Two Techniques I Actually Use
This article is about how to make a curly tail for your felt plushies. At first I thought, “OK, I will share one technique.” Then, right before I started to write, another idea came… so now I am sharing two different ways to make curly tails 😉.
I really hope both ways will be useful for you if you create animals or any creatures that need a curly tail. And honestly, if you make a lot of these curly straps, you can even turn them into nice curly hair for a doll you are making.
A quick hello (and why I test weird ideas 😂)
Hi, my name is Alyona, and I have been sewing and crafting for as long as I can remember. Sometimes when I have an idea in my head, I need to come up with a very original way to find a solution and turn that “crazy mind idea” into reality.
And you know what? Sometimes the tests you try become very successful and interesting. This is one of those tests. I had an idea, I was testing things, and I found a very original and interesting way to make it happen. So let’s get into the fun part 👇.
Technique 1: One strap + stitching (and the curl happens by itself)
Let’s say you are creating a little mouse, maybe a pig, or even a cute Frenchie or a bulldog in general – you will obviously need that cute curly tail to finish the character properly.
Because let’s be honest… a pig without a curly tail just feels unfinished, doesn’t it? And the same goes for any creature where that tiny twist at the back makes all the difference.
Cut and Sew
First, you need to cut a strap. The length depends on the length of tail you want, but most of the time I do around 10 cm.
Now the width depends on how thick you want the tail to be.
- If you want the thickness of the tail to be about 6 mm, then you need to cut a strap that is 12 mm wide.
- And If you want the tail to be about 5 mm thick (half a centimetre), then you need to cut a strap that is 1 cm wide.
If you cannot decide the length exactly because it will start to curve, the thickness is easier to choose. Take a ruler, see how thick you want the tail to be, and multiply that number by two because you will fold the felt in half.
For this technique, you can use Soft Felt or Stiff Felt, depending on the look and feel you want for your project.
Fold and stitch the open cut edge
Once you cut your strap, fold it in half in terms of the width, not the length 🙅♀️.
Then grab any thread you have. I always use Gutermann Thread. For me it is the best thread because it does not twist compared to other Polyester Sewing Thread. But because the tail is not big, and when the thread is not long it has a minimal chance to twist, you can use what you have 🧵.
Now you need to sew the tail around the open cut edge of the felt. You sew only where you have two felt layers folded together. You do not touch the folded place. That fold is already nice. You do not need to sew there ⚠️.
Start from the top, then go down the long side (your 10 cm length), and blanket stitch from the beginning to the end.
Pull the thread firmly to create the curl
When you blanket stitch, make sure you tie the thread off after each stitch you make. And when you start to pull the thread, stitch more firmly than you usually would when you stitch body parts before stuffing.
When you stitch firmer and you start to stretch it, you will see automatically after sewing 1–2 cm how the tail starts to curve on its own. By the end, when you finish sewing your 10 cm length, you will have the curly tail, perfect for mice, pigs, or any creature you are about to create that needs this kind of tail.
Optional: make the tail sharper at the end
If you want your tail to have a sharp end, you can trim the corner a little bit and make the end like a triangle on one side of the 10 cm strap you cut. Then you will have a more realistic look.
And honestly, it is easy-peasy. Who could believe that just from a straight strap you can make a curvy one?
Extra idea: make a long strip for doll hair or a poodle detail
If you decide to take maybe a 25–30 cm strip and carry on sewing the same way, you will have a very long curve.
It is fantastic if you make many of them to create a doll and make curvy hair. Or maybe you are making a fun, cool poodle dog and you want to have that curves on top. Keep this idea in mind 😉.
Technique 2: Two straps + wire inside (so you can control the curl)
Now let’s talk about another technique. This second technique came to my mind right before I started to write this article 🙈.
It is a technique where you use metal wire inside the felt. And it can be any wire, to be honest, even the small cable wire ties you get when you buy electronics in the shop. Usually they are black or white thin wires that attach the cables. I never bin them 🙅♀️. I always keep them like a gold 😂.
When I create something where I need flexibility, I use this wire. It can be a pumpkin vine, for example. Or I use it when I am making tails, and especially for pigs.
Cut two straps (not one)
With this technique you cut two straps, not one like in the first option.
If you want your tail to be, let’s say, 3 mm width, I advise you to cut two straps around 4 mm. When you stitch it, it will shrink a little bit.
So you cut two rectangles, two straps. Take the same length, 10 cm, and cut them around 4 mm wide.
Stitch around, leave one side open, then add the wire
Then you stitch the felt on the sides, and from the top and bottom, and keep one side open.
After that, place the wire inside the two elements, and stitch the last long part as well.
Or, you can stitch everywhere around and push the wire through inside the felt. But in my opinion, it is a little bit more challenging, especially if the felt is very thin and soft. You can punch through the felt and then the toy is not really nice.
That is why I love to sew everything around and keep one side open. Then I place the wire inside and stitch that side. It is easier to control.
But again, it is preference. If it is easier for you to push things inside through a small hole, then do it. It is really up to you.
Wrap it around your finger
When everything is stitched around, turn the felt with the wire around your finger and voilà, your curvy tail is ready.
You do need to be a little careful, because if you pull it, it will become straight. But what I like about this technique is that you can always control it the way you want.
If you want it more curvy, use an object thinner than your finger and wrap it around. You will get a very small curve. If you want something more in the middle, you can use a pencil or a pen you have at home. Or just use your finger for a larger curl. It is really up to you, and it is much more flexible.
From Me to You – With Appreciation!
These are the two techniques I use all the time in my creations, and I really hope they were useful for you!
And if you’re here reading this right now – I truly appreciate you taking your time to be here with me.
That’s exactly why I’m giving one of my patterns absolutely for free. I made this pattern myself. It’s not some quick AI-generated file. I built it from scratch and I tested it myself as well 😉.
So if you went through my website and maybe selected a few patterns but you’re still not sure about the quality, you can download this Free Sewing Pattern, print it, see exactly what you’re getting, test it properly, and then – if you’re happy – you can always come back for more in my Sewing Patterns Collection.
One last thing:
That is it for now. I hope this article was very useful for you, and I hope you enjoy it as well.
And I think you might also be interested in How to Store Your Sewing Patterns the Best Way, because I know it can be a challenge. When you have a lot of patterns, you can lose half of the elements, or they mix with each other, and you spend more time reorganising and searching than crafting. It is very annoying!
That is why I wrote that article for you, to show how I personally keep my patterns in order, so it does not give me a headache when I need to create something or find something.
Bye, and I will see you in the article I just mentioned 🫶.
