How to sew a mushroom plush: a chubby toadstool in 3 sizes

To sew a mushroom plush, sew six cap pieces (called gores) into a dome, add a gill ring around the rim, then turn and stuff the cap. Embroider the face on the flat stem piece, sew the stem into a tube, sew in a stiffened round base, turn and stuff the stem, then ladder-stitch the stem to the cap. Felt spots stitched on the cap finish the toadstool look. The Sewzy Mushroom Plush comes in three sizes, 5½, 8¼ and 11 inches tall, and takes about 2 to 3 hours.

TL;DR

• Sizes: Small 5½ in, Medium 8¼ in, Large 11 in tall.
• Fabric: minky, fleece or velboa for the cap; a cream fabric for the gill ring, stem and base; white felt for the spots.
• Base: two layers of fusible interfacing or firm felt, so it stands up.
• Face: sewn eyes and smile in floss. No buttons, beads or plastic eyes.
• Time: about 2 to 3 hours, confident beginner.

Mushroom plush sizes and fabric

The seam allowance is ¼ inch. Heights are for the stuffed mushroom, so firmer filling moves them a little.

What fabric is best for a mushroom plush?

A soft pile fabric, such as minky, fleece or velboa, makes a cuddly cap; red with white spots is the classic toadstool, but brown, pink or mustard caps are lovely too. Use a cream or off-white fabric for the stem, gill ring and base. With minky, cut one layer at a time and use clips instead of pins, then brush the pile out of the seams at the end.

What you need

• Cap fabric and cream fabric, as in the table.
• White felt for 3 large and 4 small spots.
• Dark embroidery floss for the eyes and smile.
• Fusible interfacing (2 layers) or firm felt for the base.
• New polyester fiberfill, a hand needle, chalk, clips and a soft brush.

How to sew a mushroom 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. Sew the face on the flat stem piece: two eyes and a smile.
3. Sew on the spots. Stitch the felt spots onto the cap pieces twice around, keeping them away from the seams.
4. Sew the cap dome from the 6 gores.
5. Add the gill ring to the rim of the cap, leaving a hole in the middle.
6. Turn and stuff the cap into a firm, round dome.
7. Sew the stem tube with the face inside.
8. Sew the base in and stiffen it.
9. Turn the stem so the base sits flat and firm.
10. Stuff the stem firmly.
11. Join the stem and cap with a ladder stitch, topping up the stuffing before you close the gap.
12. Finish by brushing out the pile. It should stand up on its own.

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 face uses the stitches in embroidery stitches for beginners.

Tips for a round cap and a steady stem

• Match the gore points carefully at the top of the cap so the dome is round, not pointed.
• Stuff in small pieces and keep going until the cap feels firm.
• Stiffen the base with two layers of interfacing or firm felt, so the mushroom stands.
• Top up the stuffing just before closing the last gap; the join is where it tends to sag.

Safety

The pattern is not meant as a toy for children under 3. Use sewn eyes only, never buttons, beads or plastic eyes, and check the seams and eye stitching before each use.

A cozy gift

Mushroom plushies are a favorite with teens and adults for shelves and beds, and three sizes make a sweet family of toadstools. Pair one with the frog plush for a woodland set, or see how to sew a capybara plush for another favorite. The Mushroom Plush is a Premium pattern in the Sewzy app, with all three sizes and a picture for each step.