How to Make Felt Starfish

Whether you're looking to decorate a beach-themed room, create cute DIY toys, or simply enjoy a relaxing crafting session, these felt starfish are the perfect choice! Follow along with our video or photo tutorials to make one of your own.

Active Time30

Total Time30

Yield: felt starfish

Author: Debbie Chapman

Cost: $2

Equipment

Materials

FREE Printable Felt Starfish Pattern
Felt (yellow, or colour of choice)
Sewing thread (colour matching felt)
Polyester fiber fill
Seed beads (11/0 size)

Instructions

Step 1: Find what you need

Gather your supplies and materials.

Step 2: Cut out the felt starfish pieces

Print our free felt starfish pattern (find the link in the materials list above!) and cut out the shape.
Hold the pattern piece on top of the felt to cut it out.
You can also pin the pattern to the felt to make it easier to cut, or trace around the template with chalk or a gel pen.
Be sure to cut 2 pieces -- the front and back of the starfish.

Step 3: Sew beaded ridges on the starfish

We'll start by working on one of the stars, so set the other piece of felt to the side for now.
Insert a threaded needle into the center of the star.
Pull the thread through, leaving a 2 inch tail, and flip the star over.
Thread a seed bead onto the needle. Insert the needle right above your first stitch.
Pull the needle and thread through to the back until the bead sits flat on the felt. Don't pull too tightly, or the felt might pucker.
Tie the thread in a double knot on the back to secure the bead in place. Cut off the excess thread from the tail.
Bring your needle back through to the front about 1/4 inch away from the bead. Add another bead to the needle and pull the thread through.
Repeat, making a line of beads up the arm of the starfish.
Flip the star over so you're looking at the back.
Make a very shallow running stitch to get back to the center of the star. Make your stitches near the ones from the beads and only go part way through the felt. You shouldn't be able to see the thread from the front of the star.
Flip the star back over and repeat Step 3 until you have lines of beads going to all 5 points of the star.

Step 4: Sew the starfish together

Set the beaded star on top of the empty felt star. Align the edges.
Begin sewing the edges of the starfish together with a blanket stitch.
Bring your needle up through both layers of felt, about 1/8 inch from the edge. Pull the thread almost all the way through and tie the front thread to the tail in a double knot.
Tuck the excess thread between the two layers of felt and bring your needle back up about 1/4 inch away from the last stitch.
Before you pull your needle all the way through, wrap the thread around the needle.
Repeat the blanket stitch around the outside of the starfish, stopping when there's about 1 to 2 inches left.

Step 5: Stuff the starfish and close it off

Add stuffing to the starfish, pushing it down. Use a pencil or a knitting needle to reach all of the points, if needed.
Continue until the starfish is evenly and firmly stuffed.
Close off the starfish, continuing the blanket stitch. Finish off your thread by going through the last stitch 3 times.
Then push the needle down at the seam and bring it up through the top layer of felt. Cut off the excess thread and pinch the felt to hide the thread inside.
Your felt starfish is complete!

Video

Notes

Looking for more free felt patterns? Here's a few of our favourites:

Felt Cactus Pattern

Cute Felt Monsters

Felt Donuts Pattern