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How to Make Homemade Stuffed Animals

Children love stuffed animals and can be included in the design process involved in making homemade stuffed animals. A rainy day art session could include drawing and coloring a picture of their favorite critter. The picture can be enlarged on a copy machine and duplicated with fabric and stuffing. A wide variety of animal skin printed fabric is available at sewing stores, and the child might enjoy picking out the fabric for this sewing project.

Things You'll Need

Crayons
Paper
Copy machine
Scissors
Straight pins
Fabric
Needle and thread or sewing machine
Polyester stuffing
Fabric paint

Instructions

- 1
  Draw and color an animal on the paper with the crayons, and enlarge the drawing with a copy machine.
- 2
  Cut out the drawing with scissors for the stuffed animal template.
- 3
  Pin the template to a folded piece of fabric and cut out two pieces -- one for the front and one for the back of the animal.
- 4
  Pin the front and back to each other at the edges, right sides of the fabric facing. Sew a straight seam 1/4 inch from the edge of the fabric pieces, leaving a 3-inch wide edge area unsewn.
- 5
  Turn the fabric animal to the right side by pulling the fabric through the unsewn area. Stuff the animal with polyester stuffing. Hand sew the opening closed.
- 6
  Paint animal facial features and hair on the stuffed animal with the fabric paint. Let the paint dry two hours.

Stuffed Animals