Plátano, The Hippo

hippo plushie animal

Posted by Alma

About

This was the first plushie that I made (it was handmade), it was for my sister’s birthday. She called it Plátano (Banana in spanish). I wanted to make it more profesional, but it was my first attempt and, at last, it seems well done with the seams at the sight >.<
If you see any gramatical mistake in my tutorial, please, let me know it. I share this tutorial ‘cause it can be useful for others and to practice english.
If you have any doubt, just tell me and I will try to resolve it!

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You Will Need (6 things)

  • 2 Grey Socks (or other colour)
  • A little bit of white Felt
  • 2 Black Beads
  • Fiber
  • Grey, White and Blach Thread
  • Fabric Chalk

Steps (9 steps, 420 minutes)

  1. 1

    Cut the socks like in the image, try to make it straight. I wanted my hippo a little big-headed, if you want it more realistic, cut a little more the sock.
    There is no measurements, I made it by sight.
    Don’t throw away the remains of the socks!!!!

  2. 2

    Fill the body and head with the fiber, in order to see the size of each part. The socks can contain more fiber tan I tought, so you can make your plushie bigger with a normal sock.
    In this step you can decide if you want to make the hippo less or more big-headed, if you want it less, just cut a little more the sock.
    When you have each part filled, give shape to the head with your own hands. Something like the image (this is the side view of the head):

  3. 3

    One time you have the head and the body like you want, it’s time to make a running stitch to close each part. If you don’t know what is a running stitch, I recomend you to see this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li5sjrDS7aQ

    You will have (image):

  4. 4

    One time you have the head and the body like you want, it’s time to make a running stitch to close each part. If you don’t know what is a running stitch, I recomend you to see this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li5sjrDS7aQ
    You will have (image):

  5. 5

    With a back stitch (in the first video you can see what it is) make the smile (black thread, better if it is coarse thread).
    When you have finished, make the knot in the bottom of the head.
    I made the nose with grey coarse thread and a back stitch (again, make the knot in the bottom of the head):

  6. 6

    Teeths: put together two pieces of White felt, attach them with a back stitch and white thread like in the image. Cut them and turn them inside out. I didn’t filled them, just attatched just bellow the mouth.
    Ears: put together two pieces of the remains of the socks. Attach them like the teeths. To attach the ears to the head, first decide where do you want them. I put them just above each eye. After each stitch, sew across to the other side (image). One stitch sideaway, one stitch across.

  7. 7

    Teeths: put together two pieces of White felt, attach them with a back stitch and white thread like in the image. Cut them and turn them inside out. I didn’t filled them, just attatched just bellow the mouth.
    Ears: put together two pieces of the remains of the socks. Attach them like the teeths. To attach the ears to the head, first decide where do you want them. I put them just above each eye. After each stitch, sew across to the other side (image). One stitch sideaway, one stitch across.

  8. 8

    Time to attach the head to the body! Follow the instructions on the video video. You will end up like the image.

  9. 9

    With a little of remain of the socks, cut a slice to hide the knots in the bottom on the head.