How to sew a frog plush: a round sitting frog in 3 sizes

To sew a frog plush, cut two side body pieces, four eye pieces, four front legs, four back legs and a base. Gather the eye pieces into domes, sew and turn the legs, and embroider the smile on both side bodies. Sew the two sides together with the eyes and front legs in the seam, baste the back legs to the base and sew the base in, then turn the frog and stuff it firmly so it sits up by itself. The Sewzy Sitting Frog Plush comes in three sizes, 6, 8¾ and 13 inches tall, and takes about 2½ hours.

TL;DR

• Sizes: Small 6 in, Medium 8¾ in, Large 13 in tall, sitting.
• Fabric: minky, fleece or cotton: ⅜ yd, ½ yd or ¾ yd.
• Face: sewn fabric eye domes with stitched pupils and a stitched smile. No safety eyes, buttons or beads.
• Base: a flat base so it sits; an optional weighted pouch of poly pellets sealed in cotton.
• Time: about 2½ hours, confident beginner.

Frog plush sizes and fabric

The seam allowance is ⅜ inch. Felt cheeks are optional and use a scrap. Height is measured on the stuffed frog, from the top of the head to the base, so firmer or softer stuffing moves it a little.

What fabric is best for a frog plush?

Minky makes the softest, most cuddly frog; fleece is easy and forgiving; cotton gives a crisp, handmade look. Green is classic, but a pink, yellow or speckled frog is just as cute. With minky, cut one layer at a time, fur side down, and use clips instead of pins. You also need new, toy-safe polyester fiberfill, dark embroidery floss for the pupils and smile, a hand needle and a chopstick for turning small parts.

How to sew a frog plush, step by step

The pattern has 12 steps with pictures. Here they are in short.

1. Print and cut all the pieces in your size and snip the notches.
2. Mark the face on both side bodies.
3. Make the eye bumps. Gather the eye pieces into 2 small domes on the eye lines.
4. Sew the front legs and back legs, turn them and stuff them lightly.
5. Stitch the face: a wide smile, pupils on the eyes and felt cheeks if you like, on both side bodies.
6. Sew the body. Join the two side bodies, leaving the belly and a turning gap open.
7. Back legs on the base. Baste the two back legs onto the base.
8. Base into the body. Sew the base in so only the turning gap is open.
9. Pouch (optional). Sew a small cotton pouch, fill it with poly pellets and seal it.
10. Turn and stuff firmly, with the pouch at the bottom if you use one, until the frog sits up by itself.
11. Finish by closing the gap with a ladder stitch.

New to plush? How to sew a plushie covers curves and stuffing, and how to sew a stuffed animal by hand shows the ladder stitch. The smile and pupils use the stitches in embroidery stitches for beginners.

Tips for a frog that sits

• Stuff in small pieces and fill the bottom first, so the base stays flat.
• Stuff firmer than you think, especially the lower body. A soft frog slumps.
• The weighted pouch helps it sit and gives a nice heft, but skip it for babies and small children.
• Clip the curves around the head before turning, so the outline is smooth.

Safety

The eyes are sewn fabric domes with stitched pupils, so there are no safety eyes, buttons or beads. If you add the weighted pouch, make it 100% cotton, seal it well and keep it inside the base; leave it out entirely for babies and young children. Check every seam before giving the frog as a gift.

A gift kids and teens love

Frogs are a favorite plush for kids and teens alike, and three sizes mean you can make a family of them. Make one for a stocking, or a matching set of different colors. For more plush ideas, see how to sew a capybara plush, how to sew a stuffed bunny doll and easy Christmas sewing projects for kids. The Sitting Frog Plush is a Premium pattern in the Sewzy app, with all three sizes and a picture for each step.