Cuddle pals: 12 toys to knit and crochet
Published on 16 July 2020 By Merion 2 min read
When life gets tough, we all need a little pal to cuddle! Get ready for ten cute cuddlies that will cheer you up when you need a hug...
Cuddly friends to knit
Grab your needles and dig into your stash to knit a cuddly friend for someone in need. From bunnies to bears, a knitted toy is a treasure forever. Remember, if you're making toys for small children, please be aware of choking hazards, such as buttons and bells - you can either embroider faces, or make yarny features and sew them on.
Crocheted cuddlies to snuggle
Crochet lends itself beautifully to toy making, partly because of the robustness of stitches but also because of the long tradition of amigurumi, and the ease of working in the round. You can utilise all kinds of fun techniques, such as fluffing up yarn, as shown in this fabulous Fizzgig below, and embroidery for adding faces, too.
What you'll need
Yarn, needles and hooks, of course - and, if you are making a toy as a gift, be sure that you use a yarn that is washable and if possible, kind to skin, such as a cotton yarn or an acrylic blend.
Sewing needles are a must - there is a lot of seaming involved, and you'll need a pair of scissors for snipping ends. You will nearly always need stuffing, but in the absence of having any to hand, you can stuff toys with spare yarn or the insides of old pillows. Be sure that whatever you use is fire retardant and child safe.
