How to stuff and close with ladder stitch

Firm, even stuffing and an invisible closing.

Step by step

1. Add stuffing gradually: pack hands, feet and ears first, then larger sections.
2. Come up at the start of the opening and take three tiny stitches to anchor, without a knot.
3. Take small stitches alternately in each folded edge, like rungs of a ladder.
4. At the end, gently pull the thread to close.
5. Take three tiny stitches and hide the thread end inside the body.
6. Massage the toy to even the stuffing.

Sources

All checked November 1, 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.

1. Jodie RicRac: How to sew soft toys, a beginner's guide
2. SewToy: Ladder stitch for closing stuffed toys