There are several options for supporting the neck in your plushie project. You’ll need to consider the purpose of your plushie when deciding what support method to use as some are more suitable than others when it comes to a soft toy that will be given to a young child. Use your own discernment when making your decision.
While stuffing the plush firmly is an option, the fiber-filling can shift over time. Below are some additional options.
Foam Tube
This is a foam pipe cover, made to fit a ½ to ¾ inch pipe. They are found in hardware stores, etc. You can also use a pool noodle with a small enough diameter, or trim down the outside of the noodle enough to fit.
Step 1: Cut the foam to the length you need. Generally something that will fit the majority of the length of the body up into the head of the plush. Then, remove the tape covers.
Note: you can cut the foam tube along the length to make it a smaller diameter as needed.
Step 2: Fold the tube into itself, essentially rolling it up. Secure with zip ties or yarn/string. If using zip ties, cut the tail of the zip tie as flush as you can.
Stuff the inside top of the head of the stuffed animal, then insert the foam and carefully stuff around it.
Chenille Stems - Pipe Cleaners
Step 1: Cut about 4-6 chenille stems to the length needed.
Step 2: Twist them together and fold the ends over.
Insert it while stuffing the plush and carefully stuff around it. Or, stuff the plush first and use a rigid thin object, like a stuffing stick, to guide the twisted stem into place.
Stuffed Fabric Insert
Step 1: Make your template. The template needs to be about ½ inch smaller in diameter than the neck on the template for the plush (when the template for the plush has included ¼ inch seam allowance), ¼ inch smaller on each side of the template. Make the template long enough to fit the majority of the body and up into the head a little.
Step 2: Cut two pieces of fabric from the template you created. The fabric won’t be seen so fabric color, thread color and whether the fabric is right or wrong side out won’t matter.
Step 3: Sew the panels together using a ¼ inch seam allowance leaving one short end open for turning and stuffing.
Step 4: Turn right side out and stuff tightly, as tight as you can.
Step 5: Stitch across the bottom to close.
Insert the stuffed tube into the stuffed animal after you have stuffed the top part of the head. Then stuff around it as you stuff the rest of the head and body.
Armature makes a plush poseable, but also adds some support to the stuffed animal’s structure. Make the armature the length you’d like (the length of the body and up into the head) and insert it after the top of the head is stuffed then stuff around it.
Dowel
Step 1: Cut the small dowel to the length needed, the length of the body and into the head.
Step 2: Cap the ends of the dowel with dowel cap balls, you can glue them on.
Insert the dowel into the plushie after you’ve stuffed the top of the head, then stuff around it. Alternatively, stuff the whole plush and then carefully push and wiggle the dowel into place.