Does your child’s blanket have a tear? Has his arm or leg broken off? Its stuffing is starting to leak?
Don’t panic! These things happen quite often. And that’s no reason to throw it in the trash or replace it. In any case, a comforter repair is possible.
And you don’t have to call in a specialist surgeon to do it. With the right tools, you can repair your child’s stuffed animal yourself. But how?
That’s what we’ll explain in this article! But first..
Why repair a stuffed animal?
A stuffed animal in bad condition is not necessarily to be thrown away! Everything is still repairable. Plush repair is a great way to save money. You won’t have to pull out your wallet to get a new one.
But more importantly, it allows you to keep the object that your baby has developed a strong bond with. It will be difficult for him to get rid of it if it’s not time yet. The comforter is unique and baby won’t want to trade it for anything else. Indeed, his little companion plays an important role in his psychological development.
Want to know more about this subject? We invite you to read our article on why a blanket is important for a child.
Moreover, if it was yours when you were a child, a comforter repair allows you to give it a second life. Seeing your old childhood companion will certainly bring back pleasant memories. And when it is mended, you can offer it to your child so that it becomes his best friend.
In short, there are many good reasons to repair a damaged or torn stuffed animal. All we’re saying is that it’s better to keep and repair than to throw away. Plus, it will do our planet a lot of good! So, let’s get back to the main topic of our article: how to repair a damaged comforter?
How to repair a teddy bear?
Is your baby’s teddy bear damaged? Or do you simply want to bring an old teddy back to life?
The type of repair to adopt depends on the condition of the teddy bear you wish to repair. If it is new (or recent), but just damaged, it may not be necessary to gut it. A simple stitch may be enough to restore it to its original condition.
On the other hand, if it is an old comforter that you want to revive, cleaning will be essential. In order to avoid any risk of infection or allergy, it will be necessary to remove the dust and other dirt that it has accumulated during the time it has been in the cellar or in the attic.
Finally, just follow these five simple steps for a successful comforter repair:
Step 1: Gather the materials you need for a comforter repair
A good surgeon must have all the materials and accessories necessary for the operation he is preparing to perform. In our case, only four things will be needed:
- A scalpel or a pair of scissors;
- A textile thread that corresponds to the original color of the comforter;
- A needle;
- A thimble.
That’s it! And most of these materials, you must already have them at home. If you don’t, you can probably find them at the little hardware store next door.
Step 2: Empty the comforter
Now that all the comforter repair materials are there, you can move on to the next step: emptying the stuffed animal.
Remember, you don’t need to go through this step if the comforter is new or recent. In either of these cases, you’ll need to go directly to step 5 or step 3 if the toy hasn’t been cleaned in a while.
In short, to gut the stuffed animal to be repaired, you need to use a scalpel or scissors. The tool will allow you to detach the main seam of the comforter.
Usually, it is located on the back. But it is also possible to find it in another place. If the toy has a long fur, don’t hesitate to spread it out so you can find the seam behind it.
Once you have found it, all you have to do is cut out the seam (but not all of it) and pull out the stuffing. You’ll see that it will smell like mildew and won’t be very healthy. So it’s best to get rid of it as soon as possible and replace it.
Otherwise, now that the comforter is empty, don’t hesitate to clean the inside to remove the odors left by the old stuffing. To simplify the task, you can turn the skin of the plush completely inside out. Then, simply vacuum it up to make sure you’ve removed all the dirt.
Once that’s done, you can move on to the next step of the comforter repair: cleaning the plush.
Step 3: Cleaning and washing the plush
Vacuuming alone won’t be enough to completely disinfect your plush comforter. You’ll also need to wash it well to keep it clean. And for that, you have three solutions to choose from:
- Machine washing;
- Dry cleaning;
- Hand washing.
Be careful, the first option is not suitable for all plush toys. Some models are not machine washable. Before cleaning your plush toy, you should first read the product label. It usually states the proper cleaning method.
If you can wash it in the machine, make sure you wrap it in a pillowcase before putting it in the washing machine. Don’t forget to add a fabric softener and a special liquid wool detergent.
For a more gentle and effective dry cleaning, you can use different products. Among the most used are the bicarbonate and flour mixture, dry shampoo and potato.
Finally, if you prefer the good old-fashioned method of hand washing, use warm water and a mild product for cleaning. In general, it is recommended to use shampoo drops. But before you do anything, always take the time to check the label and see if your baby’s blanket is hand washable or not.
In short, here are some comforter washing methods that can be helpful in your plush repair process. If you want more details on how to do this, our article on how to clean a stuffed animal will give you some.
Step 4: Stuffing the plush
Now that the plush is nice and clean, you can now proceed to stuffing it. But before you do that, make sure it is dry. And after washing, it would be best to let it dry in the sun for a few hours or even a whole day. Once that’s done, all that’s left is to stuff it.
Of course, there is no question of putting back the padding you removed. It is better to replace it with new stuff. Of course, you can choose between different types of upholstery. But for the best softness and comfort, cotton stuffing is the best choice.
Also, when stuffing the plush, it is important to start with the head. And make sure you don’t forget the different elements such as the nose, the ears and the trunk if it is an elephant plush.
Then continue to the limbs of the teddy: its arms and legs, as well as the tail if it has any. At this point, the comforter repair is almost finished! And there’s just one more step to take to make the stuffed animal look like new again.
Step 5: Sew up the comforter
When you get to the point where you need to stuff the body, first grab the sewing thread, needle and thimble. You will need to sew the back of the plush until there is only enough space to put your hand.
Not too comfortable using a needle? Don’t panic! Sewing a comforter is a fairly simple operation that you can surely do well. The key is to use a rather large needle and make loops with the thread. This is the easiest way to do it! But if you have a better technique, don’t hesitate to use it.
After sewing, taking care to leave the small space dedicated to your hand, you can continue to stuff the body and back until the comforter is quite full. When this is the case, all that remains is to make the final sewing. The comforter repair is now complete!
Your child’s stuffed animal or yours is as good as new. He will be able to play with it again.
Conclusion on how to repair a comforter
Now you know that a plushie repair is possible without spending a fortune or going to a professional. It is quite possible to repair your stuffed animal yourself. You just need to have in your possession the necessary tools for the operation. And the list is short. You will not need much material: only a needle, a textile thread and a pair of scissors or a scalpel.
If you follow it carefully, the approach we have described in this article will ensure a successful comforter repair. Not all damage is repairable, however. If your child’s stuffed animal is too damaged, it is sometimes better to replace it with a new one. And on Magic-plush.com, you can find a wide range of plush toys that will make excellent comforters for your little one.