- 1). Lay the plush animal or doll on your work table and find the center back seam.
- 2). Rip open the stitches along the center back seam using a seam ripper. The seam ripper has a sharp little end that will get beneath the stitches better than a sharp knife or pair of scissors. Stop at the bottom of the toy and just beneath the neck. Alternatively, open the back seam to about 1/4-inch longer than the zipper that will close the purse.
- 3). Spread open the fabric on either side of the open seam and pull out the polyester filling or other stuffing from the main body of the toy. The filling can stay in the arms, legs and head to retain the shape of the plush toy.
- 4). Cut small patches of scrap fabric, each one large enough to cover one of the openings to the arms, legs and head. Place the patches in the toy, over top of the openings and sew a small straight stitch to seal them closed. The scrap patches keep the stuffing in the extremities.
- 5). Place the fabric edges of the zipper inside the open seam. The zipper teeth should be facing upward so you can open and close the new purse. Sew the fabric sides of the zipper to the plush purse.
- 6). Cut the shoulder strap for the purse. Make the strap from canvas strapping or grosgrain ribbon and cut a piece about 30 inches long. Treat any ribbon ends with fray preventing treatment.
- 7). Fold over 1/4-inch at each end of the strap and sew to make smooth edges. Pin the folded ends to the purse. Pin one end just in front of the animal's tail, or the edge of the plush character. Pin the other end at the back of the neck of the plush toy.
- 8). Sew a straight stitch to attach the ends of the strap to the purse. Sew from within the purse to hide the end of the thread and double back over the ends a few times for extra strength.
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