Sew and Stuff a Felt Donut: A Step-by-Step Guide

Updated at: 20/03/2025

Felt is a wonderfully versatile crafting material, offering a soft texture and vibrant color options perfect for a variety of projects. Today, we're tackling a charming and surprisingly simple creation: a felt donut! These adorable little treats are perfect for adding a whimsical touch to keychains, ornaments, or even as standalone decorations. Whether you're a seasoned crafter or a curious beginner, the satisfying process of shaping and stuffing this delightful felt confection is sure to bring a smile to your face.

This guide will walk you through each step, from cutting out the felt pieces to the final satisfying squeeze of stuffing. Get ready to unleash your inner artisan and discover the joy of creating your own unique felt donut, because in the following sections, we’ll detail precisely how to sew and stuff your very own delectable-looking (but inedible!) felt creation.

Preparation and Safety Guidelines

Tools Needed
  • Felt (for icing and dough)
  • Scissors
  • Pens
  • Decorations (sprinkles)
  • Thread
  • Needles
  • Pins
  • Donut template
Safety Guidelines
  • Use sharp scissors with caution, keeping fingers away from the blades while cutting felt.
  • Supervise young children closely during all steps, especially when using needles and scissors.
  • If using a needle, be mindful of the direction you are pushing it to avoid pricking yourself or others. Always work away from yourself.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Prepare Dough Base

    • Trace the donut dough template onto felt twice, leaving a 1-2cm seam allowance.
    • Cut out the felt dough shapes.
    Cut out the felt dough shapes.Cut out the felt dough shapes.
    Prepare Dough Base

  2. Prepare Icing

    • Trace the icing template onto felt once, without a seam allowance.
    • Cut out the felt icing shape.
    Cut out the felt icing shape.Cut out the felt icing shape.
    Prepare Icing

  3. Attach Icing to Base

    • Pin the icing to the dough base.
    • Sew along the edges of the icing and dough base.
    Sew along the edges of the icing and dough base.Sew along the edges of the icing and dough base.
    Attach Icing to Base

  4. Decorate

    • Decorate the donut (e.g., with sprinkles).
    Decorate the donut (e.g., with sprinkles).
    Decorate

  5. Prepare for Stuffing

    • Pin the two sides of the donut together, leaving a gap for stuffing.
    • Sew along the outside circle, leaving a gap for stuffing.
    Sew along the outside circle, leaving a gap for stuffing.Sew along the outside circle, leaving a gap for stuffing.
    Prepare for Stuffing

  6. Turn and Close

    • Turn the donut inside out through the gap.
    • Sew along the inside circle to close the gap.
    Sew along the inside circle to close the gap.Sew along the inside circle to close the gap.
    Turn and Close

  7. Stuff and Finish

    • Stuff the donut through the hole.
    • Hand sew the hole closed.
    Hand sew the hole closed.Hand sew the hole closed.
    Stuff and Finish

Read more: DIY Fluffy Duck Plushie Tutorial: A Step-by-Step Guide

Tips

  • Leave enough seam allowance for easier finishing.
  • Use a large needle and colored cotton for decorating.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Uneven Cutting

Reason: Inconsistent cutting of the felt circles leads to a lopsided donut.
Solution: Use sharp scissors and a rotary cutter for precise, even cuts.

2. Overstuffing

Reason: Too much stuffing makes the donut inflexible and lumpy.
Solution: Add stuffing gradually, checking the shape and firmness frequently.

3. Inconsistent Stitching

Reason: Loose or uneven stitches on the seam create a messy and unprofessional finish.
Solution: Use small, consistent stitches, and reinforce the seam at the beginning and end.

FAQs

What type of felt is best for making a felt donut?
Wool felt is ideal for its durability and plush texture. However, you can also use craft felt, just be aware it may be less sturdy and might require more careful stitching.
What kind of stuffing should I use?
Polyester fiberfill is a popular and readily available choice. It's soft, easy to work with, and provides a good amount of fluffiness to your donut.
My donut is lopsided after stuffing. How can I fix this?
Try gently reshaping your donut after stuffing it. You can use your hands or even small, blunt tools to even out the shape. Consider using a slightly smaller amount of stuffing next time to avoid overfilling.