Pro tip: Plastic bag stuffing is not recommended for toys for small children or animals, as if they manage to tear open the toy, they’ll discover a whole collection of choking and/or suffocation hazards to play with.

There are so many options for you to fill your toys with. Here is a long list of things that you could use to stuff your toy with. This type of stuffing is far different from the other synthetic toy stuffing fibers in the final texture of the toy as well as weight since they are denser. These Poly-Pellets are my favorite. When faced with a unique shape, Donna recommends combining a layer of batting and interlining with your main fabric. Steel shots provide heavy weight with a small amount of stuffing. These pellets should NOT be used in toys for children under the age of 3 years old. Because of the low price point, pillows with feather filling typically only last one to two years. During that time, though, a feather pillow will be lightweight and easy to mold —much like down stuffing.No matter which type of filling you choose, go with quality brand, such as Fairfield. Whenever the word “quality” is mentioned, people usually figure that translates to, “costs a bit more.” It may cost a bit more, however, higher quality filling lasts longer, which actually costs you less in the long run because you won’t have to replace it. Our recommendation is to buy the best quality filling your budget will allow. Fairfield is sensitive to budget, offering a range of quality products at various price points. Nature-filis an environmentally friendly, all natural PLA fiberfill made from corn sugar. It has a texture similar to polyester fiberfill with superior resiliency. PLA fiberfill is hypoallergenic and biodegradable. These are equally fluffy and plush but have a higher price tag due to the increased production cost and tremendous benefit of being environmentally safe.Some natural toy stuffing is organic and vegan, though not always. 2. Is Your Stuffed Toy Meant for Kids or Adults? Experienced crafters put these in the middle and then cleverly fill out the surrounding edges with polyfill, wool, or other fibers. 1. Scrap Fabric and Rugs A key to successful stuffing is what you use to get into those hard to reach corners, curves and crevices. We have a list of recommended tools below. Some are official stuffing tools, while others are “off label” as they say. In general, you need a tool that won’t pierce the fabric as you gently push the filling into place. Official stuffing tools

Nylons work great, but woolly ones will do too. They should be clean, obviously, and you’ll probably want to cut the elastic hem off the top. They’re machine washable, the dye doesn’t leak (not after a billion washes) and it’s a good way to upcycle ones with a ladder in.The cost of toy stuffing is another factor you might want to pay attention to, particularly if working on a large toy or multiple toys. The price range is quite diverse, with the likes of wool being in the top tier. Glass Pellets are medium weight and also NOT suitable for children’s toys for children under the age of 3 years old. These fine beads are perfect for adding weight in smaller areas of your toys. I have used these for making teddy bears as they are great for adding a fair amount of weight in small areas of the toy. As we noted, there are many different pillow fillings on the market. Each of them offers different features and benefits. With such a wide variety out there, it’s important to select the pillow filling that best aligns with your sleeping preferences and lifestyle. However, toys stuffed with these waste alternatives cannot match up to commercial stuffing in texture and durability. If you are aiming for a refined-looking, high-quality, professionally made stuffed toy, you are better off spending a bit more on toy stuffing.

It is entirely up to you what materials you choose to fill your creations with. There are up and down sides to using all the different kinds of fibrefill. Hopefully you have read this article and can make a more informed choice for your knitted toys. Run out of stuffing for a toy or ornament? Created an amigurumi cutie or maybe you've sewn a pin cushion but are running short on stuffing, Elizabeth Bagwell suggests some creative stuffing solutions.

Start with a generous handful of filling. Gently pull the filling loose. The idea is to remove any clumps, while fluffing the fill at the same time. Repeat the process 2-3 times before inserting the fill into your project. It can be good if you have large toys to fill as it is less dense than other kinds of filling and goes further by weight. If they are labelled high-loft this means that there is lots of air in it and it will be more bouncy. I much agree with Tovah A, I also use Kapok stuffing mixed with lightweight cotton scraps (or sometimes merino wool leftover from felting, although only if it’s for someone who’s ok with animal-derived things, of course). While synthetic toy stuffing makes fantastic stuffed dolls and animals, it may not appeal to anyone whose gone green. If you prefer natural, biodegradable, and renewable stuffing material for your crafts, then try the natural options from plant and animal fibers.