First there were yetis, unicorns, gnomes, and now dinosaurs and dragons! Create your own lovable stegosaurus or dragon with this easy-to-follow DIY plushie tutorial! It’s just a slight modification from our other stitch-and-turn stuffies, with felt appendages added in.

So, to make your little plushie animal, you will need:

• Stegosaurus (Stuffed) or Draco (Stuffed)embroidery design
• Lightweight fleece, flannel or microseude fabric for the body
• Stiff felt for the spikes
• Printed templates of the dieline files, which come with the design and have DL in the filename (here's how to print dieline templates, or stitch if you don't have software)
• Tearaway stabilizer
• Temporary spray adhesive
• Scissors
• Needle and thread
• Polyfill stuffing
• Masking tape

Let's start with those printed dieline templates...

Lightly spray the back of each with temporary spray adhesive and put it on your chosen color body fabric, cutting out your fleece shapes along the two printed dielines.

Also use your templates to cut the dinosaur spikes out of your stiff felt.

As a note for Draco: We recommend using a thinner material. Thicker fleece may inhibit your ability to turn the stuffie right-side out.

The first thing that sews is a dieline. Lightly spray the back of one of your body pieces with temporary spray adhesive, and place it so it completely covers the dieline. After that, a dieline will stitch to tack down your fabric, and then all the dinosaur details will stitch out.

Your next step is to place your spikes. You want to place them upside down, making sure the majority of the spike is contained within the body. I used tape to help secure mine down. Finally, place your back body fabric on top and stitch your last step.

The steps for Draco, the dragon plushie, are similar. The first thing that sews is a dieline. Lightly spray the back of one of your body piece with temporary spray adhesive, and place it so it completely covers the dieline. After that, a dieline will stitch to tack down your fabric, and then all the dinosaur details will stitch out.

Your next step is to place your dragon wings and ears. You want to place them upside down, making sure the pieces are completely contained within the body. I used tape to help secure mine down, then folded the wings in twice and taped again. Finally, place your back body fabric on top and stitch your last step.

Alternatively, you can loop ribbon in place of the felt pieces, to create a toy for smaller children to hold. Just make sure to tape down the ribbon pieces, making sure the ends are set off the template area.

In order to make turning him right side out easier, remove as much of the remaining tearaway stabilizer as possible, and clip your corners and excess felt edges so there’s less bulk when he’s right side out.

It will help to clip the curves and corners at this point, to help turn your stuffie inside out and maintain its shape. This diagram shows in red where you would make cut marks on a rounded curve, or a sharp curve. Take care not to cut into the seam itself.

Clipping curves is expecially important for the neck, tail, and feet details on your stuffed creatures.

Next, turn your plushie right side out through the opening at the tail, or between the feet if you are stitching the dragon.

When he’s the right way ‘round, use your finger or a long object like a pen to push out the corners on his face and feet.

Start stuffing with your polyfill, but leave some breathing room before filling him nice and plump.

Fold the tail down and inward a bit after the initial stuffing and stitch it partway closed. It may help to iron the folds in to keep them in place.

TIP: Stuff as you go! To make sure your stuffing is evenly distributed and you don't have a lumpy dinosaur, keep the stuffing coming as you finish the last couple stitches.

When you turn your little guy right side out with the ribbon, here is what it looks like!

There you have it! Your prehistoric critter has come to life and is ready to play! 

Your stegosaurus lives! Make him a little scene to play in, give him accessories, or make him some extra playmates -- whatever your heart desires!

Likewise, if you have chosen to stitch your little dragon, this is what the finished piece looks like!

Make your stuffies a scene to play in, a perfect way to let the imagination roam free!