DIY Halloween Felt Plush

Get ready for Halloween with this fun kid DIY Halloween felt plush. Kids can create their own pattern for a spooky or cute Halloween critter, or a whole Halloween menagerie of bats, ghosts, jack-o-lanterns, witches, and monsters.

Halloween decorating started early this year; we didn’t even make it to September 29 before the first ghosts and pumpkins appeared. Part of our holiday tradition is to involve the kids in creating new decorations, and this year my daughter decided we did not have enough stuffed Halloween critters. We also made paper mache pumpkins.

So, we spent an afternoon creating and ended up with some great Halloween decor. She also decided to make Sisu from “Raya and the Last Dragon” (Sisu was also the theme of her last birthday and the inspiration for a dress).

Sewing is a fun and rewarding craft (and skill) for kiddos. Use your judgment about how much sewing and cutting the child can safely do on their own and/or with assistance. Also, with lots of pointy objects (pins and scissors), closely supervise young kiddos and remind them not to use sharp instruments unattended. My 5-year old sewed by herself (with supervision) without a single finger poke, but she did lose steam on the stitching and needed a break. My 3-year old pulled the needle up after I pushed it into the fabric. Each kid has a different level of interest, patience, and stamina – do what works for your kiddo.

Depending on the kid’s age and ability, their DIY Halloween felt plush could look store-bought or like a felt stuffed blob. My kids love to see their creations beside the real-deal decorations. But, if felt blob doesn’t fit your decor, the kid creation would look great as decoration in a kiddo’s room.

If your kiddos love crafting, check out some of our favorite kid craft kits for ages 5-7.

Now, let’s get started on our DIY Halloween Felt Plush…

@creativelyhome

👻 Create DIY Halloween felt plush decorations with your kiddos. This is a fun project to work with your littles on cutting and sewing, plus they are adorable Halloween decorations. 🎃 Search “Halloween” at creativelyhome.com for all the details. #halloween #handmade #diy #ghost #craft #kids #diyhalloween #diykids #diyfeltplush

♬ Grim Grinning Ghosts – From “The Haunted Mansion” – The Melomen & Paul Frees & Betty Taylor & Bill Lee & Thurl Ravenscroft

DIY Halloween Felt Plush – Materials

How to DIY Halloween Felt Plush

1. Draw a Pattern

Using paper and pen (or pencil), draw the outline of a Halloween figure or let the child draw the outline. If you aren’t feeling artsy, search the internet for a simple outline to use as a pattern. For example, search “witch outline drawing”. Print the image after enlarging or reducing to fit on standard letter size paper.

Kids can cut around the pattern, but the result may be uneven. An adult’s steady and experienced hand will produce a smoothly cut pattern. Either works for this DIY project.

2. Cut Felt

Place 2 felt pieces together and pin pattern on top. Cut around pattern.

Most kid safety scissors won’t easily cut through felt, but let your kiddo give it a shot on a single layer. Cutting with dull scissors is just as frustrating for kids as for adults, so this may be a short attempt. Cutting each felt piece separately may result in a front and back that don’t exactly line up. Any unevenness can be fixed by placing the cut pieces together and cutting off any sticking out bits.

3. Add Detail to the Halloween Felt Plush

On the front felt piece, add detail and features with embroidery, felt and/or permanent markers. Applying detail on a single layer of felt is easier than waiting until the plush is sewn together and stuffed. Felt shapes and markers are the easiest detail method for young kids. Adding details with embroidery thread can be tedious, but kiddos could help by drawing on the shape for the adult to fill with a satin stitch.

With embroidery thread, use a satin stitch (side-by-side stitches filling an area) for small areas like facial features.

A backstitch (small stitches touching to form a solid line) works well to add smiles or accent lines in hair or a witch’s robe.

For larger areas, like a jack-o-lantern’s mouth or an owl’s chest, cut pieces from felt and attach with glue. If the Halloween felt plush is for display, low temperature hot glue is usually enough to secure the felt pieces. Make sure to apply glue to the edges as well as the middle of the felt pieces. If the animal is destined for play and other kid adventures, secure the felt pieces with tacky glue, then sew around the edges with a running stitch (moving the needle up and down through the felt) or whip stitch (looping thread around edges). If you’re going to sew, don’t use hot glue as it would be very difficult to sew through.

Permanent markers work very well on felt and come in tons of colors. Protect the kiddo’s clothing and work space, then lay out a variety of permanent marker colors to add as much, or little, detail as they want.

4. Hand Sew Around Halloween Felt Plush

An embroidery needle works best for this project, as it has a large eye hole to accommodate the thick embroidery thread. A dull point is best to avoid finger pokes, but the needle should be sharp enough to poke through two layers of felt.

Embroidery thread is made up of 6 strands. Cut a length of thread, then separate out 2 strands. Thread the embroidery needle, pull the thread until the ends match and knot the 4 free ends together. Knotting all loose ends is easier for younger stitchers as the needle stays securely on the thread. Older kids or adult stitchers may prefer to knot just the 2 threads at the bottom, leaving the top free.

Sew front and back felt pieces together using any basic embroidery stitch or whatever stitch the child comes up with. A running stitch (moving needle up and down through felt about 1/4″ from edge) works great, as does a whipstitch (looping thread around edges). Aim for stitches about 1/4″ apart. If the child fatigues on hand stitching, take a break or give the adult a turn at stitching.

When there is no less than 3″ thread remaining, knot off the thread and start a new length. Leave at least a 4″ opening to stuff the animal.

5. Stuff Halloween Felt Plush

Push stuffing through opening into the Halloween plush. Felt or other fabric scraps work also, just cut into small pieces.

Use a screwdriver, pencil or other pointy instrument to push stuffing into tight areas.

Close the opening with the same stitches and tie off the thread.

Happy Halloween! Enjoy this fun DIY Halloween felt plush with a kiddo.

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