Plush Doll Tutorial

How to Make a Miniature Plush Doll

By MLC 2011

| Doll Pattern | Optional Coat Pattern |

If you decide to use and post the pattern, please credit me, thank you!

Using the Pattern

***The pattern is marked with measurements to make it scalable***

1. Print the pattern
1. Click the link, “Doll Pattern”
2. Right click, “save as” and follow the prompts
3. Print from a photograph/picture program
2. Cut the pieces out
3. Pin them to fabric (for the ones that need 2 pieces, fold the fabric over before pinning it in place)
4. Leave ½ cm of fabric around the pattern edges (or more depending on how thick you want the limbs and torso)

Limbs

1. Leave a lot of space at the top of the pattern (as shown) when you make the initial cuts
2. Fold in half (over the dotted lines in the patterns)
3. Sew along the bottom and edge, leaving the top open
1. *optional* you may cut it so that the bottoms are rounded
4. The limbs should look like small tubes: stuff them with stuffing of your choice
5. Leave some of the space at the top free because you will be inserting that part into the torso (so that the limbs can be sewn into it)
6. Sew a straight line to close the stuffing off (make sure the seem is closer to the stuffing than it is to the end of the limb)

Optional (feet)

1. Use the circular patterns and follow the steps for “Using the Pattern”
2. Sew into the soles of the feet instead of sewing the bottom of the legs shut

Head

*** You may have to cut the head a bit larger than shown in the pattern (depending on personal preference and hair style) ***

1. Follow the instructions for “Using the Pattern”
2. Make sure you make the neck extra long, as this will be used to connect it to the body
3. Hair and eyes can be pinned to the outer sides at this stage
4. Sew the seams shut, but make sure you leave the neck open enough so that you can stuff it
5. Stuff it, leaving enough loose space in the neck to allow you to insert it into the body
6. Insert it into the completed Torso and follow the steps for “Finish the Doll”

Torso

Arms/sides

1. Start with one side
2. Pin the two pieces together. As you do this, pin one of the arms between them in its respective slot
3. Make sure the stuffed arm is inside the torso and not hanging out of the future seam (only the long/loose end should be hanging out)
4. Sew the pieces together
5. Using the other side of the torso, open it to make sure the arm is attached to the seam you just finished
6. Fold the side back so that it’s “inside out” (the stuffed arm should be inside the torso)
7. If the other arm fits inside of the torso, allowing you to pin everything in place, repeat steps 1 – 6 and skip to step 15. If not, go to step 8.
8. Fold one of the ends to the other side over as though you are hemming a garment
9. Pin the other arm to that end only (stuffed end should be pointing away from the hemmed side)
10. Make sure the torso is “inside out”
11. Start from the bottom of the other side and sew the seam shut until you reach the arm
12. Flip the torso so that its not “inside out” anymore
13. The second side (the open arm slot) should naturally fold over now that you’ve started sewing the seam (if not, make sure it is folded like a hem)
14. Sew along the nice, folded edges you made to secure the arm in place

Legs/bottom

15. Fold one of the bottom sides up (make sure the torso not inside out), into the body as though you are about to hem a garment
16. Pin both legs along that side with the loose ends up, inside of the torso (stuffed ends should be hanging free)
17. Fold the other bottom edge of the torso up as you did in step 15
18. Sew along that outer edge, securing the legs in place

Finish the Doll

1. Fold the top ends over as though you are about to hem a garment
2. Insert the completed head and hold it against the back end (you can pin it in place if you want)
3. Stuff the torso
4. Sew the folded ends shut, securing the stuffing and head in place