How fun is this!!?? Give your plushie some cartoon character with these pop-up eyes! This is pictured on my Bottleneck Chicken (pattern not yet released…coming soon!), however, you can put them on whatever plushie you’d like!
This method ensures your eyes will be evenly round and firm. There are some modifications you can use, which I will address below.
A VIDEO TUTORIAL is coming soon, it isn’t ready yet, but I wanted to let you access this tutorial now. Check back later for the video tutorial.
What you will need:
- 4″ x 8″ Piece 4-way Stretch White Knit Fabric
- 2 Flat 15mm Black Safety Eyes
- Thread and Needle
- 2 Ping-Pong Balls (table tennis)
- Fiber Fill (optional)
- Small Piece Black Knit Fabric (optional)
Step 1: Trace the “Pop Up Eye” template onto the 4-way stretch white knit (or other color, if you don’t want white eyes). Mark the pupil on the fabric.
Step 2: Mark a dot on the ping pong (table tennis) ball, anywhere.
Step 3: Measure 7/8 inch from the marked dot on the ball and mark that measurement. Continue doing this, measuring 7/8 inch from the original marked dot, as you move the around the ball. Keep one end of the measuring tape ‘anchored’ on the original dot as you pivot around the ball, marking as you go.
Step 4: Use an awl to poke a hole in the ball, carefully. This gives you a starting point to insert your scissors.
Step 5: Insert the tip of your scissors in the hole and cut until you reach the marked line (dashed line in my images). Then cut along the dashed line, fully around the circle/ball.
Yes, I used my fabric scissors…I know, I know…but it worked! lol Use what works for you. If you choose a box knife, etc, be extra mindful to not cut yourself…you have better control with scissors, but the choice is yours. Always use whatever cutting method you choose safely.
Applique Pupil Option! If you prefer to make the pupil out of fabric than use a safety eye, simply apply whatever applique technique you prefer and apply a 15mm fabric circle over the pupil placement dot, as desired. If you need a tutorial on how to applique, you can find that here. Now is the time to apply fabric pupil, unless you plan to add it on after the eye is complete using hand applique.
Step 6: Thread a sewing needle with a long length of general use sewing thread. Fold the thread in half and feed both ends of the thread through the eye of the needle. This allows the thread to be doubled and gives you a loop at the end to use to easily attach the thread to the fabric. Insert the needle into a very small section of the fabric, near the edge. Pull the thread through almost to the end. Put the needle through the loop on the thread then pull snug, attaching the thread to the fabric.
Step 7: Apply a simple running stitch along the edge of the fabric. It doesn’t need to be very eve and each stitch doesn’t need to be close…it will be used to gather the fabric. You can apply the stitch just inside the drawn line, or on the drawn line if you cut your fabric a little larger than the drawn line. Stitch all the way around the circle and pull to slightly gather the stitch/fabric.
Step 8: Place the cut ball inside the fabric, with the cut edge up. Pull the fabric snug around the ball…but not super tight yet.
Step 9: If using a safety eye for the pupil, while the fabric is snug on the ball, poke a hole in the fabric and the ball using an awl. Snip the hole a little bigger if needed, being careful not to make it too large or pull too tight while snipping.
Step 10: Insert the shank of the safety eye into the hole and press the eye flat against the fabric/ball.
Step 11: Fit the washer for the safety eye over the shank of the safety eye and snap into place, until tight against the inside of the ball.
OPTIONAL: if you want to give the eye some support from going concave if pushed too hard, you can stuff some fiber filling in the the ball at this point. My chicken will be mostly sitting on a shelf, so I left the ball hollow.
Step 12: Pull the fabric tight around the ball and stitch back and forth around the edges to pull the fabric together and secure it in place.
Step 13: Attach the eye to the plushie. The eye will have some wrinkles of fabric, you can minimize them by smoothing them out as best you can, or, if you’ll be applying an eyelid, gently move the wrinkles to the area that will be covered by the eyelid.
Step 14: Place the eye on the plushie at the location desired. I centered the eye on the eye placement dot marked on the face template. Pin in place. Keep in mind, you can have the pupil point wherever you’d like…adjust the ball around to see how different pupil positions look and determine your preferred placement. The pupils also don’t have to be aligned from one side to the other…it is a crazy pop-up eye.
Step 15: Use a ladder stitch to secure the eye to the plushie. Stitch right at the edge of the ball. I stitched around twice, use your discretion. Once you’re finished stitching, tie a knot, insert the needle into the plushie at the know, pull it through an inch or so away and trim the tail of the thread flush with the fabric.
Here is a ladder stitch tutorial.
Eyelid: Add the eyelid, if desired. Here is a tutorial on how to sew and attach the eyelid. Be sure to use the eyelid template for the Pop-Up Eye.
The project I demonstrated this on is my Bottleneck Chicken. It isn’t yet published, but there will be a link here when it is! Coming soon!!