Plush and soft toys are always a welcome gift for children — and handmade plushies are even more special. These DIY soft toys are simple to make in a variety of shapes and are a perfect way to use up leftover fabric scraps.
Small fabric toys — clouds, rainbows, teardrops, and more — make thoughtful gifts for babies, toddlers, and expectant parents. They’re inexpensive, quick to sew, and can be customized to any size or color palette. I made a few for my son before he was born, and he still plays with them. His favorite is the rainbow.
These custom plush toys are an easy sewing project and typically cost under $10 in materials. Ready to make your own? Here’s a clear, step-by-step guide.
Materials Needed
- Scrap fabric (linen, cotton, or similar)
- Stuffing: organic cotton, wool, or extra fabric scraps; or natural fillers such as buckwheat hulls, flaxseed, or millet*
- Sewing machine (optional but speeds the process)
- Thread
- Scissors
*Safety note
Because these toys include sewn parts and an internal filling, supervise small children during play. Choose non-toxic stuffing where possible (organic cotton roving, wool, or more fabric scraps are good options). Natural fillings like buckwheat, flaxseed, or millet can be used, but require careful stitching and monitoring to ensure the seams stay secure.
How to Make Plush Toys
1. Make a template. Trace your desired shape onto paper or fabric — cloud, rainbow, teardrop, moon, star, etc. You can enlarge existing shape templates if needed. After tracing the shape, draw another line around it 1/4″ to 1/2″ outside the original line; this is your seam allowance.
2. Pin two fabric pieces together (front and back) and cut them out along the seam allowance line so both layers match.
3. Sew around the shape, leaving a 3-inch (or larger) opening for stuffing. Backstitch at each end of the opening to reinforce the seam. For simple shapes like clouds, raindrops, moons, or stars, that’s all you need before turning and stuffing. For rainbows, you’ll sew separate arches and assemble them later.
4. Turn the piece right-side out. A slim tool such as a pen or narrow dowel works well to push the fabric through and shape narrow sections.
5. Stuff the toy. Start with the corners and narrow parts, then fill the center. If you’re using fluffy stuffing like organic cotton, teasing or lightly pulling the fiber apart before inserting helps avoid lumps. For loose natural fills (millet, buckwheat, flaxseed, or lavender), lumps are less of a concern but stitching must be very secure.
6. Hand-sew the opening closed with an invisible (ladder) stitch and tie off the thread with double or triple knots. Make sure the final stitches are secure enough to withstand handling by children. If you made a rainbow, join the individual arches after closing their openings: use an invisible stitch to attach the layers together and reinforce the ends with secure knots.
More DIY Toy Ideas
If you enjoyed this project, try these other handmade toy and gift ideas that also use fabric scraps:
- DIY baby gifts — soft fabric book, memory game, and patterned swaddle tutorials.
- Leaf-shaped pillow — make a large monstera leaf pillow or a smaller cushion using similar materials.
- Star pillows — craft oversized star cushions or tiny toy-sized stars.
- Reversible pillow — a simple project if you have larger fabric pieces; versatile and easy.
- Wooden toy car — for a natural wooden toy option, build a small toy car.
Extra Ideas for Fabric Scraps
Rather than discard leftover fabric, use scraps for small projects:
- Make a bow tie in child or adult sizes.
- Sew reusable kitchen wipes or paper towel alternatives for an eco-friendly option.
- Create fabric-based paper-mâché bowls for a decorative reuse of scraps.
- Sew reusable produce bags for groceries and storage.
- Refresh old sandals by adding fabric straps or accents.
Sewing: Emma Spear
Photography: Brittni Mehlhoff
How to Make Custom Soft Toys for Kids (Various Shapes)
Brittni
Equipment
- Sewing machine (optional)
Ingredients
- Scrap fabric (linen or cotton recommended)
- Organic cotton stuffing, wool, fabric scraps, or natural fillers
- Thread
- Scissors
Instructions
Create a template for the shape you want (cloud, rainbow, teardrop, etc.).
- Trace the shape onto fabric and add a 1/4″–1/2″ seam allowance around the outline.
Pin the front and back fabric pieces together and cut along the seam allowance.
Sew around the shape, leaving a 3″ opening; backstitch at each end.
- For simple shapes (cloud, raindrop, moon, star) this completes the sewing step.
- If making a rainbow, sew separate arches for each band and finish them individually before assembly.
Turn the piece right-side out using a pen or narrow dowel to push narrow areas through.
Stuff the toy, starting with corners and narrow sections, then filling the center.
- Tease fluffy stuffing like organic cotton to avoid lumps.
- Loose fillings (millet, buckwheat, flaxseed, lavender) are less prone to lumping but require secure seams.
Hand-sew the opening closed with an invisible stitch and knot securely.
- If assembling a rainbow, stitch the arches together with an invisible stitch and tie off ends with double or triple knots to ensure durability.
Notes
Safety and stuffing options
Monitor small children while they play with sewn toys. Use non-toxic stuffing like organic cotton, wool, or fabric scraps. Natural fillers such as buckwheat hulls, flaxseed, or millet are alternatives but require strong, secure seams to prevent spills.