How to make eyes for knitted toys

Cavendish Cat

 

I find the hardest part in making knitted toys is adding the facial features.   

I usually have 3 or 4 attempts which are painstakingly unpicked before I am happy.    

There are lots of different techniques for making eyes for your knitted toys, including using toy safety eyes, buttons or beads, or embroidery.    

This is my favourite method for making eyes that I would like to share with you.    

I usually use black wool to make the eyes, but for the step by step pictures I have used red wool as it is easier to see.    

Here is my step by step guide….   

STEP 1 :  Use a length of wool approximately 45cm long (I have used a shorter length for the photos so it is easier to see in close up).  Make a loop at the middle of the length of yarn, with the right hand end laying over the top (the right hand end is the working end).  

Step 1 - make a loop at the centre

 

STEP 2 :  Take the working end over and up through the centre of the loop to make a loose knot.   

Step 2 - make a loose knot

 

STEP 3 :  Continue to wind the working end through the loose knot.   

Step 3 - continue winding the working end round the loop

 

STEP 4 : The more times you wind, the larger the final knot will be.  I usually wind a total of 5 times.   

Step 4 - after winding the yarn round the knot it should look something like this

 

STEP 5 :  Hold on to each end of the wool, and pull the knot tight.  The loops bunch together as you pull…..   

Step 5 - Pull the 2 ends so that the loops bunch together

 

…and you should finish with a knot in the centre of the length of the wool.   

The finished eye ready for sewing to the toy

 

To attach the eyes, thread a tapestry needle on one of the ends, and sew in position on the toy’s face with the knot on top (the right side of the knitting), and the loose end on the inside (wrong side).  Repeat with the other end of the yarn.  Tie the two ends together inside the toy’s head and hide the loose ends inside the stuffing. 

   

   

I prefer to add eyes after stuffing the head, as it is easier to judge the position.  However, I usually leave a gap in the head seam so that I can tie the two loose ends together and hide inside the finished head.    

 I hope this is helpful and easy to follow.   I will also post some tutorials on other methods for making eyes soon.