Who doesn’t love an adorable squishy? Squishies are incredibly popular these days, and, even though some are rather expensive to buy, they aren’t very difficult to make. The trick is purchasing the right fabric and stuffing and adding special touches.
This easy set of three plush squishies includes a child-sized polar bear, an infant-sized polar bear, and a doll-sized polar bear squishy (suitable for several sizes of dolls), all in one PDF sewing pattern. Each bear comes with face templates and lots of ideas for personalizing.
The three squishy sizes include a doll-sized squishy measuring 5” tall, an infant-sized squishy measuring 7 ½” tall, and a child-sized squishy measuring 10” tall, depending on the stretch of the fabric and the stuffing.
All of these bears are designed to be cut primarily from 4-way stretch fleece, but suggestions are included for other fabrics that may work well, too.
All three bears are stuffed with polyester fiberfill craft-style stuffing. The extra silky style fiberfill is best for this project, even though other stuffed items may not need it. It helps to make the squishies extra soft and huggable.
Tip: inexpensive but extra soft bed pillow stuffing or stuffed throw pillow stuffing can be substituted for purchased polyester craft stuffing, and often costs less, too; just ensure it is very soft and plush. Pull apart stuffing into separate fluffy fibers rather than rolling before stuffing your bear.
Face options include commercial safety eyes and noses, domestic machine appliqué, hand embroidery, and machine embroidery. Some fabrics might also be hand painted or constructed with heat-transfer vinyl (not good for fake fur).
Face templates are available with this sewing pattern, and machine embroidery designs* to match are available on PixieFaire.com. *Be sure you are familiar with how to embroider on fabrics with a pile and choose the machine embroidery design with a laydown stitch for high pile fabrics before beginning to machine embroider.
Recommended Supplies: Best suited for plush stretchy fabrics with a low loft such as minky, mochi minky, with a 4-way stretch, but also works well with anti-pill polyester fleece, polar fleece, or micro fleece, stretch terry, sweatshirt fleece, sweater fleece, stretch velour, stretch velveteen, or similar spandex-type fabrics. (test a sample first). Not recommended for stiff, heavy weight woven fabrics, fabrics with a deep pile, or for woolens, including wool felt. Polyester felt may be used for eyes, nose, heart, bow tie. Fabric for body should have some stretch and a low pile.
Supplies Needed:
Fabric:
• Up to 1/3 yd or a remnant (large enough for front and back of bear) of main fabric
• Small medium-weight fusible interfacing scraps for face and heart back
• Small cuts of contrasting soft fabric such as satin or felt for eyes, nose, tie, and heart appliqué for all bears
Notions:
• Double-sided fusible product for eyes and ears, if appliquéing them
• 1 small bag (or equivalent) of ultra-fluff fine polyester stuffing
• High quality matching polyester or rayon thread, depending on fabric choice
• Washaway and tearaway stabilizer scraps for decorative elements
• New, sharp size 12 ball point, zigzag, stretch, or universal needle
• Small craft iron
• Large eye embroidery needle or tapestry needle for hand embroidery
• Embroidery floss, thin cord, or thin yarn
Optional:
• Two safety eyes, and 1 nose per bear
• Embroidery floss for hand embroidering facial features
• Printable iron-on transfer cloth if hand embroidering
• Small ribbon scraps for taggies and swivel or lobster clip for charms
Not Required but Recommended:
• Small sharp embroidery scissors for trimming facial features and heart appliqué
• Clear presser foot for zigzag stitching
• Turning tool for pushing out ears and extremities (I use a wooden chopstick)
• Hand embroidery hoop
• Awl for punching holes for safety eyes and nose
Skill Level: Confident Beginner
What You Get: One 26 page sewing pattern and one machine embroidery zipped file that you digitally download so you can start your project immediately! The PDF sewing pattern provides full color step-by-step illustrated instructions and full size pattern pieces. A PDF reader is required to view and print the files (example: Adobe Reader or Preview for MAC). The download link is received immediately after the transaction is complete. Print copies are NOT available.
Download, Print, Sew!
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For detailed information and answers to the most common questions, be sure to read the Terms of Use and FAQ's related to the doll clothes patterns sold at Pixie Faire.
Pixie Faire and the designers featured are not affiliated with doll brands pictured. No endorsement is implied. Dolls are used to show the fit of the designed garments. The product and photography shown in this listing are original content, copyright of the pattern designer.
