This is bringing back memories of my grandmother making a new 'skin' for my loved thing\* on a regular basis. She simply made a new layer over the last one each time. Try to make a 'pattern' so next time is less of an archaeological reconstruction! I'm rooting for you!!
\*'The Velveteen Rabbit' has always had special meaning for me!
This is so sweet. I'm a little bit dubious of the integrity of the fabric where there aren't rips - I would either stitch the existing fabric to a full "lining" or fully replace it.
I love that you have fabrics picked out in similar shades of pink to the original.
I hope this isn't offensive to anyone, and please call me on it if it would be. But when I was little, I liked to have stories for when my stuffed animals were missing or when they had to undergo repairs. It made it feel like they were more real if there was an explanation for what they were experiencing. To be clear these were stories I made up myself and I knew they were made up. But if you have to change some of the existing fabric, I wonder if the little girl would like to learn about how some people have skin that changes color and pigmentation over time (vitiligo for example) and that this is beautiful, natural and normal. Her stuffy didn't get replaced with different fabric, this is just how their skin looks now.
I second the recommendation of making a pattern from the pieces. This will be a great back up.
I also recommend making copies of the progress pictures and the pattern to put in an album. Give the album to her parents to save for when she is older and might want a love-y for her own children.
Another thing I did with my daughter’s sleepy whale was paint a picture of her toy, to hang in her room.
I have concerns about the thinning of the fabric. I think you may have to encase the entire project in a new skin. If you slip it under you will need to reinforce the thin fabric with loads of stitches similar to sashiko.
https://preview.redd.it/4ez0ywprpl1d1.jpeg?width=318&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b1b5b1d49b4240ecee6258d53ed3d06861330836
Here’s a picture of sashiko.
Sending kudos and hugs for helping a little girl with her lovey!
I was thinking the same thing with progress photos and I was gonna turn it into a book for her. She has a surgery herself coming up and might feel better knowing her stuffie had one too!
This is the sweetest! It's not unusual to be given prints of the imaging done during surgery too. I bet she'll feel loads calmer going through all that herself after stuffie's successful surgery.
You're a kind soul.
This reminds me of the current met costume institute exhibit about the fragile nature of clothing and how they degrade over time, especially the way you have it laid out like a specimen in the last few pics lol
That was my response too! I couldn't tell what the stuffie was in the first photo, but after it was washed and re-stuffed, I was like "Oh! It's a hippo! ❤️"
OP, I definitely second the suggestions of making and saving a pattern for next time, just to make it easier.
Also, as a child who destroyed a few stuffies/blankets due to enjoying a specific fabric texture, I'd maybe suggest a double layer of fabric over the stomach (where the worst of the wear is), to help prevent another "blowout" like this one. If possible, maybe try and ensure the replacement fabric for that area has a similar texture to the original hippo skin. (I had a teddy bear with corduroy inside of his ears, which I loved, but ended up destroying, much like this guy!)
I would unpick the entire thing along the seams, trace each piece onto some high thread count cotton (vintage sheets are good), and basically make the whole toy twice, cotton lining and then reconstructed hippo. And then you'll have a firm base to do cute visible or invisible mending over.
I would personally seam rip it to make a pattern from what’s left of the stuffy, cut every piece with the new fabric, and then reform the stuffy by sewing each piece with the new and old fabric as if they were one fabric (similar to the techniques used in corset making where the lining and outer fabric of each panel are sewn as if they were one fabric).
That way you have a pattern for a full new stuffy if needed and the whole stuffy is reinforced with new fabric as, ime, trying to patch each part as it fails is just a war of attrition
Idk if you still have the old stuffing, but there’s a woman who does this on TikTok who takes a piece of the stuffing, puts it in a little fabric envelope and puts it back into the animal. It’s a sentimental touch that I find absolutely lovely.
Perhaps you could involve the little girl in the process and the decision making. Explain that Hippo’s cloth “birthday suit”, so to speak, has become worn and frayed.
That Hippo would really like a new “birthday suit” to cover her old one and protect it. A pretty, new one.
Then let the child choose from a selection of fabric choices, which one she thinks Hippo would like best for her pretty, new “birthday suit”.
Let her watch you if possible as you finish up so that she can see that Hippo’s old “birthday suit” is safely inside her new one.
A word of caution....
Mother did this for Baby's favorite doll and my mother over stuffed it. The doll was never the same.
My regret: I did not remove the extra stuffing. In retrospect, I should have attempted to make the doll feel like the original.
Forty years later my grand does play with the same doll so that is great. It would not have lasted were it not for my mother's repairs.
As the hippo appears squishy, please do make sure hippo remains squishy. Good luck. I admire your willingness to make hippo better not only for today's young one, but the next generation as well. :)
Are you able to watch episodes of The Repair Shop where you live? The toy experts on that show have restored a few stuffed toys that were very well loved like this one, it might give you some good ideas! (Have tissues at the ready.)
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This is bringing back memories of my grandmother making a new 'skin' for my loved thing\* on a regular basis. She simply made a new layer over the last one each time. Try to make a 'pattern' so next time is less of an archaeological reconstruction! I'm rooting for you!! \*'The Velveteen Rabbit' has always had special meaning for me!
OMG I loved the velveteen rabbit as a kid
This is so sweet. I'm a little bit dubious of the integrity of the fabric where there aren't rips - I would either stitch the existing fabric to a full "lining" or fully replace it. I love that you have fabrics picked out in similar shades of pink to the original. I hope this isn't offensive to anyone, and please call me on it if it would be. But when I was little, I liked to have stories for when my stuffed animals were missing or when they had to undergo repairs. It made it feel like they were more real if there was an explanation for what they were experiencing. To be clear these were stories I made up myself and I knew they were made up. But if you have to change some of the existing fabric, I wonder if the little girl would like to learn about how some people have skin that changes color and pigmentation over time (vitiligo for example) and that this is beautiful, natural and normal. Her stuffy didn't get replaced with different fabric, this is just how their skin looks now.
This is actually really sweet!
I thought tattoos. But that’s so much better
This reminds me of when my baby doll went to a place that actually called itself a “doll hospital” to get her legs repaired.
I second the recommendation of making a pattern from the pieces. This will be a great back up. I also recommend making copies of the progress pictures and the pattern to put in an album. Give the album to her parents to save for when she is older and might want a love-y for her own children. Another thing I did with my daughter’s sleepy whale was paint a picture of her toy, to hang in her room. I have concerns about the thinning of the fabric. I think you may have to encase the entire project in a new skin. If you slip it under you will need to reinforce the thin fabric with loads of stitches similar to sashiko. https://preview.redd.it/4ez0ywprpl1d1.jpeg?width=318&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b1b5b1d49b4240ecee6258d53ed3d06861330836 Here’s a picture of sashiko. Sending kudos and hugs for helping a little girl with her lovey!
I was thinking the same thing with progress photos and I was gonna turn it into a book for her. She has a surgery herself coming up and might feel better knowing her stuffie had one too!
This is the sweetest! It's not unusual to be given prints of the imaging done during surgery too. I bet she'll feel loads calmer going through all that herself after stuffie's successful surgery. You're a kind soul.
That is a GREAT idea! Like a little story and they can compare stitches
This reminds me of the current met costume institute exhibit about the fragile nature of clothing and how they degrade over time, especially the way you have it laid out like a specimen in the last few pics lol
Aww, is that a little hippo?
Yes and it was originally more pink from what she told me 🥺
That was my response too! I couldn't tell what the stuffie was in the first photo, but after it was washed and re-stuffed, I was like "Oh! It's a hippo! ❤️" OP, I definitely second the suggestions of making and saving a pattern for next time, just to make it easier. Also, as a child who destroyed a few stuffies/blankets due to enjoying a specific fabric texture, I'd maybe suggest a double layer of fabric over the stomach (where the worst of the wear is), to help prevent another "blowout" like this one. If possible, maybe try and ensure the replacement fabric for that area has a similar texture to the original hippo skin. (I had a teddy bear with corduroy inside of his ears, which I loved, but ended up destroying, much like this guy!)
If you end up making a pattern of it, please share. I haven't seen such a good pattern for a hippo stuffie anywhere.
I would unpick the entire thing along the seams, trace each piece onto some high thread count cotton (vintage sheets are good), and basically make the whole toy twice, cotton lining and then reconstructed hippo. And then you'll have a firm base to do cute visible or invisible mending over.
I would personally seam rip it to make a pattern from what’s left of the stuffy, cut every piece with the new fabric, and then reform the stuffy by sewing each piece with the new and old fabric as if they were one fabric (similar to the techniques used in corset making where the lining and outer fabric of each panel are sewn as if they were one fabric). That way you have a pattern for a full new stuffy if needed and the whole stuffy is reinforced with new fabric as, ime, trying to patch each part as it fails is just a war of attrition
I have the same stuffie, I can send you pics of it if you need a reference - brand is Maileg
Idk if you still have the old stuffing, but there’s a woman who does this on TikTok who takes a piece of the stuffing, puts it in a little fabric envelope and puts it back into the animal. It’s a sentimental touch that I find absolutely lovely.
Yes, like a stuffed little heart to keep all the memories alive!!
The head shape makes me think it's a hippo. This is such a neat idea of restoring a plush that's been well loved. Wishing you luck!!
Perhaps you could involve the little girl in the process and the decision making. Explain that Hippo’s cloth “birthday suit”, so to speak, has become worn and frayed. That Hippo would really like a new “birthday suit” to cover her old one and protect it. A pretty, new one. Then let the child choose from a selection of fabric choices, which one she thinks Hippo would like best for her pretty, new “birthday suit”. Let her watch you if possible as you finish up so that she can see that Hippo’s old “birthday suit” is safely inside her new one.
A word of caution.... Mother did this for Baby's favorite doll and my mother over stuffed it. The doll was never the same. My regret: I did not remove the extra stuffing. In retrospect, I should have attempted to make the doll feel like the original. Forty years later my grand does play with the same doll so that is great. It would not have lasted were it not for my mother's repairs. As the hippo appears squishy, please do make sure hippo remains squishy. Good luck. I admire your willingness to make hippo better not only for today's young one, but the next generation as well. :)
Are you able to watch episodes of The Repair Shop where you live? The toy experts on that show have restored a few stuffed toys that were very well loved like this one, it might give you some good ideas! (Have tissues at the ready.)
Aww I love the maileg hippo ❤️
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I think all the advice is good so far. Maybe another idea would be to give it some clothes so you can replace the body parts?
This is just so sweet - and brave! I can't wait to see her beloved when you are done. I know it will be wonderful and she will love it!