Here you will learn the basics of how to sew your own soft toys and pick up a few tips and tricks to make it easy and fun!
This simple pattern is great for beginners. It is suited to most stretchy materials but using fleece will give your toy a warm fuzzy feel! Once you've got the hang of it with your first platypus, experiment with different fabrics - look how great Plattie looks in pink!
Follow the picture instructions below - you can't go wrong.
Pink fleece material (38x32cm / 15x13inch)
Purple patterned corduroy material (38x21cm / 15x8inch)
Plastic pellets (about 35g/1 ounce)
5mm black beads for eyes
Strong thread for sewing on eyes
General sewing supplies (thread, pins, needles, scissors, etc)
Craft glue & firm card for templates
Fine tipped permanent marker pen
Toy stuffing
INSTRUCTIONS
You can sew your platypus on machine, over locker or by hand. I like to use fleece for the body as it makes the platypus so cute and cuddly, but you can use any scraps of fabric for the feet and bill. Start by printing the pattern and enlarging it 40% (from A4 - A3 on a photocopier) Some people have used the pattern pieces the size they are and plattie turns out small enough for a cute little Key-Ring Toy.
Glue the pattern page onto card or thick paper and cut out the pattern pieces to make your templates.
Lay the fabric right side down and place templates onto the wrong side of the fabric following the layout guide. Trace the templates with permanent marker and cut out your pieces. (Press lightly or the ink will smudge and may show through your material on the right side.) Cut the BILL and FEET pieces from purple patterned corduroy, and cut the UPPER BODY and UNDERBELLY pieces from pink fleece.
* Always sew pieces with right sides together and use a 5mm/¼inch seam allowance. Sew the FEET pieces together on the sewing line. Cut around the sewing line with a 5mm/¼inch seam and turn right sides out. I like to use an old wooden chopstick as my turning tool!
Sew the UPPER BODY pieces together from A to B. I use lots of pins and pin from one side then put pins in between from the other side. This stops the fleece from slipping as you sew.
Sew the dart in the UPPER BILL piece, and then sew this to the UPPER BODY pieces from E to F. Sew the BILL BASE piece to the UNDERBELLY PIECE from C to D.
Place and pin all 4 feet in position (Toes facing towards the middle!). Pin and sew the UPPER BODY pieces to the UNDERBELLY piece. Sew ALL the way around, leaving no gap.
Now, for the clever bit! Cut a slit in the UNDER BELLY piece as indicated by the pattern markings and turn Plattie right sides out through the slit you've cut. This way it makes Plattie easy to turn and stuff later, I think the seam on the flat tummy is easier to sew up by hand than one somewhere along the side.
If you like, you could put in a zip and make Plattie into a Coin Purse too,
some clever people have enlarged the pattern and put a zip in the tummy
to make a Pajama Bag!
Sew a seam around the edge of the bill using a 5mm seam allowance to create the duck-bill-look!
Fill the bill and head area quite firmly with toy stuffing. Fill the rest of the body with toy stuffing. Place some plastic craft pellets in the body cavity, or use some rice or beans if you like! Don't overfill it as it needs to flop like a beanbag. Looking at the photo as a guide, mark the eye positions with a permanent marker pen and sew two 4mm beads in place.
Use a ladder stitch to close the opening on the underbelly.
If the toy is for a young child, use a thick embroidery thread and sew a French knot for each eye. Your Platypus is ready to love!
The aim of author Pauline McArthur is to design soft toy patterns that are easy and quick to sew. She has put her experience to use, and offers these Soft Toy Making Tips on her website, to help you with your toy-making ventures. You'll also find a delightful collection of cute and cuddly soft toys that you can make at home, available to buy and download instantly on your computer. Enjoy!
my special ed classroom is making the platypus for a service learning project. the finished platties will be donated to local fire and police stations for comfort toys.
i am slightly confused about the stuffing. the supply list calls for plastice pellets but the directions say to use toy stuffing. does that mean fiberfill and if so how much?
thanks,
lorraine
sama
Feb 14, 2009 - 18:29
I don't understand how to sew the dart thing. Could I get some sub-instructions on that? Not sure if I need to fold and sew or what.
Reply to sama
sama
Feb 14, 2009 - 18:34
okay, i'm looking more closely at the photo and it looks like the fabric was folded over and a curved line was sewn at the indicated place. i hope that is what it is. i tried blowing it up to see it better but it's a bit grainy. i think i need to start wearing bi-focals. :-(
Sarah
Jan 24, 2009 - 09:41
I made it and my daughter just loves it! She calls it pinki! She never lets go of it.
Annie – kent, uk
Dec 25, 2008 - 20:13
oh wo looks so cute, my girl will love this
looking forward to making one - maybe more
Diane – El Paso TX
Dec 10, 2008 - 13:02
Hi I haven't made one yet but I can't wait it looked sooo cute. And it lookes so easy. Thanks for sharing this great project.
sarah scott – uk
Dec 04, 2008 - 15:58
This is the first toy i've made and i used different colours of pink felt and its turned out okay,eldest daughter has just put her order in for one.
mandy – mall
Nov 02, 2008 - 15:21
awesome i heart sewing
Sassy
Oct 19, 2008 - 10:09
Hi, i hope you don't mind me leaving this little tip, But i could'nt wait to get started on my little cuddly, but realized i did'nt have a working printer, so i just got some paper, and put it to the screen and traced around the pattern.
It worked out quite well too!
Thanks! Im starting it after finishing my homework!
Glue the 
Sew the dart in the UPPER BILL piece, and then sew this to the UPPER BODY pieces from E to F. Sew the BILL BASE piece to the UNDERBELLY PIECE from C to D. 
Place and pin all 4 feet in position (Toes facing towards the middle!). Pin and sew the UPPER BODY pieces to the UNDERBELLY piece. Sew ALL the way around, leaving no gap.
Now, for the clever bit! Cut a slit in the UNDER BELLY piece as indicated by the pattern markings and turn Plattie right sides out through the slit you've cut. This way it makes Plattie easy to turn and stuff later, I think the seam on the flat tummy is easier to sew up by hand than one somewhere along the side. 
Fill the bill and head area quite firmly with toy stuffing. Fill the rest of the body with toy stuffing. Place some plastic craft pellets in the body cavity, or use some rice or beans if you like! Don't overfill it as it needs to flop like a beanbag. Looking at the photo as a guide, mark the eye positions with a permanent marker pen and sew two 4mm beads in place.
