A simple pattern for DIY Sesame Street character softies or bean bags! This easy to follow tutorial can even be enlarged and used to make a Sesame Street character pillow. Elmo, Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, and Grover. Who is your favorite?

Mac recently discovered Sesame Street. He is almost 18 months old and definitely has the attention span of an 18 month old. Meaning, he moves from activity to activity pretty quickly! He has two activities that he will sit for longer periods of time for and those are 1: reading books and 2: Sesame Street. He can pick out Elmo from any book and loves watching Elmo's World. We all think it's pretty cute and like finding clips of Sesame Street songs and videos for him to watch with us.

DIY Sesame Street Character Softies and Bean Bags

Most of my hair brained ideas happen when I am supposed to be sleeping at night. This one was no exception. I made a small rice pack (the kind you can heat in the microwave) for my kids awhile back and Mac loves carrying it around. It is just the right size for his toddler fingers to hold on to. As I was laying in bed I thought that it would be fun to make him an Elmo one. Instead, I decided to make him a softie (filled with pillow stuffing) so that he could cuddle with it. Then I thought, why stop with Elmo? I'll make him a Sesame Street collection!

These are the perfect size for Sesame Street bean bags too! So many possibilities.

And since these characters are so distinctive by the colors and the shape of their eyes, they are really simple to make without a lot of intricate details.

wire basked with finished sesame street bean bags inside

My favorite one is Oscar. Isn't he hilarious? Those eye brows really brought him to life.

More Softies For Kids To Sew

Hippo Softie Pattern

Corgi Puppy Softie Pattern

Heart Plushie for Kids to Sew

For 60 more sewing projects just like this one, check out my sewing book for kids!

DIY Sesame Street Character Softies with Printable Template

4.50 from 2 votes

Sesame Street Character Softies

Prep Time10

Active Time20

Total Time30

Yield:

Author: Brandy Nelson

Cost: $1

Equipment

scissors
pins
needle
sewing machine

Materials

printable template pieces
cotton broadcloth in a variety of colors
felt scraps
pillow stuffing
thread

Instructions

Use the printable template to cut out the pieces for the desired Sesame Street character that you'd like to make. Use broadcloth for the main piece, and felt for the details.
Arrange the details (eyes, nose, mouth, eye brows) onto each face.
Hand or machine stitch around the eyes, then the pupils. Continue stitching the rest of the details.
With right sides together, stitch around the sides and top of the two pieces of fabric. Turn right side out.
For softies with hair (Bert and Ernie), place the hair piece in between the top and bottom pieces before stitching around the sides and top. Adjust the height of the hair piece to be taller/shorter if you'd like.
Fill with pillow stuffing, rice, or beans. Fold the edges of the bottom side over and pin in place. Hand or machine stitch the bottom opening closed.

Video

Notes

Note: you can use broadcloth for the details and zig zag around the edges to prevent fraying. You can also use fleece for the main piece and details. I like using felt because it is easy to work with and doesn't fray.

Another note: please don't laugh at my printable, ha! I'm not an expert, and it is hand drawn. These are so basic that you probably don't need it too much, but it will help as a reference for size!

sesame street characters lined up along wall

These guys just crack me up! When Mac woke up from his nap he took one look and grinned from ear to ear. I'm glad he recognized his buddies!

toddler playing with sesame street characters

He's had a great time throwing them at his sisters and carrying them around the house.

I'm an enabler through and through when it comes to the things that my kids are interested in, and I don't see that ending anytime soon!

Here are even more fun Sesame Street Ideas from Food Craft Ideas!

Comments

Jami says

October 08, 2022 at 4:02 pm

Hi I am Cookie Monster trunk or treat in a few weeks. But I have a Corhole board and these would be perfect for the bags. Would you be able to make and ship these? I am not looking to actually make any myself, but would rather buy some. (I am in school full time and also work full time so I just don’t have that much extra time).

- Brandy says
  
  October 09, 2022 at 11:51 am
  
  Hi Jami! I’m sorry, but I don’t sell these. I’m afraid what I would charge + shipping would make them much less affordable than finding something already made online.
  
Cindy says

January 09, 2021 at 12:46 pm

Was wondering about this pattern.....the sesame street bags...Your pattern has the "eyes", are these the whites of the eyes or the pupils. If they are the whites....what size are the pupils?

- Brandy says
  
  January 09, 2021 at 7:55 pm
  
  Hi Cindy! The eyes in the patterns are for the "whites" of the eyes. It doesn't look like I made a pattern piece for the pupils, but they are just cut slightly smaller out of black felt.
  
Marina says

March 20, 2019 at 5:57 am

Adorable

Addy says

March 19, 2019 at 2:53 pm

These bags are really adorable.

Stella says

May 03, 2018 at 8:27 am

These bags are so adorable, Brandi! I think it is an easy DYI project to try in this summer.

- Brandy says
  
  May 03, 2018 at 11:35 am
  
  Thank you Stella! They really are so easy to make! 🙂
  
Marie | DIY Adulation says

April 29, 2018 at 11:57 am

These are so adorable! My kids would go nuts for them. Definitely pinning this to make for Christmas. Thanks for the awesome tutorial!

Theresa says

April 29, 2018 at 10:40 am

These are so adorable. I can't wait to make some with some left over felt I have for my grandkids. Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight party pinned, and sharing. See you again soon.

Alicia Owen says

April 26, 2018 at 6:17 am

These are so cute and look pretty simple to put together! My 2 year old would love these. 🙂

Maureen says

April 25, 2018 at 8:06 pm

Brandy,

If you made one more character in purple, say The Count, then you also have a complete rainbow for Max to learn colors. What about that idea? These are so great!

Maureen

- Brandy says
  
  April 26, 2018 at 4:45 am
  
  Haha! Yes! That is a great idea and he wouldn't be hard to make either!
  
Rosanne says

April 25, 2018 at 8:40 am

Thanks for sharing Brandy
They are so cute
What size is the actual bag..when I printed the patterns the bag measures 2 x 2.5 inches..seems small.
Thanks again
Rosanne

- Brandy says
  
  April 25, 2018 at 12:43 pm
  
  Hi Rosanne! The pattern piece is 4.5" x 5". Make sure to download to your computer first then open up in your printer program. If you print directly from the link, just make the sure the paper size is 8.5" x 11" and that it fills the entire page in the print preview.
  
Sinea says

April 24, 2018 at 4:33 pm

These Sesame Street bags are adorable! I love them!

- Brandy says
  
  April 24, 2018 at 6:11 pm
  
  Thank you so much Sinea!