Customizable Stuffie and the Secret Formula to Stuffie Clothes

Everybody loves stuffies! But have you ever wanted to completely customize your own? Or learn how to sew and crochet clothes that work for ANY stuffie, not just the one here?

This instructable will teach you how to make a generic stuffie body that you can turn into any animal. I already had a sheep, so I decided to make a dragon. I'll also give instructions for making the sheep head and dragon wings, plus some other random animal parts.

AND, the second part of this instructable teaches you how to take measurements and draw patterns for ANY and EVERY stuffie in existence.

Abbreviations:

Ch: chain

Sch: single crochet

PC: popcorn stitch

Dch: double crochet

Ss: slipstitch

Sch2tog - single crochet 2 together

Hdch - half double crochet

Tch - triple crochet

RND: round

"": marks what to repeat

This is my first time trying to write out a pattern I've come up with (I usually just wing it and it somehow turns out okay) so please forgive if I get some of the terminology wrong. If you like this instructable, please vote for me in the stuffed toys contest.

• Yarn
• Crochet hook (I used a 5mm one)
• Googlie eyes or buttons
• Stuffing or plastic bags
• Fabric and sewing supplies (optional, for making clothes)
• Yarn needle (optional, but helpful. I didn't have one, and I'll show you how I sewed things on without one)

Do the magic ring (or start a circle however you're comfortable). Do six sch stitches in it. Slipstitch into the first stitch. Chain 1. 6

RND 1: sch 2 in each. Ss into first. Ch 1. 12

RND 2: "Sch in first from hook, Sch 2 in the next". Repeat this sequence until you reach the end. Ss into first. Ch 1. 18

RND 3: "Sch in first from hook, sch in next, 2 sch in the next". Repeat until you reach the end. Ss into first. Ch 1. 24

If you want the body bigger, keep increasing in this way (1 more stitch in between) until you reach the size you want. Note: if you make all of the parts bigger, the dragon and sheep patterns wont fit. Only do this if you can figure out how to enlarge those patterns to fit, or if you don't want either of them.

RND 4-13: Sch in each stitch until the end. Ss in first. Ch 1. 24

If you want your stuffie to be taller, keep doing this until you reach the height you want.

RND 14: "Sch in first 2, sch2tog". Repeat until end. Ss into first. Ch 1. 18

RND 15: "Sch in first, sch2tog". Repeat until end. Ss into first. Ch 1. 12

Now fill the body up with stuffing

RND 16: Sch2tog in each to close. You can go around like this multiple times until it closes

End it, and weave in the loose strands

Start a circle using the magic ring (or however you like to start circles). 6 sch in the ring, then close it. Ss into the first stitch. Ch 1.

RND 1: 2 sch in each. Ss into the first. Ch 1. 12

RND 2-8(arms)/10(legs): Sch in each, Ss to close, ch 1. 12

If you want the arms or legs longer or shorter, keep adding rows until you reach the length you want.

Stuff the arms/legs.

To attach them to the body: First, pinch together the top, and slip stitch it closed. Then, slide your hook through the arm, and through the body. Slip stitch across until the arm/leg is secure.

Make 2 arms and 2 legs.

Start a circle using the magic ring (or however you start circles). Put 6 sch in it and pull tight. Ss into first. Ch 1. 6

RND 1: 2 sch in each. Ss into first, Ch 1. 12

RND 2: "Sch in the first from hook, 2 sch in the next." Repeat until you reach the end. Ss into first. Ch 1. 18

RND 3: "Sch in the first two, 2 sch in the next". Repeat until you reach the end. Ss into first. Ch 1. 24

RND 4: "Sch in the first three, 2 sch in the next." Repeat until the end. Ss into first. Ch 1. 30

To make a bigger head, keep increasing in this mannor, adding an extra sch between each.

RND 5-10: Sch in each. Ss into 1st. Ch 1. 30

If you made the head bigger, add more rows so they match the amount of rows you added. If you added 3, you should do 8 rows with no increases.

RND 11: "Sch in next 3, sch2tog". Repeat until end. Ss into first. Ch 1. 24

RND 12: "Sch in next 2, sch2tog" Repeat until end. Ss into first. Ch 1. 18

RND 13: "Sch in the next, sch2tog". Repeat until end. Ss into first. Ch 1. 12

Stuff the head

RND 14: Sch2tog in all stitches. Do this until the circle closes

Tie a bit of string on the top of the body, where you want the head to go. Then, using your hook, pull the string into the head. Then pull it into the body. You're basically sewing, weaving the string in and out of the head and body to connect them. (If you have a yarn needle you can just sew them together with that). Do this all the way around the head.

When you reach the end, pull the string halfway through so that you have a loop. Then tuck the end into the loop, and pull. Knot it, and weave the edges in.

Now just glue on the googlie eyes, and you're done! I used gorilla glue, but you can use whatever glue you have (but probably not Elmer's). Or if you're using buttons, sew them on.

Now that you have a base, you probably want to turn it into something. Here's the sheep pattern, dragon pattern, add-on snout and bonus bunny and bear ears.

Dragon Stuff

Wings

Make 2.

Start a circle using the magic circle (or however you like to start circles), and out 4 sch stitches in it.

Row 1: Ch 2, turn. 2 dch in the first stitch, dch in the next 2, 2 dch in the last.

Row 2: Ch 2, turn. 2 dch in the first stitch, dch in the next, 2 dch in the next two, dch in the next, 2 dch in the last.

Row 3: Ch , turn. 2 dch in the first stitch, "dch in each of the next three, 2dch in next" 2dch in the next. Repeat part in quotes until end.

Row 4: Ch 2, turn. "Dch in the first stitch, hdch in the next two, sch in the next, hdch in the next two, dch in the next" repeat until end.

Row 5: Ch 2, turn. "Dch in the first stitch, hdch in the next, sch in the next, ss in the next, sch in the next, hdch in the next, dch in the next" repeat until end.

Row 6: Ch 2, turn. "Dch in the first stitch, hdch in the next, sch in the next, ss in the next, sch in the next, hdch in the next, dch in the next" Now, start as if you were going to dch2tog in the stitch you just dch-ed in and the next (pull up a loop in each), BUT, instead of pulling all the loops through, finish it like you would a tch (pull 2 loops off at a time). Now repeat the part in quotations, starting in the stitch you just worked in.

Rows 7-8: Ch 2, turn. "Dch in first stitch, hdch in next, sch in next, ss in next, sch in next, hdch in next, dch". Tch in next. Repeat part in quotations

End it and weave the edges.

Take your base color, and attach it to the side of the wing. Ss all around the edges to create a border. When you reach the end, cut and weave the ends.

Then, attach the yarn to the top middle, and ss down to the wingtip. Cut and weave the ends.

Sew it to the back of your stuffie the same way you sewed on the head, weaving yarn through the wing and the body to secure it.

Spikes

Ch 25, turn

"Sch in 2nd from hook. Dch, tch, dch all in the same stitch (3rd from hook). Sch in the next, ss in the next." Repeat until end.

Sew on the same way you did everything else, by weaving in and out of the spikes and the head (in a circular fashion)

Sheep Stuff

Head

Ch 34

Row 1: Ss in second from hook, ss in next 9. Ch 1 "Sch in next, PC in next" Repeat 8 times. Sch in next

Stop and check. Do the popcorns go around the neck, and do you have enough leftover on the side strands to tie? If not, go back and add more chains/popcorns. Keep checking throughout the pattern, and add or reduce stitches as needed

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, ss in the first stitch from hook and next 3, 2 ss in next, ss in next 5, ss in next, ss in next 3

Row 3: Ch 1, turn, "PC in first stitch, sch in next" repeat until 1 stitch left, PC in next.

Row 4: Ch 1, turn, ss in next 4, 2 ss in the next, ss in the rest

Row 5: Ch 1, turn. "Sch in next, PC in next" repeat until end

Row 6: Ch 1, turn, ss in next 5. 2 ss in each of the next 2

Row 7: Ch 1, turn, "PC in the first stitch, sch in next" repeat until end

Row 8: Ch 1, turn, ss in each

Row 9: Ch 1, turn, "PC in first stitch, sch in next, PC in next, sch2tog" repeat until end

Row 10: Ch 1, turn. Ss in each

Row 11: Ch 1, turn. "PC in first stitch, sch2tog" repeat until end

Row 12: Ch 1, turn. Sch2tog until end

Row 13: Ch 1, turn. Ss3tog

Cut and weave the ends

Then, Ch 12 in your body color. Sch in the next 7 starting with the second ch from the hook. Ss in the rest.

Make 2, and sew them onto the head. I recommend using a needle and thread for this. Or, if you have long ends, pull them with your hook to the inside of the sheep hat, and tie them tight together.

Sheep Dress

Ch 30. Make sure this fits around the waist of your stuffie. If it doesn't, add more chains. If it's too loose, take out some. Ss into first to create a big circle.

RND 1: Sch in second from hook, "sch in next. PC in next, sch in next" Repeat until end. Ss into first

RND 2: Ch 1, turn. Ss in each, ss into first

RND 3: Ch 1, turn. Sch in first "sch in next, PC in next" repeat until end, ss into first

RND 4: Ch 1, turn. Ss in each, ss into first.

RND 5: Ch 1, turn. Sch into first stitch, "sch in next, PC in next". Ch 6, and put the dress on your stuffie to make sure that is sufficient for the arm hole/strap (the arm should fit easily through). Skip 5 and repeat part in quotations 3 times. Ch 6, skip 5, and repeat part in quotations once. If you have extra stitches on the end, sch in them. Ss into last.

Go to the bottom of your dress (the part without straps). Attach your yarn to it. You're going to crochet starting on the bottom to make the skirt

RND 1: Ch 2, turn, 2 dch in each. Ss into first.

RND 2: Ch 2, turn. Depending on the amount of ruffle you want, either dch 2 in each or repeat the sequence "dch in the next, dch 2 in the next" until the end. Ss into first.

RND 3-5: Ch 2, turn. "Dch in next, dch 2 in the next" Repeat until end. (if you want less ruffle, do less "dch 2 in the next"s. If you want more, just do 2 dch in each). Ss into first.

If you want the skirt longer, just keep adding rows. Then end it, and weave the ends in.

Assorted Animal Parts

Snout

Make a magic ring (or however you start a circle, and put 6 sch in it. Pull it closed. Ss into the first, Ch 1

RND 1: 2 sch in each, ss into first, ch 1

RND 2-4: sch in each, ss into first, ch 1. Depending on how long you want it to be, add or take away rows.

Sew on to the head

Bunny Ears

Ch 3 using body color

Row 1: Sch in 2nd from hook, sch in next

Row 2: Ch 1, turn. Sch 2 in each

Row 3-11: Ch 1, turn. Sch in first, change color, sch in next , change color, sch in last. If you want longer ears, keep adding rows.

Row 12: Using your base color, ch 1, turn, and sch in each.

Make 2.

Either sew to head, ss to head, or attach to a pin and make removable ears. You can also attach a button and button them to the head.

Bear Ears

Start a circle using your non-base color. Put 4 sch stitches in it.

Row 1: Ch 1, turn. 2 sch in each stitch. Change color to your base color

Row 2: Ch 1, turn. "Sch in the first stitch, 2 sch in the next stitch" Repeat until end.

If you want larger inner ears, do more rows in the non-base color before switching. If you want larger outer ears, do more rows in the base color. The rule for increasing is the same as for making a circle.

Attach to head like bunny ears.

I've attaches some pictures which show you how to measure and draw patterns.

The basic measurements are:

• Arm width (all the way around the widest part of the arm)
• Arm length (from the neck to the hand)
  • For making short sleeve shirts, don't use the whole arm length. Use half or 3/4 of it, or however much you want
  • For long sleeves use the whole thing
• Neck width (all the way around the neck
• Neck to waist (just as it sounds)
• Body width (all the way around the body)
• Waist to legs (from where you want your pants to start, down to where the legs separate)
• Leg length (from where the legs start down to the feet)
  • For shorts, use less than the whole leg length
• Leg width (all the way around the legs)

Using these measurements, you can sew any item of clothing. I've attached a file on how to draw up patterns specific to your stuffie.

If you want to make a collared shirt, just cut a strip of fabric and sew it around the neck (it should be as long as the neck width)

For a dress, you can make a loose shirt and gather the bottom, then sew it onto a skirt. Or you can make a shirt that's really long.

For a jacket, make a shirt with long sleeves and cut through the front.

I made a pair of pajamas by laying out the shirt and pants patterns on top of each other, then cutting out a jumpsuit ish kind of thing.

The General Pattern For Dresses and Shirts:

First, Ch until you can wrap the chain around the stuffies waist. Then, add rows until you're just under the arm. When you're doing the row that's level with the arm, put the dress on the stuffie so you know where to make the arm hole. Ch across the arm hole and skip the necessary amount of stitches.

To make the skirt part (if you're making a dress), after ending the top row, attach your yarn to the bottom of the dress. Then, using whatever stitch you want, crochet around the bottom, adding extra stitches to make the skirt flare out or ruffle.

To make sleves, attach your yarn to the chain part of the arm hole. Sch all around the arm hole, stitching into the dress body as necessary. Keep adding rows until you reach the sleeve length.

To make jackets:

The same as making a shirt or dress, but make the initial chain longer than the body width, so you can cover one side of the opening with the other, and don't ss the chain into a loop. Just leave it open as you add rows.

I'll add pictures when I get the chance to make them.

Congratulations! You've made your own stuffie!

If you want me to add patterns for any more animal parts (I was thinking of adding cat ears and maybe elephant trunk and ears), let me know via comment and I'll come up with a pattern.

If you want me to draw up specific patterns for some of the clothes I've made, I can do that too.

Also, this is an entry in the stuffed toys contest, so if you liked this instructable please vote for me!