How to Make a Plush Animal

Fold the faux fur in half on a flat surface, fur side in.

Use chalk to draw a rough animal outline on the back of the fur. It's hard to create fine details with the bulkiness of fur, so keep it simple. Also keep in mind that this method will make a plush animal that's more-or-less two-dimensional (though puffy), so think about which angle to draw the animal from.

Cut out the animal shape, cutting through both layers of fur. If the fur is so thick that this is difficult, cut out one layer first, then put the backs of the fabric together, trace the shape, and cut it out again.

Sew features, like button eyes, on one or both pieces of fur now. You can do this once the animal is stuffed if you prefer, but it's harder at that point because you can't reach the back of the fabric.

Line the shapes up on top of each other, fur sides together. Pin together, from the outer edge toward the center, every inch or so around the outline.

Sew around the outline, using a generous seam allowance and leaving a few inches open at the end of the seam. Go over this seam again for extra toughness.

Trim the seam allowance quite close to the seams, especially around corners and in small areas like legs.

Turn the animal right-side-out. Use a pencil to poke small areas into position if necessary.

Stuff with stuffing, starting with any small parts. Keep in mind that stuffing may settle a little, gradually starting to make a plush animal less plump, so be reasonably firm now (though of course, not firm enough to strain the seams).

Turn the edges of the stuffing gap under, pin together if you like, and hand-sew this seam using small stitches and strong thread.