How to sew a capybara plush (3 sizes)

To sew a capybara plush, cut and mark two mirrored body pieces, sew the eyes, add a hemmed belly with a small pocket, then sew the belly into the body. Turn it right side out, stuff it firm, close the gap by hand, attach the legs and ears and add the orange hat on top. The Capybara Plush is in the Sewzy app in three sizes, about 7, 11 and 15 in, and takes about three hours.

TL;DR

• A capybara plush is a round, calm-faced body with short legs, little ears and the signature orange on its head.
• The Capybara Plush is in the Sewzy app in Small, Medium and Large: about 7 in, 11 in and 15 in.
• It is rated intermediate and takes about 3 hours, mostly for the curved seams and the hand finishing.
• Use a soft pile such as minky, fleece or velboa, with polyester fiberfill for the stuffing.
• For a baby or toddler, embroider the eyes and nose instead of using plastic safety eyes, and stitch the legs and ears on firmly.

What makes a capybara plush?

A capybara reads as a capybara from a few simple cues: a barrel-shaped body, a flat and gentle face, small rounded ears set high, and short legs. The orange on the head is the detail people recognize, a nod to the photos of capybaras relaxing with a piece of citrus balanced on top. Keep the face calm and low-contrast, with the eyes set wide and a small nose, and the shape does the rest. The Capybara Plush also has a pocket in the belly and an optional closed soft insert that slides into it.

What size capybara should I sew?

If this is your first plush, read how to sew a plushie first. Sewing by hand with no machine is fine too, and how to sew a stuffed animal by hand covers the stitches.

What fabric and stuffing to use

A short-pile fabric suits a capybara because the real animal looks soft and rounded. Minky, fleece or velboa all work, in a warm brown for the body and a bright orange scrap for the hat. These fabrics shift as you sew, so clip the seams rather than pin, sew slowly on the curves and use a stretch or ballpoint needle. Fill with polyester fiberfill, adding it in small handfuls and pushing it into the nose with a chopstick so the body stays smooth and firm.

How to sew a capybara plush, step by step

1. Cut and mark. Cut every piece and snip the notches. Mark both body pieces so they end up as mirror images, left and right.
2. Sew the eyes. Stitch or embroider one eye onto each body piece, keeping them level and wide-set.
3. Belly. Hem the two belly pieces along the marked edge, and make the pocket slot on one of them.
4. Legs and ears. Sew and turn the four legs and make the two ears.
5. Sew the body. Join the two body pieces, leaving the bottom open for the belly and a gap for turning.
6. Set the belly in. Sew the hemmed belly into the base so only the turning gap stays open.
7. Turn and stuff. Turn it right side out through the gap and stuff it firm and round, working the filling into the face.
8. Close and finish the face. Ladder-stitch the gap closed, then stitch on the four legs and two ears firmly and add the nose and mouth.
9. Orange hat. Stitch the orange piece firmly to the top of the head.
10. Optional insert. Make the closed soft insert and slide it into the belly pocket.

Common mistakes

• Understuffing. A soft, floppy body loses the round capybara shape. Pack it firm, especially the face.
• Pinning minky. Pins leave holes and the pile slips. Use clips and a longer stitch length on the curves.
• Plastic eyes on a baby gift. For a child under three, embroider the eyes and nose instead of using plastic safety eyes, and stitch the ears and legs on securely so nothing can pull free.
• A high-contrast face. Capybaras look calm. Keep the eyes and nose small and the expression soft rather than cartoonish.

More plush patterns

Once the capybara is done, the Sitting Frog Plush and the Reindeer Plush use the same methods, and the reindeer suits Christmas sewing for kids. The plushie sewing patterns page lists more, including the Plush Whale.

Related guides: how to sew a frog plush and how to sew a mushroom plush.