Scrap Users

Stuffed items, general instructions
A small stuffed shape can be a decoration, pincushion, hand warmer, eye pillow, ice pack, ornament, tooth fairy pillow, sachet/air freshener, or cat toy. A larger stuffed shape can be a decorative pillow or neck ache reliever, and any size can be a child’s toy or beanbag. In every case you cut two copies of the desired shape and sew them together, leaving an opening for turning (2″ is ample and 1″ should suffice). Turn, stuff, and hand-stitch closed, or topstitch that side or around the whole shape.

For the hand warmer, neck ache reliever, and ice pack, use rice as stuffing and stuff loosely; lavender or an essential oil may be added to the rice. Natural fibers are better for items to be microwaved as synthetics may smell or melt. The neck ache reliever furthermore should be long and thin, for draping over your shoulders; an eye pillow should be rectangular but smaller, in the 4″x9″ range, and stuffed with either rice or flaxseed. For a pincushion, a small block of (non-soapy) steel wool wrapped in batting will help keep your pins sharp; I have also seen them stuffed with a combination of fiberfill and rice, with sawdust, and with sand. The tomato/strawberry combinations are often sawdust (tomato) and sand (strawberry), the latter for sharpening purposes. A tooth fairy pillow needs a pocket or pouch for the tooth and an ornament needs something from which to be hung. Sachets and air fresheners call for lavender, other fragrant herbs, or essential oils as or with the stuffing. If desired, add a hanging loop out of ribbon or cord when first sewing the sides together. Cat toys call for catnip in the stuffing; it is better to stuff them with strips of fabric than with batting or fiberfill, as if the cat tears the toy open it is easier to accidentally ingest batting than fabric strips.