It’s best to attach parts like ears or a tail to your softies by machine, versus by hand, especially if you’ll be giving the toy to a young child. Machine sewn seams are strong which means that the parts are less likely to come loose over time or after several washings. And they’re perfectly even, too, which is nice.
Caterpillar and Butterfly Reversible Toy
Sometimes you can easily find a good place to situate a softie part so that it can be machine sewn. Placing an ear between the side of the head and the head gusset, for example. But other times there really isn’t a seam where you need there to be one.
In that case, you can just create a seam! Make a small slit and slide the part right in. Then sew the slit closed and you’ve got a machine sewn seam.
I made this 1-minute video (with peppy music!) to show you how I do it:
Once you give it a try a whole world of softie design possibilities will open up. I use this technique in all of the patterns shown in this post (and many more!).
I hope you enjoy using this attachment method in your own softie and doll designs.
Liked the peppy music, Abby! 🙂 Very clever. I guess if you wanted to avoid the seam going beyond the attached part you could maybe hand sew it with a whip stitch? Sure is quicker by machine though. Do you find the shape remains unchanged by the seam after you stuff it? Fleece is probably more forgiving that way than a woven fabric.
So the slit becomes a little dart and it does change the shape slightly. You’re right that it’s mostly masked with fleece and would be more evident in a woven fabric.
Thank you for this video Abby!! And an awesome sewing tip – one of those that I think I should have known, but didn’t.
Thank you, Abby. I recently listened to your podcast with Vanessa Vargas Wilson and I love how you have adopted her approach for taking videos. I also love how you explain how this technique is safer for babies.
Thanks so much, Nadia.
That’s a helpful video! I’ve got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for this evening that links to your tutorial:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-attach-softie-parts-with-your-sewing-machine/2015/01/26/
–Anne
I am SO in love with your patterns! Your creations are so sweet with darling faces – the eyes and mouth make the doll or animal! I want to learn to sew with a machine so I can make them.
Great little tutorial. I’m currently making a cow for my boy, based on a book character. I need to do the tail, and I didn’t know where to start. Now I know. Thanks to you.
You’re welcome!