How to Make a Felt Llama Plush (With Pattern)

This felt llama plush is one of the most satisfying beginner sewing projects I’ve made. The shape is charming and a little dramatic (that neck!), and because the whole body is just two matching cutouts sewn together, it comes together in about an hour.

I reach for this pattern whenever I need a quick handmade gift for someone who loves animals, especially kids. It makes wonderful nursery decor and the pompom saddle gives it so much personality you can customize it a different way every time.

If you love making felt plushies, this llama pairs nicely with the felt bunny plush, the felt owl plush, the felt Totoro plush, and the stuffed dinosaur plushie. I’ve made all of them and they display beautifully as a little collection.

Felt Llama Plush at a Glance

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Time: 1 to 2 hours
• Cost: Under $5
• Ages: 8+
• Best for: Handmade gifts, nursery decor, desk companions

What You Need to Make a Felt Llama Plush

Materials

• Felt sheets — white for the llama body, plus one colored sheet for the saddle (I use hot pink); 1mm to 2mm craft felt works well for this size
• Embroidery thread — black for the face details, plus 3 or more colors for the saddle embroidery
• Polyester fiberfill or scrap felt — for stuffing; fiberfill gives a soft, fluffy result while scrap felt packs firmer and adds satisfying weight
• Colorful pompoms — assorted sizes for decorating the saddle edge

Tools

• Scissors — sharp fabric scissors make a clean cut on felt
• Needle — a regular hand-sewing or embroidery needle
• Black gel pen or fabric marker — for tracing the template and drawing the face details
• Fabric glue — optional, for attaching the saddle without sewing
• Felt Llama Plush Sewing Pattern — available in the Craftaholic Witch shop (see below)

How to Make a Felt Llama Plush

Step 1: Trace and Cut Out the Felt Pieces

Lay the printed template on your felt and trace around each piece with a black gel pen. Cut just inside the pen line so the ink stays hidden inside the seam. You need two identical body cutouts, plus the ear pieces, the hair piece, and the saddle shape.

Step 2: Stitch the Face Details

Choose which body cutout will be the front, then draw the eyes and any other face details lightly with the gel pen. Thread your needle with black thread and back stitch along the lines. Back stitch gives you a solid, even line that holds up well on felt.

Want a two-sided llama? Stitch a mirrored face on the second cutout now, while both pieces are still flat and easy to work with.

Step 3: Position the Ears on the Body

Take one body cutout and lay it on your work surface with the wrong side (the back of your stitching) facing up. Place the ear cutouts at the top of the head, overlapping the edge by about half a centimeter so they get caught in the seam. The ears will pop upward once the whole thing is stuffed.

Step 4: Layer the Pieces and Stitch Around the Body

Set the second body cutout on top, right side facing up so both right sides face outward. Lay the hair piece (the semi-circular cutout with the zigzag border) along the top of the head, zigzag edge pointing down into the seam so it peeks out once sewn.

Start stitching from the top of the head and work your way around the entire body. A running stitch or blanket stitch both work well. Stop near the bottom and leave a small gap for stuffing.

Step 5: Stuff the Llama and Close the Opening

Push small pinches of stuffing through the gap, working into the neck and legs first so those narrower sections fill out evenly. Fiberfill gives a soft, squishy result; scrap felt pieces pack more firmly and add a satisfying weight to the finished plush.

Once it feels right, stitch the opening closed, tie off with two knots, and trim the thread close.

Step 6: Embroider the Saddle

Grab 3 or more colors of embroidery thread and stitch a mix of simple patterns across the saddle cutout: running stitch lines, zigzag rows, small cross stitches. Trace the layout lightly in pen first if that helps you plan. This is the most personal part of the project and no two saddles ever look the same.

When you’re done, pull the needle to the back of the felt, tie a knot, and trim the thread.

Step 7: Attach the Saddle to the Llama

Center the saddle across the llama’s back so equal sections drape over each side. Stitch around the edges to secure it. If hand-stitching through all those layers feels awkward, fabric glue is a perfectly good alternative here and gives a tidy finish. Just press firmly and let it dry flat before moving on.

Step 8: Add the Pompoms

Glue colorful pompoms around the edge of the saddle, spacing them evenly. This is the step that makes the llama unmistakably festive and takes about two minutes. Let the glue set fully before handing the llama off.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of felt is best for a felt llama plush?

Craft felt (1mm to 2mm thick) is the right choice for this project. It’s stiff enough to hold its shape, easy to stitch by hand, and comes in dozens of colors. Wool felt is softer and more durable long-term, but regular acrylic craft felt works perfectly fine and costs much less.

Can I use glue instead of sewing for this llama?

Fabric glue works well for attaching the saddle and the pompoms, but the main body needs to be sewn so the stuffing stays put. The body seam is a simple running stitch all the way around, which is one of the easiest hand-sewing techniques there is, so it’s a good starting point even for complete beginners.

What can I use for stuffing besides polyester fiberfill?

Scrap felt pieces make a great free substitute if you have leftover felt from cutting the body pieces. They pack more firmly than fiberfill, giving the finished llama a bit more weight and structure. Cotton wool or the stuffing from an old pillow cushion also works.

How big is the finished felt llama plush?

At 100% print scale the finished llama is roughly palm-sized, about 5 to 6 inches tall. Scale the template to 150% on your printer for a larger, more cuddly version that’s easier to stuff and stitch.

More Felt Plushie Tutorials

• 12 Free Stuffed Animal Plush Patterns with Easy DIY Tutorial
• How to Make a Felt Totoro Plush
• How to Make a Felt BFF Bunny Plush
• How to Make a Bat Plush Easily
• DIY Gnome Plush
• How to Make a Stuffed Dinosaur Plushie

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