Animal Stuffies, In-the-Hoop

Hang a beautiful stuffed bird, fox, or penguin in your window or from a light fixture -- they're absolute adorable, and made entirely in the hoop. Plus, they're a fabulous gift adornment or ornament come Christmastime, too!

When you download an in-the-hoop animal stuffie design, you will find multiple files. Some are the embroidery files, and the others are dieline files marked with the letters "DL". Dielines are used to cut the fabric to the correct shape and size. Open and print each dieline file using an embroidery software. If you do not have an embroidery software, take a look at our helpful video on using dielines.

Spray the backside of the front piece dieline with temporary spray adhesive and smooth onto the felt.

Cut out the shape and remove the paper.

Repeat this process for the other dieline pieces.

Now that the fabric pieces are cut to the proper shape and size, it's time to embroider the design. Hoop a piece of tear-away stabilizer.

Attach the hoop to the machine and load the full embroidery design (not the dieline files).

Use a size 11 or 75/11 sharp sewing needle, rather than an embroidery needle. A sharp sewing needle has a smaller, finer point than an embroidery needle, so that will make smaller perforations in the stabilizer.

Embroider the design. The first thing to embroider will be a dieline, or outline stitch. This marks the area on the stabilizer where we'll place the front fabric piece.

Spray the back of the front fabric piece with a small amount of temporary adhesive.

Remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer.

Place the fabric right inside the sewn dieline

Reattach the hoop back onto the machine and continue embroidering the design.

A running stitch tack down will sew next. This holds the front fabric in place for the remainder of the design.

All of the inside elements will sew next.

On the color change sheet, look for the note that says "wing dieline." When you get to this section, stop the machine and remove the hoop from the machine. Do not unhoop the stabilizer.

Spray the backside of the wing fabric piece with temporary adhesive and place it inside the dieline.

Attach the hoop back onto the machine and continue with the design. A running stitch tack down will sew next.

Then, the inside elements of the wing will sew.

On the color change sheet, look for the note that says "finishing seam." When you get to this section, stop the machine and remove the hoop from the machine but do not unhoop the stabilizer.

Cut a piece of ribbon to about 8" long. Form the ribbon into a loop and tape it in place.

Spray the short end of the tail fabric piece with adhesive and press it in place along the left edge of the fabric with about 1/2" of the tail fabric extending in.

Turn the hoop over and spray just the edges of the backside of the back fabric piece with temporary adhesive.

Place the back piece right inside the shape on the backside of the embroidery.

Secure the ribbon loop in place onto the stabilizer with a piece of tape to prevent the loop from being sewn over later on.

The remaining steps will be seen from both sides. Wind a bobbin with the same thread used in the top.

Attach the hoop back onto the machine and continue with the design.

A running stitch tack down will sew. This binds all the layers together.

Remove the hoop from the machine.

Unhoop the stabilizer, and carefully tear it away. The dieline will be removed with the stabilizer.

Use polyester fiberfill to fill the stuffie. Insert the fiberfill through the opening at the bottom.

Hand-stitch the opening closed by stitching along the original tack down seam.

These too-cute bird stuffies are a sweet way to decorate any home with your favorite feathered friends.

The animal stuffies are terrific ideas to use as soft toys for kids, or to hang in your windows, from light fixtures, or as ornaments and gift toppers.

This project is featured on the Embroidery Library Pinterest page. Pin it yourself using the "Pin It" button on this page.