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    Home » Craft Tutorials » Kids Crafts

    Hippo Softie Sewing Pattern for Kids (Video)

    April 10, 2020 By Brandy 5 Comments

    ↓ Jump to Instructions

    Make your own hippo softie! A simple sewing project for kids using scrap felt and a needle and thread! Such a sweet and simple way to make your own stuffed animal! This is part 1 of a 6-part sewing series for kids. Today we're making a hippo. In part 2 we'll make a Corgi puppy so be sure to come back to make one with us!

    Looking for more sewing projects for kids? Check out our heart plushie or 10-minute wired headband!

    Watch our step by step video!

    kids sewing book and sewing machine

    For 60 more sewing projects for kids check out my sewing book, SEW WITH ME!

    Easy Softie Sewing Patterns for Kids

    felt animals penguin, pig, dog, duck, panda and hippo

    Items you'll need to have on hand for our Felt Softies:

    • felt scraps
    • thread (we used embroidery floss)
    • needle
    • scissors
    • pins
    • hot glue or fabric glue*
    • paper to print template for pattern pieces.

    Tips for Sewing Softies

    • It's not a great time to be heading to the store to pick up supplies with the government encouraging us to stay at home. That's ok! Just work with what you have. If you don't have any stuffing to fill your softie, you can use a sock or even a plastic grocery bag (it'll sound crinkly!).
    • I had a lot of felt scraps left over from previous projects, but not everyone has a stash like mine and that's totally okay! If you don't have felt, you can use other fabric scraps. I like using felt or fleece because these types of fabric don't fray. If you use cotton, the edges will fray, but it will still be a cute softie! These heart plushies are made out of cotton. We cut the fabric out using pinking shears (decorative sewing scissors) which helps the edges not fray.
    • You can sew your entire softie or glue your entire softie. It's up to you. We will be using a combination of sewing and gluing in our step by step photo instructions and video. You still get the cute stitched look, but don't have to sew every tiny detail on by hand.
    • Get creative! Use different colors of felt, add buttons if you'd like---have fun!

    *Hot glue dries fast, but fabric glue is easier for kids to work with. If using fabric glue, allow time for drying.

     

    Hippo Softie Sewing Pattern for Kids

    felt hippo

    You might be wondering why we are starting out our series with a hippo. When school closed for the year we started checking out some of the fun online programs being offered for kids. One that we found were the videos from the Cincinnati Zoo. They do such a great job sharing their animals with the public via Facebook lives and youtube videos. We absolutely fell in love with Fiona, the premature baby hippo that was born a few years ago, and have been watching a video a day to get caught up with her story! It's definitely worth checking out!

    So in honor of Fiona, we bring you this adorable purple and pink hippo softie.

    hippo softie on sewing table

    How To Make a Hippo Softie

    hippo softie on sewing table
    Print
    4.50 from 2 votes

    Hippo Softie Sewing Pattern For Kids

    Make your own hippo softie! A simple sewing project for kids using scrap felt and a needle and thread!
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Active Time30 minutes mins
    Total Time40 minutes mins
    Yield: 1 softie
    Cost: $1

    Equipment

    • pins
    • scissors

    Materials

    • printable hippo softie template
    • felt scraps
    • stuffing (polyester fiber fill)
    • hot glue or fabric glue

    Instructions

    • Cut out hippo softie templates. Pin each template to the felt and cut out the necessary pieces.
    • Place the white hippo eye section onto one of the squares. Glue into place using hot glue or fabric glue.
      gluing hippo eyes onto hippo softie
    • Pin the nose over the eye section. Glue the teeth under the nose section. Glue the pupils onto the white eye section.
      hippo nose pinned onto face
    • Thread a needle with a long piece of thread. If using embroidery floss, seperate the strand of floss into two sections (each section will have 3 strings of floss). Use one section for sewing.
      Tie a knot on the end. Stitch around the nose section. Tie a knot on the back when you are finished and cut the thread.
      Glue the inner ear pieces to the outer ear pieces.
      gluing lining to hippo ears
    • Set the face piece to the side. Find the second square and place the ears and feet into place.
      hippo ears and legs pinned to body
    • Lay the face over the back square. Add a few pins to keep everything together.
      hippo ears and legs pinned onto body
    • Thread a needle with a long piece of thread. Stitch around 3 sides of the hippo, leaving one side open. Add a small amount of stuffing.
      felt hippo ready to be stuffed
    • Continue to stitch until the opening is closed. Tie a knot in the thread on the back of the hippo and cut the thread.
      sewing hippo softie closed with a needle and thread
    • Your hippo is complete!
      finished hippo softie

    Video

    Notes

    You can sew your entire project or glue your entire project. We used a combination of sewing and gluing. Hot glue works best when gluing felt, but fabric glue is safer for kids (prevents burns). If using fabric glue, allow some time for the pieces to dry.

    The designs for our animal softies were inspired by this clip art that I found on shutterstock.

    Share
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    About Brandy

    Welcome! I'm Brandy, mother to 5 darling kiddos and a cute black lab named Toby. My husband is in the Coast Guard so we've lived all over the place, turning each house into a home. I love baking, sewing, making cute things with my kids, and sharing what I've learned with all of you!

    Comments

    1. Wendie Meyer says

      May 07, 2024 at 1:59 pm

      I'm trying to find the videos for the softies so I can use them for an 8th grade project.
      Can you please direct me to them. Nothing loads if I click on the pictures and I don't see any links. Thanks.

      Wendie Meyer
      [email protected]

      Reply
      • Brandy says

        May 07, 2024 at 5:04 pm

        Hi Wendie! The video plays directly under the first image in the post. Make sure you don't have a pop up blocker on, just incase it opens in a new window.

        Reply
    2. Patti says

      May 29, 2023 at 3:29 pm

      I work with exceptional children and would love to get updates from your site. This is great for them.

      Reply
    3. Rebecca Hoopes says

      May 07, 2021 at 5:05 pm

      4 stars
      Are you going to put up a tutorial for the 2 that you did not do? I really want to make my mom the penguin for Mother's day/her birthday.

      Reply
      • Brandy says

        May 07, 2021 at 11:10 pm

        Hi Rebecca! Here you go! https://gluesticksblog.com/penguin-softie-sewing-pattern-for-kids-video/

        Reply
    4.50 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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