His name is Blue, (for obvious reasons). Never done anything like this and it's far from perfect but darn it he is cute as a button.
My friend loves dragons so I had to do it for her. The most I have crocheted is afghans. My tension is off and I think the yarn had too much stretch in it to be stuffed but I am pleased with the outcome.
fccs wrote:I think he's perfect! Are you going to do more?
I was thinking I may but I don't have any more yarn (just using up stuff I had). I was thinking of doing them for my great nephews but they wouldn't last 5 min with them. They are very fiddly to do and my hands just can't handle that very well anymore.
A tip for making stuffed toys, since you said you think that the yarn you used was too stretchy - work with a smaller size needle (if you're knitting) or hook (if crocheting) than you normally would for that particular yarn when making clothing/decor/etc. That makes for a firmer fabric that has denser stitches, so that it holds it's shape better when you stuff it, and it will also keep the stuffing from poking through. Also when making stuffed toys I like using yarn that has atleast 3 plies (strands twisted together) though 4 is even better. I think it forms a more even fabric. Also, when stuffing, stuff items a bit more densely than you want the finished item to be and then once sewn up, knead the piece to compact the stuffing a bit and distribute it more evenly. Remember that over time the stuffing will compact even more, so if you just lightly stuff it to begin with, eventually it'll end up floppy.
I love making stuffed toys - I end up making one for most of my friends when they have their first kid. There are so many cute patterns out there!
A tip for making stuffed toys, since you said you think that the yarn you used was too stretchy - work with a smaller size needle (if you're knitting) or hook (if crocheting) than you normally would for that particular yarn when making clothing/decor/etc. That makes for a firmer fabric that has denser stitches, so that it holds it's shape better when you stuff it, and it will also keep the stuffing from poking through. Also when making stuffed toys I like using yarn that has atleast 3 plies (strands twisted together) though 4 is even better. I think it forms a more even fabric. Also, when stuffing, stuff items a bit more densely than you want the finished item to be and then once sewn up, knead the piece to compact the stuffing a bit and distribute it more evenly. Remember that over time the stuffing will compact even more, so if you just lightly stuff it to begin with, eventually it'll end up floppy.
I love making stuffed toys - I end up making one for most of my friends when they have their first kid. There are so many cute patterns out there!
That's what I tried with Mr. Bunny I just finished. I used the same yarn but two strands and I didn't have that problem. Worked out much better doing that. It was knitted but I crocheted the tail using one strand and a smaller hook, it didn't show the stuffing this time... Thanks for the tips though. I really enjoyed making them...I used to make all kinds of sewn stuffed animals when I did a lot of sewing a few decades ago and really enjoyed that.