Do you ever finish a stuffed crochet project only to realize that you can see stuffing through your stitches? Maybe the yarn you used was a little bit too thin, or your hook was too large. Maybe your tension was off? Either way, it sucks!
What do you usually do about it? Frog? Bin? I use stuffing bombs!
I use stuffing bombs even when my tension is spot-on and my stitches are beautifully tight. Stuffed pieces tend to “relax” with use/play (unless you use cotton) and I like knowing that I won’t have peeking-stuffing issues a month or two down the line. I wish I had started doing this way back because the toys I made for my boys five years ago (like the Little Blue Crochet Car and the Crochet Digger Loader) are now well and truly loved up and stretchy.
Stuffing bombs are particularly useful when stuffing items that use longer stitches (like hdc and dc), or when making black toys. They won’t fix “holey” work, but they will certainly prevent the stuffing from poking out and will make it far less visible.
How to Make Stuffing Bombs
You Will Need:
- Pantyhose
- Scissors
- Stuffing
- Scale (Optional)
Instructions
Stuff your amigurumi/ball/stuffie until you are happy with the amount of filling.
Remove the stuffing. If you are stuffing a few similar-sized items, weigh the stuffing and then weigh out equal amounts for each of the parts you will be stuffing.
Take some pantyhose and cut them into 10cm/4″ strips (sufficient for an item of roughly 7.5cm/3″ in diameter). If you want to stuff a larger piece, simply cut longer strips. You can always cut the excess off later.
Knot the strip of pantyhose on one end, insert the stuffing, and knot it on the other end. These stuffing bombs remind me of the mothballs my grannies used to tie up in pantyhose and hang in their closets. They make me shudder a tiny little bit.
Place this stuffing bomb back into your “creation” before sewing/crocheting it shut.
Tips
- Keep in mind that the knots on the pantyhose will take up a little bit of room, so be careful not to overstuff.
- When choosing which pantyhose to use, try and match it to your project. I don’t mean that you have to use pink pantyhose for pink items and blue for blue, but don’t use black pantyhose for white items and don’t use white for black, if that makes sense.
- I generally use light pantyhose for light items, tan ones for medium ones, and black ones for dark items.
Unfortunately, Stuffing Bombs don’t work well for teeny tiny things like the legs on Meimei the Baby Elephant, or very sculptured pieces like the heads of my Amamani Puzzle Animals.
But they are great for stuffing chunky items like the Amish Puzzle Ball, the Star Ball, or the Flower Puzzle Ball (used in the photos above), or simple things like these Super Quick Easter Chicks.
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Teresa says
I’m making Heidi Bear’s Blue Bird of happiness and this is just what I needed, thank you. I’d thought of using an old stocking, but wanted the extra confidence of seeing that someone else had made it work! Bombs are the answer :-)
Mand says
Just found this – so simple, it’s ingenious! In fact I have only just discovered you, and I’m making Meimei at the moment (between legs and trunk if you must know. :)
May I add a tip to this one? My grandmother used it – only once as far as I know. I think it was her own idea though I can’t swear to that. She was a fantastic toymaker (and dressmaker). Naturally I benefitted when I was growing up!
One of my toys had a smallish body with super-long arms that wrapped right round me in a hug, or tied to things for ease of keeping with you if your hands were full. It was a frog, if I remember right. My gran was always very careful to make her toys tough enough for years of play, and the long arms were also a challenge to stuff in a way that wouldn’t get empty gaps as time passed.
She used tights – sorry, I’m a Brit, can’t bring myself to call them pantyhose ;) – by cutting them into lengths to match the arms, plus a little extra. She stitched them to each end of the arms on the inside. Stuffing that would never bunch up, and extra stitching to reinforce the weakest point of the toy where arms met body.
That toy was made of fabric rather than crocheted or knitted, but I don’t see why the same trick wouldn’t work with yarn. The first and last ring could be made actually through the edges of the tights. In our case the toy certainly survived years of hard service :) and the fabric was threadbare before any other “tiredness” began to show.
Really pleased to have found your site, as I love the patterns and tips I’ve seen so far, and your way of explaining.
Dedri Uys says
That is a great tip :) For small things, it probably wouldn’t make a huge difference, but for larger toys this is brilliant!
Adler says
Thanks so much for sharing this brilliant idea. I have used it several times already and it always saves me a headache.
I just crocheted a throw pillow and used double crochets so there are nice size gaps between stitches. Obviously, the pillow is too big for stockings. do you have any other ideas of what i can use to hold the filling (short of sewing 2 pieces of fabric together).
Thanks!
Adler
Dedri Uys says
Hi Adler. I don’t have a solution for you, sorry. For cushions, I always make a sewn lining.
Maid Mirawyn says
How about an old tee? If it’s printed, simply turn it inside out. You would have to close up the neck, but you could even use safety pins. You could tie or rubber band the sleeves shut before you turn the shirt inside out.
Dedri Uys says
Hi. That’s a brilliant idea for bigger projects! Thank you :)
Joy Smith says
I use a pillow case that’s about same color.
Belinda says
Hi. I have been searching for this for so long. Awesome idea. I just finished a very large teddy. Heidi’s Lollo African flower bear. And I had to use thinker yarn so I increased the crochet hook sizes to match ….. bad idea…. (still new at this)
Can I use a stretchy fabric to make a “large” “stocking” and then fill it.
Or do I try and match the pattern and make a proposer lining ????
Thank you
I’ll be following you now.
Awesome ideas
Dedri Uys says
Hi Belinda. I would use the top part of the pantyhose (the gusset?) to make a big stuffing bomb. Otherwise, you could always use a colour similar to your main colour and make a stuffing bomb with t-shirt yarn? I love Heidi’s patterns!!
Judith says
Great idea! I found this page while searching for black stuffing for a little black kitty I’ve crocheted, wanting to insure that the stuffing doesn’t show through the stitches. I’m sure I have a pair of old holey black tights that can give up some fabric. Thanks so much….
Dedri Uys says
I was working on a black item when I hit upon the idea :) I’d love to see your black kitty!
Nina says
What a brilliant idea, thank you so much for this! <3
Dedri Uys says
You’re welcome ;)
Eidilia says
My life has changed forever. Thank you!
Linda says
I’ve had this tip tucked away for future reference. And it’s been featured in a group on about tips too.
I just recently used this idea with the new release of Lambie by Jo.
I buy packages of hose/pantyhose at the thrift store to use for my cakes of yarn. So I had some lying about.
Thanks again for a wonderful idea. LP
Mary says
Great idea! Wish I had seen this before, but will definitely use in the future and re-purpose some old pantyhose with runs or snags (well washed of course – LOL!).
Jenny says
A very nice use for ruined stockings, too! : )
Dedri Uys says
I only use ruined stockings, Jenny. I have a little bag filled with all sizes and colours of laddered stockings.
Diane says
What a great idea the stuffing bombs are for amirigumi projects! I’d like to share the link for your instructions on a few crochet Facebook to which I belong. Is it permissible? Thanks in advance!
Dedri Uys says
You are welcome to share, Diane.
Jeannine says
Dedri – my Mom taught me a similar trick almost 60 years ago but instead of knots in the panty hose she used a piece of kitchen string to tie off the ends. Much less bulky but works great.
Dedri Uys says
That’s a great idea, Jeannine. I don’t mind the knots, because they “melt” into the stuffing when I stuff my animals. I do crochet quite tightly, so my animals are less prone to stretch. Someone who crochets loosely might have a problem with the knots making bumps if their work is very elastic.
Sylvia Sur says
For tiny items with narrow legs or small heads, scrunch up plastic wrap cut in small pieces and stuff. Keep adding until you like the level of stiffness.
The plastic wrap never sheds, has no hairs and is transparent for all colors of amigurumi.
Dedri Uys says
That’s a great tip. I will try it next time I make something teeny tiny.
Carol says
Thanks, Dedri. Have sent others to the former site for this – with your Amish Flower Puzzle ball, I think. Will share this separate tutorial.
I’ve adopted this and it’s SO MUCH EASIER and nice to know that tiny fingers can’t pull stuffing out between the stitches of my lovingly made creations!
Jill says
A thought: Tie the first knot, then turn the hose so the knot is on the inside. Then you only have to deal with one knot. Have you tried this? Does it work better?
Dedri Uys says
Jill, it doesn’t make a difference with my animals as my gauge is pretty tight and the knot doesn’t distort the final animal, but people who work loosely (and therefore end up with more elastic work) might find it beneficial to get rid of the knot.
Mel says
What a great tip!! Thanks Dedri, I love the puzzle ball book, and recommended it to a friend who also purchased it. We’ve both finished our first dinosaurs, and I’ll be starting an elephant soon! We are both ‘hooked’ lol
Dedri Uys says
I am so pleased, Mel!
Lyn Murphy says
What a great idea! I am one of those people who has great problems with sloppy tension so the bombs would be the BOMB for me for sure! Thanks for sharing