How To Make

Cute Leopard - In The Hoop Plushie Toy

Cute Leopards Plush Toy Tutorial

A pair of finished cute leopard plush toys, one with pants and one with a skirt.

Recommended Materials

It is recommended to use a bi-stretch fabric that stretches in both length and width, such as minky. However, these leopards can also be made from medium-weight cotton fabric, which may require more skill when turning the pieces right side out.

The designs are made for a 5x7 hoop, but I used a larger hoop since I made two leopards at once for my twins. I also recommend using a larger hoop, as it makes it easier to manage the small pieces.

Note: You may need to pause the machine and take the hoop out, but please do not unhoop your project!

Included Design Files

The download folder includes the following files:

A list of the embroidery design files included for the leopard project.

  1. Leopard 1 body
  2. Leopard 2 body
  3. Paws and tail
  4. Skirt
  5. Pants

To make a leopard toy, you will need to prepare the paws and tail first.

The embroidery design file for the leopard's paws and tail.

Embroidering the Paws and Tail

  1. Hoop a tear-away stabilizer, one piece of minky fabric (right side up), and a layer of water-soluble stabilizer as a topping.
  2. Stitch the paws and tail. Pause your machine before the last step. Please do not unhoop your project yet!

The details of the paws and tail stitched onto the front fabric.

  1. Lay the second piece of minky fabric flat on top, right side down.

A second piece of fabric placed over the stitched paws and tail.

  1. Stitch the final outline.

The final outline stitched to create the paw and tail pieces.

  1. Unhoop your project.
  2. Gently tear away the excess stabilizer. Cut out the paw and tail shapes. Please do not cut too close to the seam.

Sorry, I forgot to take a photo. In the photo below are paws and a tail from my other project:

An example photo from another project showing cut-out paws and a tail.

Clipping the seam allowances on the example pieces.

  1. Trim and clip your seam allowances to reduce bulk. I trim and clip the curved edges so they will lie flat when turned. Be careful not to cut the seam!
  2. Turn the paws and tail right side out. Gently remove the excess water-soluble stabilizer topping.

The finished paws and tail, turned right side out.

Embroidering the Leopard Body

The folder includes two versions of the leopard body.

The embroidery design file for the first leopard body. AND The embroidery design file for the second leopard body.

  1. Hoop a tear-away stabilizer, one piece of minky fabric (right side up), and a layer of water-soluble stabilizer as a topping. Stitch the leopard body outline, spots, ears, face, eyes, and nose. Complete all decorative stitching before the last two assembly steps.

All decorative details stitched onto the leopard's face and body.

  1. Now it is time to use the paws and tail. Arrange the details as they will appear when the leopard is turned right side out.

Arranging the finished paws and tail on the embroidered body for placement.

  1. Now, turn the paws and tail to face inward on the body shape. This is the most complicated step. Lay them one by one and secure them with tape. The "hands" should be crisscrossed. The "legs" should be pointing up. The tail should be pointing to the side. Please forgive this photo for using a lot of tape. Be sure all paws and the tail are inside the leopard body shape.

The paws and tail taped securely in place, facing inward, on the leopard body.

  1. Now, run the machine to stitch the seam that will secure the leopard's paws and tail.
  2. Lay the second piece of minky fabric on top with right sides together. Lay the fabric flat and accurately around the leopard. You may use tape or pins to keep the fabric in place.

The backing fabric placed over the entire leopard assembly.

Tip: If using non-stretch, medium-weight cotton fabric, I recommend making a small fold in the backing fabric where the legs are sewn on. This fold is not needed if using a stretch fabric. The next two photos are from a similar project where I am using non-stretch fabric and making a fold.

An example photo showing a small fold being made in the backing fabric.

… and fix the fold with tape.

The small fold taped in place to provide extra give in the seam.

  1. Okay, let’s continue. Stitch the final outline seam. Tip: Select an outline thread color that is close to your fabric color.

The final outline seam being stitched to assemble the plush toy.

  1. Unhoop and remove the excess stabilizer.

The finished project in the hoop before trimming.

  1. Cut out the shape. You can optionally use zig-zag scissors, but regular scissors are also good.

Cutting out the leopard shape using zig-zag scissors.

  1. If you use regular scissors, clip into the seam allowances along the curves. Make cuts as close as possible to the seam. Be careful not to cut the seam!

Clipping the curved seam allowances with regular scissors.

  1. The most important clips are on the neck and ears! This photo is from another project, but the clips are clearly visible here:

An example photo showing the important clip points around the neck and ears.

  1. Turn the leopard right side out through the opening. You are almost done!

The leopard plushie turned right side out.

  1. Fill the head and body with fiberfill.
  2. Pin the opening and sew it closed by hand. Stitching with two strands of thread will provide added strength. Hide the knotted end of the thread inside the project. For best results, use a ladder or invisible stitch. You can view a tutorial here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbE5hXt27uU

Pinning the opening closed before hand-sewing.

The finished leopard plushie, stuffed and sewn shut.

Leopard Clothing

Skirt and Pants

Embroidery design file for the leopard's skirt.AND Embroidery design file for the leopard's pants.

You will need two pieces of fabric, each 12x9 inches (or 6x5 inches if using a 5x7 hoop or making only one item).

Making the Skirt

I used thin cotton fabric and a tear-away stabilizer.

  1. Hoop the stabilizer only and stitch the straight guideline directly onto it.

A straight guideline stitched onto stabilizer for the skirt.

  1. Take a piece of fabric, fold it in half, and lay it along the guideline. Line up the folded edge with the guideline seam. The folded edge will be the top of the skirt.

A folded piece of fabric placed along the guideline.

...and tape or pin the piece in place.

The fabric taped in place, ready for decorative stitching.

  1. Stitch the decorations. Do not unhoop your project yet!

Decorative stitches added to the skirt front.

  1. Fold the second piece of fabric in half.

A second piece of fabric folded in half for the skirt back.

  1. …and lay it over the stitched detail, lining up the folded edge with the folded edge of the first fabric piece. Use pins or tape to keep it flat.

The second piece of fabric placed over the first, ready for the side seams.

  1. Stitch the side seams and unhoop.

The side seams of the skirt stitched.

  1. Gently remove the excess stabilizer.

Removing the stabilizer from the finished skirt.

  1. Trim the excess fabric on the sides, leaving about a ⅓-inch seam allowance. Trim the excess fabric on the bottom close to the seams, but do not cut the seams.

Trimming the seam allowances on the skirt.

  1. Insert a ribbon or trim into the top channel using a safety pin.

Inserting a ribbon into the skirt's waistband channel.

...and the skirt is ready to be worn. Put the skirt on the leopard. Please note, there is an opening on the side of the skirt for the tail.

Putting the skirt on the leopard plushie.

Put the tail through the opening and tie the ribbon into a bow.

The leopard's tail threaded through the opening in the skirt.

You are done!

The finished leopard toy wearing its skirt.

Making the Pants

Next, let’s stitch the pants. I used medium-weight cotton fabric and a tear-away stabilizer.

  1. Hoop the stabilizer only and stitch the first seam—the pants shape—directly onto it.

The outline for the pants stitched onto stabilizer.

  1. Take a piece of fabric and fold it in half. Lay the folded fabric inside the shape along the top edge of the pants. The folded edge will be the top of the pants. Tape or pin the piece in place. (Please ignore the pink fabric in the photos).

Folded fabric placed over the pants outline.

  1. Stitch the decorations. Do not unhoop your project yet!

Decorative stitching added to the pants front.

  1. Fold the second piece of fabric in half and lay it over the stitched detail, lining up the folded edge with the folded edge of the first fabric piece.

The second piece of fabric placed on top for the pants back.

  1. It is helpful to use tape or pins to keep the fabric flat.

The fabric layers pinned or taped for the final seams.

  1. Stitch the side seams and unhoop.

The side seams of the pants stitched.

  1. Tear away the excess stabilizer.

Removing the stabilizer from the pants.

  1. Trim the excess fabric on the bottom edge close to the seams, and trim the excess fabric on the sides, leaving about ¼ inch. Make a clip between the two pant legs.

Trimming the seam allowances on the pants.

Be careful not to cut the seam.

Clipping the inseam of the pants.

  1. Turn the pants right side out.

The finished pants, ready for a ribbon tie.

Congratulations! You are done!

The finished boy leopard plushie, fully dressed in his pants.

The finished girl leopard plushie, fully dressed in her skirt.

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