How to Sew Eyes on Crochet Animals
Crochet animals have proven time and again to be a lovely gift for babies and young kids. Well, no one can’t resist those bubbly cheeks and extraordinary looks! But there’s a catch though. Behind their adorable face lies a safety concern. And the eyes are considered hazardous, especially for children below three years old.
You should avoid attaching anything to the doll or toy of a baby and toddler. Eyes are more dangerous due to their tiny size. Children can drag, chew, and worst, swallow them. So, before going to a store and grabbing stacks of ready-made eyes, get your sewing kits instead. This post aims to advise you on how to sew eyes on crochet animals the easy way. So, go and get them!
How to Sew Eyes on Crochet Animals?
Contents
Get a needle and some thread as your main supplies. An embroidery needle is most desirable for this project due to its sharp point. Besides, choose your preferred size for the eyes and their placement. Thread the yarn with a needle and start sewing. Use at least three strands of thread for stitching a small crochet toy. And as possible, opt for a decent cotton thread.
Steps to Sew Eyes on Crochet Animals
Just like humans, toys and dolls have their own “personality” as well. Sure, there are off-the-rack eye packets you can access. But sometimes, they are not easy to find and can burden your pocket.
For a cost-efficient and safe alternative, stitched or embroidered eyes are always helpful. They will not present a choking deathtrap as long as you sew the pieces firmly. Explore different variations until you find the right emotion. There are so many characters you can add.
Don’t worry about being a perfectionist. There is no correct way to embroider eyes. Pick whatever color of yarn you think would best fit your project and thread it. Then, make sure to follow these basic instructions.
Step 1: Decide the Size of the Eyes You Like
If you are still having a hard time, you can extract different sizes. Do this on a chunk of felt fabric or paper. Put on the animal toy until you settle for the perfect set of eyes. There are a wide variety of looks you can make. They could be cute eyes, sleepy eyes, etc.
Step 2: Eye Placement
Now, it’s time for eye placement. You can make your own version here. Place them further at a distance and close by. Are you worried about messing up with your project? You can always look through the internet for inspiration and to know the standard placement for your preferred eyes.
Step 3: Make a Position
Pin down the eyes on position to hold them steadily. Otherwise, create one stitch in the middle.
Step 4: Thread the Needle
Thread the yarn on the needle. It doesn’t need to be exact in length since you will cut down the excess yarn after.
Step 5: Start Needle Work
Pop in the needle to the area you want to place the eye. Pull the thread through while allotting a short tail.
Step 6: Make a Visible Tail
Put the needle back in similar holes and then pull through. Make sure not to hide the short tail. It should still be visible.
Step 7: Make Stitches
Continue inserting the needle in similar holes until you create a circular and full eye. You decide how much depth you want it to be. For a rounder, giant look, repeat the stitches.
Step 8: Finishing Work
Finish off and do the same method on another eye. Be sure it has the same thickness level as the first one.
And that’s it! The entire process of sewing eyes on crochet animals is simple. But of course, it can be very challenging during initial attempts. You fail and succeed, and that’s pretty normal. Just practice having good attention to detail and loads of patience.
There are a lot of exciting things why you should try this sewing method. It is much quicker and more comfortable, particularly for bigger toys. Plus, you can play around eyes to have that distinct appearance.
How to Sewing Eyes on Crochet Animals With Felt
Felt, as a primary material, allows you to create expressive eyes that any store-bought animal stuff cannot replace. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Cut the Felt
Cut the black craft felt into circle shapes. It may be quite hard to cut rough circles onto the felt directly. So instead, cut it into squares first and then gently trim until you have an entirely smooth circle.
Step 2: Sew the Eye
After finding the right placement for the eyes, sew them on. Use one strand of thread or floss and a small needle when binding the eyes. How many stitches should you use will depend on how big or small the look and animal are. For instance, a small toy may only require six stitches. While for a large toy with large eyes, twelve or more strands are what you need.
Step 3: Put a Highlight
Again, it’s entirely up to you where you want the highlight to be. Use a white felt for the whites of the eyes. You can try the French knot. Warp the yarn or thread once around the needle for 2-3 times. Put back the needle down to the felt circle. It will produce a knot at the centre.
Step 4: Finish Your Crochet Animal
Tie both ends together – being sure they are entirely concealed. Use a needle to pluck the ends through the filling.
Step 5: Trim the Ends
Trim off the remaining ends, and you’re finally done!
The beauty of the French knot is that you can modify the size of the knot. It will depend on the number of times you enclose it around the needle. Though aside from the French knot, the backstitch is also popular. Perhaps you want to make happy, peering, or sleeping eyes. The backstitch can help you with that.
Must-Know Crochet Animal Tips & Tricks
- Counting your stitches may sound boring and can lose your focus, but it is essential in crochet toys. Whether reducing or adding, you should always be on course. It dramatically affects how your finished output will look like.
- Stitching eyes demand a proper amount of focus since both eyes need to be of similar length and size. So, be consistent with your stitches.
- Eye placement is crucial and should not be done hastily. It can make or break your crochet animal! If you don’t want to stain the doll with a marker or pen, use tacks as an alternative. It is especially ideal if you intend to attach safety eyes. Tacks ensure you are placing the eyes precisely at your desired location.
- If you intend to sew other areas on the face (e.g. nose), ensure to leave long tails for sewing. It creates a continuous transition when stitching.
- Another way of securing a completed crochet project is by using an invisible join. It helps to keep those stitches as uniform, smooth, and beautiful as possible. No one won’t even recognize an entry-level sewer did it!
What Are Safety Eyes Used For?
Safety eyes are simple, child-safe craft attachments that are made of plastic. They are specifically an excellent addition for amigurumi. These are another recommended option for stitched eyes. Just a fair warning; be careful when attaching it to your amigurumi. Although it is considered safe, babies might easily pull it off and put it in their mouths. Older kids can have it, though.
What Are Other Alternatives for Sewing Eyes on Crochet Animals?
You have an array of options. Besides the safety eyes and a piece of felt, you can also try the anime eyes. Perfect for adding a kawaii look to your child’s doll. It requires ample time to learn the technique but is worth every second. There are also crochet circles or knits. Beads and buttons suit the personality of your adult kids toy. They are not suitable for babies and little kids, so be wary.
Crafting has always been a deep-seated passion of mine, one that has flourished and evolved over the years.
I've dedicated considerable time to both studying and practicing in the realm of fashion and sewing, amassing a wealth of experience and skills.
It brings me great joy to share these insights and experiences with you all, hoping to inspire and foster a similar passion for the art of sewing.
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