Kitty – In The Hoop Plushie Toy

Kitties 🐱 Plush Toy Tutorial

A finished, cute kitty plush toy wearing a tulle skirt.

Recommended Materials

It is recommended to use a bi-stretch fabric that stretches in both length and width, such as minky fabric. However, these kitties 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 was making two kitties at once. I also recommend using a larger hoop, as it makes it easier to manage the small pieces.

Included Design Files

The download folder includes the following files:

A list of the embroidery design files for the kitty project.

Kitty_body1
Kitty_body2
Paws
Skirt
Tail

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

The embroidery design files for the kitty's paws and tail.

Embroidering the Paws

Hoop a tear-away stabilizer with one piece of minky or medium-weight cotton fabric, right side up.
Stitch the outline and the paw details. Do not unhoop your project yet!
Lay the second piece of fabric flat on top, with right sides together.
Sew the final outline.

The final outline for the paws and tail stitched through both layers of fabric.

When the design has finished, unhoop your project.
Gently tear away the excess stabilizer and cut out the paw shapes.

The cut-out paw and tail pieces before turning.

Trim and clip the seam allowances, especially on the curved edges, to reduce bulk. Be careful not to cut the seam!
Turn the pieces right side out.

The finished paws and tail, turned right side out.

Embroidering the Kitty Body

The folder includes two versions of the kitty body; one kitty has eyelashes and roses.

The embroidery design file for the first kitty body. OR

Hoop a tear-away stabilizer with one piece of minky fabric.

Minky fabric hooped with stabilizer for the kitty body.

Stitch the kitty outline, eyes, nose, cheeks, and ears, and complete the kitty body appliqué. When everything is stitched, pause the machine before the final outline seam.

The first steps will be the kitty outline and an optional bodice appliqué, which may be skipped.

The optional bodice appliqué stitched onto the kitty's body.

Then, stitch the decorations and the face.

The decorative details and face stitched on the kitty.

Complete all embroidery steps before the final two assembly steps.

The fully embroidered front of the kitty plushie.

Assembling the Body

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

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

Lay them inside the shape, facing inward.

The paws and tail correctly positioned inside the body outline.

This is the most complicated step. Lay the pieces one by one and secure them with tape. (I am impatient and laid them all at once and taped them).

The "legs" should be pointing up.
The "hands" should be crisscrossed.
The tail should be pointing up.

All the limbs and the tail taped securely in place, facing inward.

You can run the outline stitch again to make sure the details are held in place (I usually skip this step).

A tack-down stitch securing the limbs and tail.

Lay the second piece of fabric on top with right sides together. Stitch the final outline seam.

Tip: Select an outline thread color that is close to your fabric color.

The backing fabric placed over the assembly, ready for the final outline stitch.

The completed final outline stitch.

Finishing

Unhoop the project and cut out the shape. You can optionally use zig-zag scissors. If you use regular scissors, be sure to make clips into the seam allowance every ⅓ inch.

Cutting out the finished kitty plushie from the excess fabric.

Clip into the seam allowances along the curves, making cuts as close as possible to the seam. Be careful not to cut the stitches!

The most important clips are on the neck and ears.

Clipping the curves of the seam allowance, especially around the neck.

Remember not to cut the seam!

A close-up showing the clipped curves.

Gently tear away the stabilizer and turn the kitty right side out through the opening.

The kitty plushie turned right side out.

Pin the opening closed and sew it by hand.

Pinning the opening at the bottom of the plushie closed for hand-sewing.

The finished kitty, stuffed and sewn shut.

Stitching with two strands of thread will provide added strength to your finished seam. Hide the knotted end inside the project.

For best results, use a ladder or invisible stitch. You can find a video tutorial here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbE5hXt27uU

Congratulations on completing the hardest seam of your project!

Kitty Clothing

You will need two pieces of fabric, each 12x9 inches. I used tulle and a water-soluble stabilizer, but you can also use thin cotton and a tear-away stabilizer. Tulle requires some stitching skill.

The embroidery design file for the kitty's skirt.

Stitch the straight guideline directly onto your stabilizer.

Take a piece of fabric, fold it in half, and lay it inside the shape along the guideline.

Folded tulle fabric placed along the guideline on the stabilizer.

The folded edge will be the top of the skirt. Tape or pin the piece in place and stitch colors 3, 4, and 5.

The decorative elements stitched onto the skirt front.

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 folded fabric placed on top for the skirt back.