Do you want to make a custom stuffed animal that looks just like your furry feline friend? Crafting a cat stuffed animal is an enjoyable weekend project that results in a unique memento you’ll treasure for years.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Use common craft materials like felt, stuffing, thread, and accessories to stitch together a stuffed cat based on a paper pattern that you design or find online.
Shape the head, body, limbs, ears, and tail, stuff firmly with stuffing, and stitch closed.
In this comprehensive DIY guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to make a quality cat stuffed animal, including: choosing a pattern and supplies, techniques for cutting, sewing and stuffing, adding details like eyes and other features, and tips for customizing your creation.
Gather Your Supplies for the Cat Stuffed Animal
Making a cute and cuddly cat stuffed animal is easy and fun when you have all the necessary supplies. Before getting started, you will need to collect everything you need. Having all the materials ready will allow you to seamlessly craft your cat plushie step-by-step from start to finish.
Fabric and Stuffing
The most essential items are the fabric and stuffing for the cat’s body. Choose fluffy, soft fabrics like fleece, minky, or flannel so your stuffed cat feels nice and cozy when complete.
- For a 12-inch stuffed cat, you will need 1⁄2 yard to 1 yard of main fabric, depending on if you want fur all over or just on the cat’s tummy and head.
- Get poly-fil, cotton stuffing, or recycled fiberfill to stuff your cat.
Cat Pattern and Sewing Essentials
Unless you plan to design your own original cat pattern, you will also need:
- A cat stuffed animal pattern, either self-drafted or purchased
- Thread to match your main fabric
- Pins, scissors, needles, and other basic sewing tools
- Sewing machine or supplies for hand-sewing
- Consider getting embroidery floss for whiskers and water-soluble fabric marker for facial features.
Customization Supplies (Optional)
To accessorize your stuffed cat, consider gathering:
- Googly eyes, bells, or sequins for decoration
- Small black pom-poms for paws
- Ribbon for a collar or bow
With all your materials gathered in advance, you’ll have everything needed for a purr-fect stuffed cat in no time! Check off each supply as you prepare to begin this fun craft.
Choose or Design a Paper Pattern
The first step in creating your custom cat stuffed animal is to either choose or design an appropriate paper pattern. Having the right paper pattern ensures your finished cat plush will have good proportions and shape. Here are some tips for picking or making a paper pattern:
Use an Existing Paper Pattern
The easiest route is to find an existing stuffed animal paper pattern that you like. Many sewing books and websites offer free printable stuffed animal patterns. Look for a basic cat shape in the size you want. When printing, be sure to print at “actual size” so your proportions are accurate.
Some good pattern options include:
- Simplicity’s Stuffed Animal Pattern #S9185, which includes a sitting cat pattern piece
- AllFreeSewing’s round-headed Adorable Stuffed Cat Pattern
- CraftPassion’s Faceless Stuffed Cat Pattern, great for beginners
Trace the paper pattern pieces onto cardboard or cardstock to make your pattern sturdier for repeated use.
Make Your Own Pattern
For a one-of-a-kind stuffed cat, you can create your own custom paper pattern. This takes more work but allows you to make the cat just as you envisioned.
Start by finding images of cats in the specific pose you want. Use those as references to sketch the basic body shape. Make sure to draw full-body outlines showing the head, body, legs, and tail position. Refine the shapes and proportions.
The head and body widths should be roughly similar, while the legs and tail should be narrower. The cat’s nose, eyes and mouth will be added later with applique or embroidery after sewing.
Next, add 1⁄4-1⁄2 inch seam allowances around the drawn outlines. Seam allowances are essential for sewing the fabric pieces together with right sides facing in. Also mark areas like the tummy that will be cut open later for stuffing the plush.
When your paper pattern pieces are ready, cut them out and tape them together arranged in their sewn positions. This helps visualize if the proportions look right for the cat pose before making the actual plush. Refine the shapes further if needed.
For detailed dimensions and considerations when drafting stuffed animal patterns, refer to crafty sites like Curiousity Steept for guidelines.
Once you have final paper pattern pieces, trace them to cardstock and you’re ready to start cutting fabric! Starting from a quality pattern is key to sewing up an adorable cat plush.
Prepare, Pin, and Cut Out the Felt Pieces
Once you have selected your pattern and fabrics, it’s time to prepare the felt pieces for sewing. Having accurately cut pieces is crucial for ensuring your cat stuffed animal turns out well. Follow these key steps:
Pick Good Quality, Uniform Felt
Opt for good quality 100% wool or wool-blend felt that is uniform in thickness and has crisp edges. Stay away from bargain felt, which can be uneven and fray when cut. Top brands like National Nonwovens and Pellon offer excellent doll-making felt options.
Secure the Pattern Pieces Before Cutting
To avoid the pieces moving around, secure the paper pattern pieces to the felt using pins or fabric glue before cutting them out. Position them mindfully to optimize felt usage. If using pins, place them just inside the cutting line so they don’t get in the way.
Always Cut Out Pieces Individually
While it may be tempting to stack multiple felt layers when cutting, it’s vital to cut out each piece one at a time. Even slightly uneven pressure while cutting can distort pieces below the top layer. Taking the time upfront leads to higher quality results.
Add Seam Allowance as Needed
If your cat stuffed animal pattern doesn’t already include seam allowances, remember to add about 1⁄4 inch around each piece before cutting. This gives you wiggle room while sewing. Mark the cutting line clearly to avoid confusion.
Use Sharp Scissors for Clean Cuts
Felt dulls scissors rapidly, so invest in a dedicated pair of sharp fabric scissors to get neat, fray-resistant cuts. Dull scissors can smash and distort felt edges. For straight cuts, rotary cutters and acrylic rulers also work great.
Save All the Leftover Felt Pieces
Resist the urge to toss those fabric scraps! leftover felt can come in handy for making unique patches, accents, and even whole stuffed animals later. Store fragments sorted by color in labeled zipper bags or craft supply drawers 😊👍.
With quality felt, secured patterns, and sharp cutting tools, you’ll have the ingredients for stitching up adorable cat plushies. Just take your time and cut carefully for best results. Let’s get crafting!
Sew the Cat’s Basic Shape
Once you have cut out all the pieces for your stuffed cat according to the pattern, it’s time to sew them together into the basic cat shape. The most important seam is the one that joins the front and back pieces together along the cat’s belly and sides.
This seam defines the overall shape of the cat.
Start by pinning the front and back pieces together with right sides facing each other. Be sure to match up the shoulder seams. Then, using a 1⁄4 inch seam allowance, stitch from one front leg opening down around the belly curve, and back up to the other front leg opening.
Leave openings for the legs and neck unsewn for now so you can turn the piece right side out.
Next, pin and sew the tail piece to the back at the rump area of the cat. The tail will stick straight out from the body horizontally once the stuffed cat is finished. Leave the bottom of the tail open for stuffing later.
Now you’re ready to sew the head to the body. Match up the shoulders on the head piece to the shoulders on the front body piece and pin them. Then, sew them together with a 1⁄4 inch seam, pivoting at the shoulders and continuing down the neck opening.
Again, leave the neck opening free for turning and stuffing.
Shaping Details
A couple key shaping details to pay attention to:
- The curve of the cat’s belly is very important for that cute rounded cat shape. Make sure not to pull the seam too tight here.
- The cat’s rump should bulge out slightly – ease in any extra fabric here by gently stretching the back seam a bit as you sew.
- Allow enough neck space for stuffing so your cat can hold its head up properly.
Once sewn, carefully clip the curves and trim the seams. Turn the cat right side out through the neck opening. Use a turning tool or chopstick to gently push out the curves. Stuff firmly with fiberfill, paying special attention to push filling into the head, tail, and feet.
Finally, hand sew the openings closed!
Stuff and Stitch Closed the Appendages and Body
Now that the appendages like the head, ears, arms, legs, and tail have all been cut out, stuffed, and detail added, it’s time to stitch them closed and attach them to the body. Make sure to use a needle and thread that blends with the fabric color so the stitches are less visible.
Start by stuffing the body cavity firmly with poly-fil stuffing, which is a popular and affordable option for DIY stuffed animals. Compress the stuffing material every few inches to avoid lumpy areas. Be generous with the stuffing, especially in the middle, but don’t overstuff.
Next, stuff the arms, legs, ears, and tail. The arms and legs can be stuffed more lightly since they are thinner appendages. Use a chopstick or pencil to poke the stuffing into smaller areas and fully fill out crevices and points.
Then, pin the appendages into place on the body and hand sew them closed using a simple whip stitch or ladder stitch. Closely stitch the seam between the ear and the head so stuffing does not come out. Sew the arms and legs directly to the sides of the body.
Attach the tail to the back, tapering it off to look natural.
Once all the appendages are secured onto the body blank with the desired amount of stuffing, use matching thread and carefully hand sew the opening of the body closed, either with a ladder stitch or whip stitch. Stitch slowly and neatly since this area will be the most visible.
Double knot thread ends and tuck inside once you are finished stitching.
Give the new stuffed cat shape a once over, making sure all appendages are secure and no areas have thin spots or excess lumps of stuffing. Lightly squeeze and mold the stuffed animal to achieve the desired look. If needed, carefully unstitch an area to adjust stuffing, then restitch closed.
Conclusion
Creating a custom cat stuffed animal requires some sewing skills and patience but is tremendously rewarding. Follow the pattern precisely for best results. Don’t be afraid to experiment with unique fabric prints, custom accessories, and creative detailing to make your stuffed cat truly one-of-a-kind.
Your new furry friend will be a beloved keepsake for years to come!
