How to Stuff Dolls and Plushies - Tools, Tips and Techniques

[@DazzlingAction]

I think this was the best video I've seen so far on stuffing. Thank you.

[@BallyhooCreations]

Wow, thank you!

[@maiadam523]

Thank you for this video ❤ it is really helpful

[@wendygauntt9457]

This is so helpful! I’m making a doll now and have been trying to figure out how best to stuff it. Thank you!

[@BallyhooCreations]

Glad it was helpful!

[@daniellecharland-gruhzit1177]

Very helpful. Thank you!! ❤

[@KarenB-kp2pn]

Thank you for all your tips! I'm going to try tp replace the stuffing on my daughter's favorite stuffy. It's a large very soft, bouncy bunny with a thin stretchy (mink or spandex) fleece material that shows the lumpiness of the stuffing now. I think it was originally filled with the cheap polyfil. Do you have any suggestion on a better filler so it doesn't become lumpy quickly?

[@BallyhooCreations]

When it comes to fiber fills, the price is a good indicator of the quality. Look for the more expensive ones. Even the crafters choice by Polyfil is better than regular polyfil. But also, squeeze the bags to see how "springy" the stuffing is for your daughters bunny. You want it to still be bouncy and huggable. Polyfil is actually a good choice for that. If the bunny has been washed and dried, the stuffing can harden and get lumpy too. Just some things to consider.

[@dreamkitten3914]

Thank you for this tutorial ❣️ It is very helpful❣️ Years ago, when I was making pillows, the stuffing was made of 100% cotton or wool. It was awesome! I hate the stuffing made today that is sold in most stores! It's made of plastic or recycled plastic. It's too slippery, it makes noise in movement & there are little sticks of plastic that poke. AWFUL!!! I am going to look into some of the kinds that you suggested. Thank you❣️

[@BallyhooCreations]

You're right! The basic stuff sold in every store is not that great, but there are some good poly fibers out there. Wool and cotton are great. Look for a fiber festival in your area to get a better price on wool roving or batting. Sometimes you can buy it straight from the farmer raising the animals. (●'◡'●)

[@albatz1377]

Hi I'm refurbishing a my pet monster from the 80s ..im trying to figure out what the stuffing is I should use to re stuff him...the original isn't wool ..im thinking it's a dense cotton ..I want him to have that original dense "thudiness" haha ..any ideas would be great..thanks

[@BallyhooCreations]

@albatz1377 Congrats on your monster - those are hard to come by these days! (ʘ ͜ʖ ʘ) I don't know what they were originally stuffed with. I looked at some restorations on the internet and couldn't tell what that curly brown stuffing is made of. If it were me, I'd probably use a quality polyester that packs hard (none of the cheap polyfil from the craft store) and then add some plastic pellets to give it weight. It might be best to enclose the pellets inside little pillows for the areas where you want that thud - like hands and feet? And then pad with softer stuffing to avoid the lumpiness. Good luck to you!

[@emilyzubanov8729]

Is morning glory similar to the regular poly fil? I need to buy more stuffing and I don’t know what is best, the only one I have used it poly fil.

[@BallyhooCreations]

The morning glory is higher quality than the cheapest polyfil and similar to the more expensive polyfil (I think they call it crafters choice?). I like the morning glory and I'm currently using it from the 5 pound box that cost $15 at Hobby Lobby - so it's economical too.

[@emilyzubanov8729]

@@BallyhooCreations thanks! I actually just ordered a five pound box of the morning glory stuffing yesterday from hobby lobby.

[@michellejeffers4528]

Im making a soft sculpture doll and I’m really having trouble with lumpy stuffing.

[@BallyhooCreations]

If you're using stretch fabric for the doll body it takes a lot of practice to make it NOT look like a lumpy potato. Use a quality filler - the cheap polyfill won't look good because it's too springy. You can stabilize the stretch fabric with Interfacing so it won't stretch. Does any of that help???

[@willowheartprimsdecor]

Thank you for sharing. How do you stuff without your hands hurting? My hands have been hurting over the last couple years. Thank you again.

[@BallyhooCreations]

Hello @willowheartprimatives ! Your prims are lovely. (●'◡'●) Any repetitive movement can make you sore if you do it too long, but your hands typically won't hurt after stuffing one doll. I'm not a doctor, but it sounds like you may have some inflammation in your hands that gets worse when stuffing? Things like arthritis or even food allergies can make hands sore and I've had bouts of it myself. If it's keeping you from doing things you enjoy, like dollmaking, then tell your doctor and get solid medical advice.

[@willowheartprimsdecor]

@@BallyhooCreations Thank you. Yes, I've been stuffing dolls for a while now and do have slight arthritis in my hands from it but just wondering if there were some tips to help. Thank you! :)

[@phenomenal_woman]

Hemostats are the best.