Stitch & Turn Stuffie (In-the-Hoop)

Create your own in-the-hoop stuffed plush with this easy-to-follow DIY plushie tutorial! Some make great cat toys, others come with stiff felt details like dragon wings and dinosaur scales.  This tutorial is just a slight modification from our other stitch-and-turn stuffies, but the process is similar. Keep reading to learn more.

Let's start with those printed dieline templates...

Lightly spray the back of each with temporary spray adhesive and put it on your chosen color body fabric, cutting out your fleece shapes along the two printed dielines.

Also use your templates to cut the dinosaur spikes out of your stiff felt.

As a note for Draco: We recommend using a thinner material. Thicker fleece may inhibit your ability to turn the stuffie right-side out.

The first thing that sews is a dieline. Lightly spray the back of one of your body pieces with temporary spray adhesive, and place it so it completely covers the dieline. After that, a dieline will stitch to tack down your fabric, and then all the dinosaur details will stitch out.

If you are stitching the Meowy Mouse Cat Toy (In-the-Hoop), there will be no felt pieces to place. After you've stitched the inner details, place the back fabric piece so that the edges match up with the piece already in the hoop, then proceed to stitch the back piece fabric tackdown. Once this is done, skip the next two steps.

If you are stitching the dinosaur, your next step is to place your spikes. You want to place them upside down, making sure the majority of the spike is contained within the body. I used tape to help secure mine down. Finally, place your back body fabric on top and stitch your last step.

The steps for Draco, the dragon plushie, are similar. The first thing that sews is a dieline. Lightly spray the back of one of your body piece with temporary spray adhesive, and place it so it completely covers the dieline. After that, a dieline will stitch to tack down your fabric, and then all the dinosaur details will stitch out.

Your next step is to place your dragon wings and ears. You want to place them upside down, making sure the pieces are completely contained within the body. I used tape to help secure mine down, then folded the wings in twice and taped again. Finally, place your back body fabric on top and stitch your last step.

Alternatively, you can loop ribbon in place of the felt pieces, to create a toy for smaller children to hold. Just make sure to tape down the ribbon pieces, making sure the ends are set off the template area.

In order to make turning your in-the-hoop stuffie easier, remove as much of the remaining tearaway stabilizer as possible, and clip your corners and excess felt edges so there’s less bulk when right side out.

It will help to clip the curves and corners at this point, to help turn your stuffie inside out and maintain its shape. This diagram shows in red where you would make cut marks on a rounded curve, or a sharp curve. Take care not to cut into the seam itself.

Clipping curves is expecially important for the neck, tail, and feet details on your stuffed creatures.

Next, turn your plushie right side out through the opening.

It can be helpful to use your finger or a long object like a pen to push out the corners of your design.

Start stuffing with your polyfill. If stitching the dinosaur or dragon, leave some breathing room before filling them completely.

Fold the tail down and inward a bit after the initial stuffing and stitch it partway closed. It may help to iron the folds in to keep them in place.

TIP: Stuff as you go! To make sure your stuffing is evenly distributed and you don't have a lumpy creature, keep the stuffing coming as you finish the last couple stitches.

If you used ribbon instead of stiff felt, here is what it should look like!

There you have it! Your in-the-hoop stitch-and-turn stuffie has come to life and is ready to play! 

Your stegosaurus lives! Make him a little scene to play in, give him accessories, or make him some extra playmates -- whatever your heart desires!

Likewise, if you have chosen to stitch your little dragon, this is what the finished piece looks like!

Make your stuffies a scene to play in, a perfect way to let the imagination roam free!