbit

• Soft pink stretchy fabric, 41dm (16”) wide in the direction of the stretch and 23cm (9”) long
• 19 x 10cm (7 ½” x 4”) felt for waistcoat
• ¾ oz polyester stuffing
• 30cm (12”) soft narrow ribbon
• Sewing threads in colours to match the body and waistcoat
• Embroidery or thick thread for the face, purple
• Soft pencil to mark the pattern

Step by step
Pink rabbit
Step 1
Copy  or cut out the patterns for the body and ears from our pattern pack in the centre pages. Make a second ear pattern. Cut the waistcoat pattern and set aside for the moment.

Step 2
Fold the fabric in hair, right sides together. Pin to it the body pattern and the two ear patterns, matching the arrows with the direction of the stretch and leaving sufficient space around them to add 6mm (1/4”) seam allowances. With the soft pencil, trace the patterns on to the fabric. Do not cut anything yet; keep in mind that the traced lines are the stitching lines.

Step 3
Remove the patterns and re-pin the two layers of fabric together. Take to the sewing machine and stitch all around them on the marked lines, leaving open the lower end of the ears and an opening on the side of the body. If you prefer to sew by hand, also sew before cutting , using strong thread and a small back-stitch.

Step 4
Cut out, adding 6mm (1/4”) seam allowances. Snip into the seam allowance in any curves and corners, especially in between legs, under arms and at neck.

Step 5
Turn Pink Rabbit and his two ears right side out. With a blunt stick (a chopstick is ideal) push out the seams, especially legs, under and ends of ears.

Step 6
Stuff, pushing filling in with your stick when necessary. First stuff the head fairly firmly, giving it a nice rounded appearance and keeping the neck narrow. Then stuff the arms, stopping when they reach the body. Now stitch a row of stitches from the shoulder to the underarm point, either by hand or machine. Next stuff the feet, making sure they are firmly filled before stuffing the legs. Stop again when you reach the body and stitch two rows from each side to the crotch. Now stuff the body roundly but firmly. Close the opening with tiny stitches.

Step 7
Now embroider the face. Following the position of the features on the pattern and, using pins as markers, mark the points where the eyes, nose and mouth will go, Embroider them as shown in the pattern. Making French knots (fig. 1) for the eyes, or satin-stitch (fig. 2), and straight stitches for the rest, including the whiskers. Start and end your thread on the top of the head where the ears will be placed, so it will be hidden afterwards.

Step 8
Do not stuff the ears. Turn in the lower edge 6mm (1/4”), and run a gathering stitch all around the folded edge. Pull slightly. Place on the head where indicated in the paper pattern and stitch securely all around, at least three times.

Step 9
Place the waistcoat pattern on the felt, pin, mark and cut out. Right sides together, fold fronts over back, matching shoulders, and stitch the shoulders together with a 3mm (1/4”) seam. Turn the waistcoat right side out and press the shoulder seams open with your fingers.

Step 10
To finish Pink Rabbit, put the waistcoat on him and tie the ribbon round his neck with a nice bow.