How to Make Adorable Succulent Plushies: A Step-by-Step Sewing Tutorial

Materials Needed for Making Succulent Plushies

Making adorable succulent plushies is an easy and crafty lockdown project for any plant lover. To make these cute little cacti and succulent stuffed animals, you only need a few basic sewing supplies and materials.

Fabrics

The best fabrics for succulent plushies include:

• Felt - good for the pot and soil
• Fleece - perfect for the actual succulent plants
• Cotton fabrics - use for decorative touches

Make sure to have an assortment of green shades along with other colors like white, pink, purple, orange, etc. to capture the colors real succulents come in.

Other Materials

• Polyester fiberfill stuffing
• Matching sewing thread
• Pins and needles
• Scissors
• Removable fabric marker
• Decorative accessories (optional) - mini pom poms, fabric glue, ribbons, etc.

Making the Pot for the Succulent Plushie

First decide on the size and shape for your succulent plushie pot. Small terracotta pots work well for little plushies. Trace a template onto felt and cut out two pieces that are the same.

Sew the two pieces of felt together along the sides and bottom edges, leaving the top open. Trim the seams, turn right side out, and press flat with an iron if needed.

Fill the little felt pot with fiberfill stuffing to create the base for your succulent.

How to Sew the Succulent Plants

To create the actual succulent plants for inside the pot:

1. Trace succulent shaped templates onto fleece fabric and cut out your plant pieces.
2. Stack two pieces together at a time and sew along the edges, leaving an opening.
3. Turn right side out and stuff firmly with fiberfill.
4. Hand stitch the openings closed.
5. Use a fabric marker to add details like lines on echeveria leaves.
6. Arrange and place inside the stuffed pot.

Finishing Touches

To finish off your plush succulents, glue tiny decorative elements like mini pom poms for flowers or faux pearl beads for waterfall plants. Play around and get creative with materials!

These plant plushies make perfect gifts, decor items, or kids' toys. Display them on shelves, desks, windowsills or anywhere else that needs a little succulent love!

Tips for Making Realistic Succulent Plushies

The key to crafting realistic looking succulent stuffed animals is all about the details. Here are some top tips:

Leaf Shaping

Carefully cut out fleece leaf shapes to capture the true silhouettes of popular succulents like echeveria, aloe vera, haworthia and more.

Textures & Lines

Use a fabric marker to draw on tiny details like dots, ridges, tapering ends and other marks that mimic real succulent leaves.

Color Variation

Look up reference photos so you can replicate natural color variation in the leaves, especially rosette-forming types like echeveria. Use several green fleece shades.

Clustering

Arrange tiny succulents together in realistic clusters for the look of mature, full potted plants.

Different Types of Succulents to Make as Plushies

You can let your creativity run wild when deciding which succulents to recreate in plushie form. Here are just a few awesome options:

Echeveria

With gorgeous rosettes of smooth, fleshy leaves, echeveria are extremely trendy right now. The Hen and Chicks plant is especially cute for plushies.

Aloe Vera

The spiky yet soothing aloe plant is very easy to craft thanks to its sword-shaped leaves. Make tiny plush aloes in terracotta pots.

Haworthia

Sometimes called zebra plants, these succulents have unique textured leaves in shades of green. They add nice variety for mixed succulent arrangements.

Cacti

For a Southwestern twist, try your hand at cuddly cactus plushies! Felt is perfect for creating the pointy spines.

Air Plants

Not technically succulents, air plants have an exotic, minimalist look that translates beautifully into plushie mobiles or wall hangings.

Displaying Your Succulent Plushie Creations

The great thing about adorable succulent plushies is they brighten up any space. Get creative with display ideas like:

• Succulent garlands strung up with ribbon
• Mismatched pots on bookshelves
• Terrariums and glass bowls
• Plushie planters mixed with real plants
• Little gardenscapes
• Desktop companions at work

Let these fake succys be a reminder to water your actual plant babies! And don't be surprised if your handmade succulent plushies get just as many compliments as the real things.

FAQs

What's the best fabric to use?

Fleece is ideal for the succulent plants as it has a nice texture. Felt works great for the pots. Cotton fabrics can be used for decorative touches.

How do I get the succulent shape right?

Use reference photos of real succulents to trace shaped templates. Carefully cut out the fleece pieces and add details like dots and lines with fabric marker to mimic natural textures.

What stuffing fills succulent plushies the best?

Polyester fiberfill stuffing is perfect! It allows for firm shaping while still being soft and squishy like real succulent leaves.

Can I decorate my plush succulents?

Absolutely! Glue on tiny embellishments like mini pom pom flowers or faux pearls. You can also display real air plants inside glass terrarium bowls with your plushies.

What are some cute ways to display them?

Group colorful pots together on shelves for a bright display. Hang air plant mobiles made with plushies. Line them up on your desktop or mix them into houseplant arrangements.