Shaggy dogs, fluffy cats, long-earedbunnies and, of course, teddy bears – hardly any child does not love these funny animals. And each person’s childhood is remembered first of all by a favorite soft toy, which he never parted with for a minute. A teddy bear worn to holes is a symbol of childhood affection, tenderness and love. And we do not forget about it even in the mature years of our lives. Child psychologists say that every child, starting from the age of three, should have their own soft toys made of various materials. This is necessary for the proper development of the baby. Modern stores are filled with soft toys, but among all this variety it is not easy to find a really high-quality thing. That is why many mothers began to think about the question – how to make a soft toy with your own hands? Thus bringing joy to your child, because a toy sewn by a beloved mother will be unique.
So, let's begin…
In order to sew soft toys with your own handswith your hands, you will need a little perseverance, patience, and of course, a “material base”, that is, the material from which you will create new friends for your children. Anything can be used as improvised means: scraps of lace, fabric, ribbons, old terry towels and felt hats that have gone out of fashion. Even previously unclaimed pieces of oilcloth, artificial leather and fur can come in handy. Patterns can be found in specialized magazines and stores. Or, using your imagination, create your own pattern. There is another option - rip apart a very old toy that you have and make a pattern based on its likeness. By the way, in handicraft stores, in addition to patterns, you can also buy other necessary materials for sewing. You will also need:
- Multicolored threads. Do not forget that they must be of different strengths.
- Synthepon, foam rubber, cotton wool, holofayber, or other soft fillers.
- Nose and eyes for the future bear or bunny. They can be successfully replaced with matching in size and color buttons or beads.
- Needles, scissors, thimble.
- A piece of cardboard, a ruler, a pencil or a pen - to create a pattern.
What fabrics are used for toys
You can sew a soft toy with your own hands from different fabrics. The material is selected depending on the type of product, its size and purpose:
- Knitwear. It easily stretches, so you can sew anything from it: a horse, a hare, a cube, or a ball.
- Artificial fur. Great for making pillows in the form of different animals.
- Silk. From this fabric it is quite problematic to sew a toy, as it slides in the hands. However, silk will be indispensable if you sew a doll. In this case, the material will go on dresses for a beauty.
- Cotton fabric. This kind of material, such as satin or chintz, has colorful and vivid shades. Therefore, it can be made from both a soft doll and various animals. From flannel or terry cloth will be an excellent bear with a soft fur.
- Wool, velor, velvet. Of these fabrics, wonderful soft toys will come out with their own hands, such as fox, bunny, or bear cub.
- Felt. Quite original handicrafts and toys can be made from felted fabric. It is best suited for small details of the toy: the tail, legs, noses, crests.
Dressing
For the pattern used to create softtoys with your own hands, thick cardboard is best. It fits well to the material and will retain its shape for several years. Be sure to save the pattern you made, because next time you will be able to sew a toy without preliminary preparation. Then apply the cardboard to the material and carefully trace the pattern with a pen, marker or piece of soap. Choose the color of the marker based on the color of the fabric - the outline should be clearly visible on the fabric. Next, cut out our parts from the material - that's it, you can start sewing.
Stitches
When creating toys, it is of great importancecorrect cutting of the material. Soft toys made with your own hands should be made with special care and thoroughness, only then will you be proud of your work. Be very careful that the paired parts correspond to the sides, that is, do not look in the same direction. If you are making a pattern from non-friable materials, then you can leave no allowance for the seams. Then, using a neat and small loop stitch, you can not turn the finished form inside out. If the material crumbles, it is necessary to make a pattern taking into account the allowance for the seams. Then they need to be sewn over the edge and turn the product to the front side. For sewing, use strong threads that match the color of the selected material.
We pass to the packing
The toy can be stuffed with different fillings.However, the most accessible is synthetic padding. A toy stuffed with synthetic padding can be machine washed. It does not lose its shape and dries quickly. This material can be easily purchased at hardware stores. For stuffing, you will need to tear the material into small pieces and tightly fill your blank with it. The next material is synthetic fluff in balls. It is more convenient to work with than synthetic padding. In addition, it does not roll or cake over time. It is easy to stuff with balls - the toy quickly acquires the desired shape. DIY soft toys filled with synthetic fluff also tolerate machine washing well. You can buy the material at points of sale of pillows and blankets. Despite their synthetic origin, neither synthetic padding nor synthetic fluff causes allergies. However, for many, it is important that everything in the toy is natural, so they choose materials such as wool, sliver (sheep's wool) or even various fragrant herbs for stuffing. You can cut an old sweater or socks made of natural wool into small pieces and fill the toy with them. This filler is best for stuffing small items made of thick materials. This way, any unevenness will not be visible. Sliver is sheep wool twisted into a roll. It can be purchased at craft stores. DIY soft toys stuffed with sliver are very soft and pleasant to the touch. To properly fill the toy, you need to fluff the material with your hands. The result will be a fluffy pile similar to cotton wool. You should stuff it evenly, avoiding unevenness and voids. The downside of such fillers is that they require special care. They can only be washed by hand and only as a last resort. Use cool water. And it is best to wipe the surface with a damp cloth. Be prepared for the fact that the product will have to be re-stuffed about once a year. In addition, many people are allergic to natural wool. And if you decide to sew a soft toy with your own hands as a gift, be sure to ask if the person it is intended for has allergies. Many needlewomen use various herbs for stuffing. You can buy them at a pharmacy or at the market. Dill, lemon balm, lavender, fennel, sage - these fragrant herbs will not only be a filler for your toy, but will also help you fall asleep, or, conversely, cheer up. Before stuffing, the herbs must be placed in a bag made of linen or calico. It is better if the blank for such a toy is with a zipper, since it can only be washed separately from the filler. And you will have to replace the stuffing regularly, since many herbs do not retain their aroma for long. DIY soft toys are a great way to create something new, get rid of unnecessary things in the house and get closer to your child. Be sure to involve your child in the work - this will teach him responsibility, and working with small parts will develop motor skills, perseverance and attention. And the last piece of advice - do not limit yourself in the choice of materials, fantasize! After all, the most unique things in the world were created not according to instructions, but in a burst of inspiration! We recommend reading:
