Plushies are fun to make for kids of all ages! There is something freeing about a monster plushie – the more imperfect the features are, the more charming the face is!
Because there is no “Perfect 10” when it comes to monster dolls, these are great beginner (ahem, gateway to sewing habit) projects. Use bright colors for this fun project.
Kids and grownups can make them for kids or grownups! For small children, substitute drawn or embroidered faces for button eyes. Learn how to make plush toys!
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This same process can be used with animal patterns to make plush animals.
When making a plushie, there are no rules – just have fun! Use fleece fabric that is super easy to sew and comes in great colors.
Plushies are sometimes referred to as softies or stuffed animals. They are a soft toy that is perfect to love. Here are our detailed instructions on how to make a monster plushie with our free pattern.
How to Make a Monster Plushie
Learn how to make your own plushie with these step by step instructions.
Materials
- 1/2 yard fleece for the monster
- Scraps of colored fleece or acrylic felt for monster features
- Thread
- Polyfill
Tools
- Sewing machine
- Scissors
- Hand sewing needle and thread
- Corner turner, recommended
- Removable fabric marker; I used a Frixion pen
Instructions
- To start, draw an idea on paper or directly on fabric. Here are some initial ideas for monsters.
And, here we just started with a Frixion pen and drew a shape for a monster right on the fabric. You can use your removable fabric marker of choice. NOTE: Always check your fabric markers to make sure they remove from your fabric!
- Cut out your monster body. Double the fabric when you cut it out so you have two - one for the front and one for the back. Make sure to leave 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch for seam allowance. You don't need to be exact - these are monsters! They are not perfect. This is why this is a perfect project with children.
- Now is where the fun begins! Let's start bringing our monster to life with features! Hmm - a three-eyed monster? Sure!
- Use other fleece scraps or acrylic felt for the features so that the plushie is washable. Here is this blue monster all planned out.
- Go to your sewing machine and put on your free motion foot. I used a grey thread to topstitch the features to the front of the monster body. The great thing about working with fleece is the thread gets buried in the nap of the fabric - so you really don't see it. Another reason why this is a great beginner project! Show the children how to stitch around the outside and let them sew for themselves!
- All of the features are now sewn down.
- Now it is time to sew the front (with the features) to the back of the monster. Lay the second piece of fleece on top of the finished front. If there is a right and wrong side of the fabric, place right sides together.
You'll want to leave an opening so the plushie can be turned and stuffed. I like to make sure the opening is a fairly straight place on the plushie - it makes it easier to sew closed later.
Here I am starting to sew the front and back of the plushies together. See how I'm starting at the lower section of the side of the monster. I backstitched at the beginning to secure my stitches.
- Stitch between 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch around. If it is a beginner, it is generally easier to sew closer to the 1/2-inch seam allowance. Remember - these are monsters and should not be perfect! 🙂
Stitch until you get about 3-inches from where you started. Backstitch and cut your threads. This opening is how we'll turn the monster right side out.
- Start turning the right side out through the opening.
- Here is blue monster partially turned right side out. Sometimes it is hard to get their little feet or arms or horns turned all of the way. Use a corner turner, bodkin, knitting needle, crochet hook or other pointed item to gently poke out the body parts. Be gentle so you don't poke a hole!
- Here the feet and horns are all poked out and ready for stuffing!
- Begin to stuff the small extremities first. Use your corner turner to help get the polyfill into the small places.
- Continue filling the plushie with stuffing until full. You don't want it super stuffed, or not very much stuffing - make it so that the plushie is huggable!
- Now it is time to sew the opening closed. Pin the seam allowance to the inside. Take your needle and thread. Knot your thread and begin sewing from the inside, so that your knot is hidden.
- Take a small stitch from one side of the fabric, and then from the other side. Again, the fleece is very forgiving, so a perfect project for beginner sewists!
- Continue sewing until the opening is closed.
- And, the monster plushie is done!
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Kai 5210 8-inch Dressmaking Shears (N5210) -
PILOT FriXion Clicker Erasable, Refillable & Retractable Gel Ink Pens, Fine Point, Assorted Color Inks, 10-Pack Pouch (11336) -
Alex Anderson's 4-in-1 Essential Sewing Tool: Includes Seam Ripper, Stiletto, Presser, and Turner -
Dritz 3150 Bamboo Point Turner & Presser
We had a spare afternoon and had fun making several monster plushies – and then my younger sewing partner had fun doing a monster plushie photoshoot – including Lucy (the dog).
And, we got to find out that plushies wash up nicely – while dog sitting Zorro who snatched one up and took immediately to the back yard and rolled it in the dirt – before we could take its picture! To the washer and dryer and like new! Note: Might need to keep the plushies away from the dog(s)!
Here is a very small plushie and the drawing that inspired the creation:
Gallery of an afternoon of sewing plushies:
Lucy and some of the monsters in their special photoshoot!
Can I wash my plushies?
Yes! If you use fleece fabric or other washable fabric for your plushies, they toss in the washer and dryer and come out looking like new! Ask me how I know. One of the dogs took a newly made plushie right out into the muddy yard! A toss into the washer and dryer and it was like new!
What kind of fabric should I use to make plushies?
What makes them a plushie is they are made with soft fabrics, like fleece. You can also make them with minkie fabric, but that is not a beginner fabric – it sheds the fur everywhere!
I wouldn’t use fur fabric. Most fur fabrics are not washable.
Is it hard to make a stuffed monster plushie?
Plushies are a perfect beginner sewing project for all ages! Using fleece makes it super easy, as the fleece has a little give but not too stretchy. You can easily ease seams.
There are no small pieces unless you want them, making this a super easy project for beginner sewists.
Want big stuffies? Just go big! Draw a big pattern to sew. Just make sure you have plenty of poly fill!
Are plushies suitable for young children?
If you are making a plushie for a young child, don’t use buttons for eyes. Sew the fabric or embroider on the features for your plushie. Buttons can be a choking hazard for young children.
You can use safety eyes, but it is easy and fun to embroider by hand or machine.
How long does it take to make a stuffed monster plushie?
It depends on how complex you make your plushie. When I’ve made them with children, we can be from start to finish in about an hour, so this is a perfect project to be productive, make something cute and have pretty instant rewards for your efforts!
See all of the DIY projects to make for children on Create Whimsy!
