How to Restuff a Plushie

Written By: Sally Lee

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Difficulty

Easy

Steps

Time Required

1 day

Introduction

If your plushie or stuffed animal is looking a little floppy or lopsided it may be due to loss of stuffing from repetitive usage. Use this guide to replace the stuffing and get your plushie friend looking good as new. This procedure will work for most stuffed animals and plushies.

Stuffing is an important aspect of a plushie or stuffed animal as it helps maintain its shape and design. It also brings life and character into the toy.

Before using this guide, make sure your plushie doesn't need a quick re-fluffing. Quite often a plushie might fall flat due to normal use but can easily be fluffed back to its normal state without needing to replace its stuffing.

Steps 2, 7, and 9 require the handling of sharp objects. Please ensure proper handling of these objects to ensure no injuries.

Tools

Step 1

Choose an area to open the seam of the plushie.
Choose an area where the new stitches will not be as noticeable, such as on an underside or another area that will not be seen.

Step 2

Partially unpick the seam using a seam ripper or pair of scissors (about 2 inches).
Be sure to place hands carefully and away from the path of the seam ripper to ensure no injures.

Step 3

Remove all of the old stuffing from the plushie.

Step 4

Fill a sink or bowl with warm water and light detergent.
Gently hand wash your plushie.
Drain and replace the container with clean and warm water.
Rinse off the plushie and wring it until it is no longer dripping.

Step 5

Hang dry the plushie using a hanger or clothesline until completely dry.
Machine drying can damage or burn the fabric of the plushie

Step 6

Once dry, fill the plushie with new stuffing.
Stuffing the plushie little by little ensures the whole plushie gets re-stuffed properly and evenly.

Step 7

Pull the thread through the eye of the needle.
Create a knot at the end of the thread.

Step 8

Fold the fabric of the opening (about 1 cm) inward to create two folds.

Step 9

Insert the needle through the inside edge of the folded fabric
Make a stitch in the inside fold and pull the thread through.
Insert the needle on the other fold and make a stitch
Pull the thread through and alternate stitches until you reach the other side of the opening.
Take your time and carefully place your hands in a safe position when inserting the needle into the fabric. This can prevent injures.