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How To Make A Zipper Toy for Toddlers

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Use this zipper toy tutorial to sew a toddler toy! A few zippers and some embroidered words will make learning colors fun, and it rolls up easily to tuck into a purse or bag for entertainment on the go.

Time to sew a zipper toy for toddlers! The buckle toy I made for my son has been well loved by him, then my daughter, and now a friend’s daughter so I wanted to try a different twist along the same lines. My daughter is now 2 and interested in colors, so this rainbow sewing tutorial has a bonus learning benefit. It rolls up easily so it can be tucked into a bag or used in the carseat. Handmade toys are one of my favorite things to sew for kids; they don’t outgrow them as quickly as clothing! I love that I could upcycle a burp cloth for this project too, it was so pretty with the rainbow backing but stained on the other side from being used.

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Use this zipper toy tutorial to sew a toddler toy! A few zippers and some embroidered words will make learning colors fun, and it rolls up easily to tuck into a purse or bag for entertainment on the go.

Here you can see my favorite color peeking out, and the first color my daughter has learned to identify, purple!

This might be the easiest zipper project around, you just sew right down the edges.

I picked a fun dinosaur fabric for the outside but you could also do a patchwork i-spy theme, like one of the blocks in this fun toddler activity quilt I sewed a while back.

She really liked zipping them back and forth, and feeling the letters, this toy gets a 5 star rating so far.

How To Make A Zipper Toy for Toddlers

Supplies

 
  • Embroidery needle
  • Embroidery pattern method – I use Fabri-solvy, explained here
  • Fat Quarter of quilting cotton (for the back)
  • 1 yard of twill tape* (I used some that was 1/4″ wide but any size would work, as would ribbon)
  • Pins
  • Iron
  • Scissors
  • Steps

    1- center your zippers (I used an acrylic quilting ruler but any straight edge would do) and pin them down, zipped shut. Again, I’m upcycling a rainbow burp cloth here – but you can see the tutorial and just follow the “top” steps to create a cotton patchwork rainbow from scratch.

    2- Sew along each long edge, about 1/8″ from each edge.

    3- Embroider the color words with the zipper open. After my hand started cramping, I realized it was much easier to pin the zipper open while I stitched! If you’re using Fabri-Solvy like I did, now is the time to wash it off.

    4- Pin or clip about 25″ twill tape length, centered on one side. Sew it several times back and forth right along the edge, making sure it is super secure.

    5- Use your patchwork rectangle as a template and cut out your backing fabric to match. Put right sides together and pin or clip all around – I just flipped a corner up for visual learners to see right sides together.

    6- Sew with 1/4″ seam allowance around all 4 edges, starting and stopping on the opposite  short side of your twill tape,leaving at least 3″ left unsewn. This will be your turning gap! Clip each corner off, making sure not to go through the stitching. Pull it all through the gap you’ve left and use your scissors to carefully poke the corners out. Iron all seams, making sure not to melt the zippers, and then carefully sew the opening closed. You’re done! Play and enjoy! (Sorry about the random, gross bandaid, I didn’t realize until right now that it was on there! My kids are in a “stick on all the things” phase and I was indulging them).

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    Karen

    Saturday 14th of November 2020

    I love this! I also saw you had a DIY buckle toy. Do you have any other tutorial pages like these? I’m making my niece a quiet book and I love these ideas! If you already have tutorials, I would love to use them! Thanks!

    Stephanie - Swoodson Says

    Monday 16th of November 2020

    Hi Karen! Unfortunately those are the only two, my kiddos are older now and I never went back. I made an upcycled "fidget quilt" I donated to a senior center and keep meaning to write a tutorial for; if you want to see a photo for general inspiration just email me and I can send it!

    Ali Clifford

    Monday 27th of February 2017

    THIS is inspired!! totally in love and in awe - amazing idea, really love it!

    Stephanie - Swoodson Says

    Monday 27th of February 2017

    Thanks Ali!

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