Make Your Own Koko Kringle Plush

This is a tutorial for all the chocolate-loving sleuths out there. Make your own Koko Kringle plush based on the Nancy Drew computer games. It's more than just cute... it even has a puzzle on the back!

• A Printer
• 2 Sheets of Printable Iron-on Heat Transfer Paper
• I'm using TransOurDream Tru-Heat Transfer Paper
• Check whether you have an inkjet or laser printer and select the paper accordingly.
• 100% White Cotton Fabric
• Needle and Red Thread (or Sewing Machine)
• Iron
• Parchment Paper
• Scissors/Craft Knife/Paper Cutter
• Fabric Scissors
• Pillow Stuffing
• Sewing Pins
• Small Clamps or Binder Clips

Print the Koko Kringle art PDF below onto your iron-on heat transfer paper. The PDF has both the front and back art, one for each piece of paper. Make sure to give it at least 30 minutes to completely dry before you handle it.

Using a pair of scissors/ruler and a craft knife/paper cutter, cut the design out around the edges.

Check if your heat transfer has a backing paper to remove. Make sure you peel it off before moving to the ironing step!

Pre-heat your iron to the cotton/high setting.

Note: Your transfer will go on the fabric smoother if you iron the fabric before transferring.

If you ironed the wrinkles out of your fabric, let it cool before placing your art.

Now you're ready to place your Koko Kringle art onto your fabric. Give the art about 1in/2.5cm of space on all sides.

Make sure to place parchment paper or a protective paper over your transfer before ironing.

Then firmly press your transfer onto the fabric with the iron. Check your transfer paper instructions for how long to press. The TransOurDream paper I'm using says to iron for about 1 minute, especially taking care to get the corners.

Check frequently to make sure you stop before ironing too much! The print should be firmly attached without seeing the fabric texture.

After you finish ironing, let your iron-on cool and lightly brush your fingers over the edges of your transfer to make sure it melded with the fabric.

After your transfer is done, cut off any extra fabric at this stage leaving about 1in/2.5cm of fabric on all sides.

Lay out the two pieces of ironed fabric with the transfer sides touching (so the front and back of the Koko Kringle face each other). They should line up top-to-top and bottom-to-bottom.

Use sewing pins to hold the fabric together. Pin around the outside edge of the fabric and not through the art.

With your needle and thread (or sewing machine) sew along the edge of the transfer.

It's better to sew into the transfer just a bit so the white does not show through later.

Leave about a 3in/7.5cm gap open at the bottom. You will need this space to turn your plush inside out to see the art again.

Now cut off the extra fabric down closer to the seam (but not too close so your sewing does not come unraveled!)

Tip: cut the corners diagonally to help them have more of a point.

Now you will pull your plush back through the opening you left when sewing. This was a bit difficult for me since my transfers were thick.

My plush got crinkled in this process, but hey, it gave it a more candy bar feel! So, don't worry too much if your plush gets a tad beaten up in this process.

Using the pillow stuffing of your choice, fill up your plush through the opening.

Tip: use a long tool (like closed scissors) to push the stuffing into the corners first, then fill up the middle. This will help make sure your corners are nice and stuffed.

Last step... you made it!!!

Using your clamps or binder clips, flatten the hole and clip on either side to help hold it flat while you sew.

Now, sew the opening shut to complete your pillow.

Tip: if you notice some white fabric showing at the end, you can use a red permanent marker to color it in 😉

I hope you enjoy your plush! In the words of Nancy Drew, "That's done!"