How to Sew a Felt Play Hot Dog and Bun

If you are looking for an original, homemade toy to sew for your toddler or preschooler, play felt food is a great idea. Young children love to make believe and felt food is more attractive and realistic than store-bought plastic. It is also inexpensive and easy to make. All you need are some simple hand and machine sewing skills. This article gives instructions for making a toy felt hot dog and hot dog bun, as well as hot dog condiments.

To make a felt hot dog, cut a piece of tan or pink felt 5 by 2 inches. Fold the rectangle in half lengthwise and sew along the long open edge. Leave a 1 inch gap for turning and stuffing the hot dog. Be sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of your sewing, and on either side of the gap.

Hand sew around the top and bottom openings using a running stitch, ¼ inch from the edge, leaving a long tail. Pull the tail and needle end to tighten and gather the end of the hot dog. Tie the ends together in a square knot, being sure to keep the gathers tight. (See Picture #2)

Turn the hot dog right side out through the gap and stuff. Use the eraser end of a pencil to turn the hot dog, and to stuff with small bits of polyester stuffing. (See Picture #3)

Hand stitch the opening closed. I suggest using a ladder stitch, which is barely visible when pulled tight.

To make a felt hot dog bun, you will need a 4 by 6 inch piece of cream felt and a 4 by 6 piece of tan felt. You will also need two pieces of quilt batting, 3.5 by 5.5 inches and another piece 2 by 5.5 inches.

Round the corners of the felt rectangles. Cut a small curve on the corners of one long side and a larger curve on the corners along the other length. (See Picture #4)

Stitch around the rectangle, leaving a two-inch gap for turning and stuffing on the side with the more curved corners. Remember to backstitch! Turn it right side out and put the two larger pieces of batting inside. Sew all the way down the center lengthwise, to divide the bun in half. (See Picture #5)

Put the smaller piece of batting inside the open half of the bun. Hand sew the opening closed.

To make felt hot dog condiments such as ketchup, mustard, or relish squiggles, simply cut a squiggly length of felt from the appropriate color. Wide ric rac ribbon or trim also works well and can be bought by the yard at a fabric and craft store. (See Picture #1 with felt ketchup and ric rac mustard)

To complete your toy felt food collection, please check out my articles on sewing a felt food sandwich set, and a felt banana with removable peel.