"What do I need to start making stuffed animals?" is a question I've encountered a lot- even though plushies have been a popular item since the early 1900's, making them remains a sort of niche craft with far fewer guides and starter kits available than, say, quilting. That being the case, it's my aim here to provide a simple shopping list for the absolute beginner plush crafter just starting out with absolutely nothing.
I'll warn you now that getting set up for an entirely new craft is not very cheap; making plushies is a wonderful form of creative expression, but if you're getting into plush making because you think it would be cheaper to make your own than buy one finished you might be disappointed. The good news is that a lot of these items are one-time purchases that will last quite a while, so the first plush you make will be the only particularly expensive one. I'll also include some notes on cost-saving ways to acquire these items for the thrifty among you, and links to specific product recommendations! These are affiliate links, so I get a little kickback if you buy through them- it's a really easy way to help support my work here!
Tools
A good pair of sewing scissors
While you might be able to get away with using a particularly sharp pair of household scissors to cut cotton or similarly thin fabrics, high-quality sewing shears will truly be your best friend when working with thicker plush materials. I'm quite fond of my Gingher shears, but Fiskars is another reliable brand that's available in more shops and a bit less expensive.
Fabric markers
Other common tools for marking fabric- pencils, chalk, and pens- tend to struggle with softer plush fabrics, so a marker is usually your best bet. I prefer the air-soluble disappearing markers, but any marker that won't bleed through your fabric will do just fine. It doesn't even have to specifically be for fabric! I've used highlighters and gel pens to mark out patterns before- just test your marking tool of choice on a scrap piece to make sure it doesn't show through or bleed.
Hand-sewing needles
This is largely personal preference, so if you're new to sewing in general you'd probably be best off buying a variety pack like this one and seeing which feels best.
Pins & pincushion
(Optional?)
You don't technically need pins, but you probably will have a more frustrating time than nessecary if you don't have any. A pincushion can easily be made yourself, and in fact is an excellent beginner project, since you can use it right away and it doesn't matter if it's ugly!
Sewing machine & sewing machine needles
(Optional!)
Do you need a sewing machine to make plush toys? Absolutely not! But it will make things go a lot faster, so if you're short on free time and want to make anything larger than your fist on a regular basis it might be a good investment- you really don't need a fancy model to get started since most plush toys can be made using only a straight stitch and maybe a zig-zag, if you're getting fancy. I have a soft spot for Brother's basic model since that's what I started sewing on, but you can frequently find basic sewing machines for under $50 secondhand or refurbished too.
Seam ripper
(Optional!)
You don't need a seam ripper, but it's one of those things that's a lot better to have and not need than need and not have, plus they're super cheap so you might as well have one handy. I'd even recommend getting a multi-pack like this one, because in my experience nothing goes missing exactly when you need it like a seam ripper.
Materials
Fabric
There are a lot of fabric options! I also have a full post on the topic of plush fabrics, but here's a quick pros and cons overview of some of the more beginner-friendly options
Felt
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| Cons |
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Fleece
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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Minky
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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Old fleece blankets are an easy source of cheap fabric if you're being thrifty!
Thread
Unless you're planning on doing embroidery (in which case you will also need machine embroidery thread or hand embroidery floss) regular cotton thread will do just fine. Try to pick out colors that are somewhat similar to the fabric colors you're using, but don't worry about matching them exactly unless you're planning on doing applique.
Stuffing
For 99% of plush projects you'll probably want to use fiberfill- this is the "default" filling used in most plush as well as pillows. Most plush makers I know use Fairfield Polyfil because it's inexpensive, available in a variety of quantities and has a nice texture. Pulling apart old pillows is a thrifty option, but the texture may be less nice if the stuffing has compressed over time.
Fabric glue
(Optional!)
Fabric glue is a sort of project-dependent material, but I like to have it around in case I need it at any point. Some glues don't work as well on non-cotton materials, so do watch out for that- Liquid Stitch is my preferred brand.
Findings
Any extra bits and bobs you might need depending on the project(s) you plan on doing. This might include things like safety eyes, ribbon, buttons, or even magnets.
You'll likely acquire a lot more over time as you do projects that require specialty materials, but the above items will cover enough cases to prevent you from stopping mid-project to go shopping!
