How To Replicate A Plush Toy

I can’t help it, I replicated this cute tiger – I am a copy cat, omg!!! Read how I Replicate Plush Toy and adapt the method to make yours.

The origin of this tiger is a “limited edition” stuffed-toy mascot of a 100% Malaysian made Chinese New Year movie, “大日子- Woohoo!” (Big Day – Woohoo!). Tiger is this year’s animal in Chinese astrology, they came in a set of 5 with different colors represented: Opulence, Abundance, Harmony, Auspicious, Peaceful.

I bought the last set from “Eu Yan Sang” (EYS), Asia’s leading healthcare company specializes in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The set was sold at only RM68 (approx. US$21) and with every set sold, EYS will donate RM10 to the Spastic Children’s Association. I would buy more to give them away as a Chinese New Year gift, such a meaningful gift to my loved ones while contributing to a good cause, win-win, why not?

I showed this 5 little cute tigers to my nieces and nephews, they want them too but my kids wouldn’t let them go. Aren’t they too cute for not owning 1? Perhaps EYS should reproduce them again for the charity cause. At the meantime, I have no choice but to replicate it and make a few for my sibling’s kids.

What about the movie? It is beyond my expectation…. it is superb, the 1st 100% locally made Chinese New Year Movie, from the storyboard, to casts, to film director, all Malaysians!!! Speaking of the casts, you’d be surprised….. they are Radio DJ’s (My FM), TV hosts (Astro) & singers, and many of them are the first time in movie acting.  To date, they have broken 3.5 million box office since premiered on Jan 14. Bravo! “Malaysia Boleh”! (Malaysia Can).

This tutorial is meant to show you how to replicate a stuffed/plush toy for the exceptional case, eg. replacement of your favorite plush toys which is no longer in production. No way to copy a plush toy that you can still get it from the shop, it is cheaper to buy than to make. No pattern will be given for this tiger as it might be copyrighted by EYS or the movie production company.

How To Replicate A Plush Toy

The materials you need to duplicate a plush toy:
1. The plush/soft/stuffed toy you want to replicate.
2. White cotton or muslin fabric.
3. Pencil and fabric marker
4. Tracing paper
5. Pins
6. Poly-fill for stuffing
7. Fabric glue
8. Sewing essentials
As shown in the photo, I detached one of the ears of the tiger so that it is more accurate and easy to trace the pattern.

Wrap the plush toy as flat as possible with white fabric and secure it with pins.
Pin at the seam lines.

Trace an outline along the seam line. Cutaway extra fabric by leaving about 1/4″ – 1/2″ seam allowance.

How it looks from the front view. Poor tiger with only 1 ear left… don’t worry, I am going to put it back for you after I finished the tracing, yay…

Do the same for the bottom and other pieces if you have more than 2 parts.

Trace the pattern onto the tracing paper for the record.

Mocking up. Pin the traced pattern to another fabric and start sewing according to the original.  Join the bottom piece as well.

Leave a gap of about 2 – 2 1/2 ” (A to A) for turning inside out.

Turn the fabric inside out and stuff it with poly-fill. Sew the opening with the whip stitch.

Compare to the original and made any necessary alteration to achieve the closest possible to the original shape. You might want to use a measuring tape to measure some various points and check the dimensions or just merely from your judgment. Remember to update it on your paper pattern as you go.

Trace the ears and mock it up as well.

Same to the eyes and all other decorative bits on it.

Put on the ears and eyes and compare to the original. Make alterations if needed.

Satisfy with the mock-up? Then, let’s make the real replica!!!
I used silk for the back of the tiger since it is a Chinese New Year Tiger.

Tada!!! What do you think about the replica tiger I made? The one on the left! Woohoo!!!… I am a MARVELOUS Copy Cat!!! Now, I am going to make a few more for my little nieces and nephews.