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...Continued from Page 110 February 2006 Parents
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Repair If your child's favorite friend has lost an arm, popped a seam, or gone limp, you may need to perform minor surgery. Here are some pointers.
>>To repair a torn seam or to sew on a dangling limb, use strong, clear nylon thread and a large needle. (The larger the animal, the bigger the needle you'll need.)
>>If an eye or a nose is missing, stitch a new one with colorful embroidery thread rather than sewing on a button which can be a choking hazard. | |
|  >>To plump up a limp lion or a flabby flamigo, buy pillow stuffing in a craft shop. Look for a straight seam that you can open to perform the surgery. "Most high-quality stuffed animals have one seam that's stitched by hand," says Hanna Dutton-Hach, owner of Hanna Bruce Bears & Teddy Hospital, in Lititz, Pennsylvania. "It's usually between the shoulder blades or on the tummy, and the hand stitches are bigger than the ones done by machine." Even if the animal doesn't have hand stitching, you can open a machine seam with small sewing scissors. Insert stuffing into the opening and push into place. Sew up the seam.
>>If an injury is beyond repair, it's time to get creative. Let your child pick out a special accessory, such as an eye patch for a bear (who's now a pirate!) or a stunning doll's hat to compensate for the kitty's missing ear.
Organize
Try these great ways to arrange your animal collection. |
| 1 Keep the stuffed toys in a hanging mesh container or a hammock mounted in the corner of your child's room. | 2 Hang a canvas shoe organizer on a closet door and tuck small pets into the pockets. Or install wall-to-wall shelving to display critters your child doesn't play with often. | 3 Use big decorative boxes or large tote bags to gather all the stuffed animals into one cozy place. |
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Rotate the pets -- put some in "out of sight" storage and swap them periodically with the ones in your child's room.
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