Cute Thanksgiving Turkey Craft for Kids

If you want to get into the holiday spirit, then this cute turkey felt plushie is perfect for you! Make this Thanksgiving turkey craft to give as gifts to your kids or grandkids. Or better yet, have a sew-along with them.

Sewing is a great way to spend time with your kids, and this Thanksgiving craft is one of the cutest things you can do.

It’s also a great gift idea for little ones to give to those they love because as they say, “Happiness is Homemade”.

This kids craft uses simple materials like felt, stuffing and cotton thread. You can even get in on this fun project that will help you bond with your child while making them feel accomplished!

First let’s take a look at some facts you may not have known about turkeys!

Fun facts about turkeys

• Domestic turkeys are descendants of the Wild Turkey, a species native only to the Americas
• The average lifespan of a turkey is 3-5 years.
• Turkey feathers have been used to make combs, brushes, and other items. They have also been used to stabilize arrows.
• A female turkey can lay up to 10 eggs per month (about 2 per week).
• Wild turkeys are one of the most intelligent birds known today.
• Wild turkeys are fast! They can fly up to 55 miles per hour and run up to 20 miles per hour. 

Thanksgiving Day Family Activity

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday filled with family and friends. It’s also a busy time of year for families.

Between shopping, cooking, cleaning, decorating, and setting the Thanksgiving table, there isn’t much time left for fun activities.

While one or two people are inevitably in charge of deep frying the turkey without burning down the house and making the best Pumpkin Spiced Latte‘s ever – the kids and a few relatives are usually relaxing the day away.

The little turkeys, I mean kids, are likely asking every 5 minutes if it’s time to eat yet, right?

But this day doesn’t have to be stressful. In fact, it can turn out be a lot of fun if you plan ahead and try something new this year!

Making easy Thanksgiving crafts together could even become a new favorite tradition.

Well why not put some of those idle hands to crafting with a Family Sewing Day with some Thanksgiving crafts for kids? You could try one of these free stuffed animal patterns along with our cute turkey plushie.

What sewing level is this felt plushie pattern?

My cute turkey felt plushie craft is suitable for those with beginner to intermediate hand sewing or embroidery skills.

You should know two basic hand stitches (running stitch and blanket stitch) as well as how to start and finish off your thread work.

This felt plushie pattern is not overly difficult, but it does require several steps that take some time.

For those with experience, this project should only take about 1 hour. But for beginners, I would budget an extra half-hour just in case.

If we’re talking about kids, this could turn into a multiple day project depending on their attention span.

Whatever the case, it’ll be fun and keep idle hands busy while prepping for Thanksgiving dinner or whatnot.

Do you have a video tutorial?

Yes, we do have a video tutorial. If you prefer to watch a sew along, here is my video showing how to make a cute felt Turkey plushie.

Where to buy felt for this turkey plushie pattern?

Your best bet is to head over to your local craft store and look for the remnants table. This pattern doesn’t require very large pieces.

Otherwise, I’ve placed some suggested products from Amazon at the bottom of the page. I’ve also had good luck with buying lots from Etsy sellers. 

How can younger children participate?

If you want to get younger children involved, you can turn this kids craft into a cut and paste activity. Just use colored construction paper and a glue stick to construct the turkey.

Place him on a green or brown background and have the kids draw or cut out things like trees, the sun, clouds, people, etc to complete your thanksgiving day celebration scene.

You could also stay with felt or fabric, and simply use craft glue instead of a thread and needle.

What do I need to make this felt turkey?

This DIY felt turkey plushie measures approximately 4 1/2 inches tall and 7 inches wide. Everything is cut from crafting felt and sewn together by hand. The eyes, beak and snood are embroidered using coordinating thread.

The head is attached to the body at the end using hot glue, but you could also use crafting glue or sew these together, if you prefer.

More craft ideas using this same pattern – you could turn this into a cute keepsake Christmas tree ornament or hang it in a Christmas banner. Just sew in or glue on a loop of ribbon at the top of the middle feather on the body piece.

In addition to the above supplies, you will need to download and print my free pattern. Just click the download button below to get the PDF.

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open and print this file. (Don’t worry, it’s free!)

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There are quickie instructions included in the download. You can also follow along on our video or more detailed step by step directions with pictures below.

Can I change the size of the pattern?

Yes, you can! It is easy to make a bigger or smaller plushie, all you have to do is print the pattern bigger or smaller. You can do this by adjusting the “custom scale” option in the print window of Adobe Acrobat.

Please see the below image.

• 100% means it will print at the actual size intended size (for this pattern, that means the body will be about 4.5″ tall)
• Increase this number over 100% to print the pattern bigger
• Any number lower than 100% will print the pattern smaller

Can I use fabric instead of felt?

Yes, you can use any fabric you like! Feel free to switch out the felt for other fabrics you may have in your stash. This would look really cute in random fabric patterns with coordinating colors – sort of like a patchwork quilt!

You could use cotton, flannel or even fleece. Anything goes in arts and crafts and usually the wildest ideas turn out the best.

This is an excellent scrap busting project due to it’s smaller size so just throw a pile on the table and let the creator’s imaginations go wild.

How do you stuff a felt plushie?

There really isn’t a specific way to stuff a stuffed animal. Start out by using your hands, then move on to pointy but blunt tools like chopsticks or paint brushes to reach smaller spaces.

Avoid using something sharp as you could end up creating an unwanted hole in your project.

What do you stuff a plushie with?

Most people use store bought Poly-fil as stuffing, but there are lots of alternatives if you don’t have that on hand.

• Pull apart and fluff up some cotton balls or cosmetic pads
• Repurpose an old pillow’s stuffing
• Save and cut up your scrap felt pieces
• Repurpose old t-shirts or towels

Tip for beginners

If it seems like your hand sewing skills are being put to the test with this easy project and you can’t catch a break, there is hope!

If things start slipping away from your fingers and go flying in different directions when it’s time to sew on those pesky little eyes, use a small amount of craft glue (or any type of adhesive).

It will help keep everything firmly together while you sew them in place.

NOTE: I recommend placing a tiny dot right in the center so that it doesn’t get in the way of your sewing. If glue gets in the area you want to sew, it may be difficult or even impossible to push the needle through. So try not to do this!

Do you have more felt plushie patterns?

Yes, we do! This cuddly turkey plush is the second pattern in our How to Make a Plushie series.

How to Make Christmas Gnomes: Free Felt Gnomes Pattern

Our how to make Christmas gnomes tutorial will show you how to make felt gnomes in just a few simple steps, without a sewing machine.

These little gnomes easy enough for kids and adults alike, plus we even have a free pattern that you can print out at home.

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Cute Turkey Felt Plushie Tutorial

Give thanks for the little things. It’s easy to get caught up in all of the big things that we have going on, but it can be worth remembering how much our kids appreciate everything from a handwritten letter to a fun craft project like this hand sewn turkey felt plushie.

This is an especially great time of year to spend some quality time with your children and make memories with them.

So grab your needle and thread and follow along as we show you how to make one of our favorite Thanksgiving crafts for kids. Turn some simple felt into a cute, cuddly felt turkey!

PREP

Print your turkey pattern pieces (Page 2) on heavy card stock paper.

Cut out each piece and use them as templates to trace and cut out the appropriate color felt pieces. These colors are only suggestions, feel free to get creative and use your own colors and patterns!

MAKE THE BODY AND FEATHERS

Let’s start by sewing the tail (A) to the back of one body (B) with a running stitch. Set aside.

Now let’s will work with the front side of the feathers (the other piece B). Start by placing your orange piece D’s in their correct spots. TIP: you can tack these down with a very small amount of glue so they don’t move around on you.

Sew each piece D into place with a running stitch. Next, repeat the same process with the smallest feather pieces (C).

Place the two back pieces (B) together with the right sides facing out. Begin sewing them together along the outside using a blanket stitch.

I recommend starting at one of the points marked with a square. Sew around the feathers and stop when you reach the other square.

*It may be easier for you to pause after a couple feathers and stuff along the way – it’s your choice!

Stuff the body with cotton fluff and use a blunt ended tool to help fill in the feather areas. 

Then add more stuff to fill in the main part of the body last. Continue sewing around to where you began and finish off.

MAKE THE FACE AND HEAD

Sew the eyes (F) onto one of your head pieces (E) using a running stitch. Then, sew the snood (G) in place first. (Only sew the top portion and let the bottom part hang loose). Then sew the beak (H) on last, also using a running stitch. Finish off.

No we will sew the head together (both piece E’s). Use a blanket stitch to start at one side and stop about 3/4 of the way so you have a big enough hole to insert some fluff like you did with the body. Continue sewing around to where you began and finish off.

ASSEMBLY

You can join the head to the body by using a hot glue gun or craft glue. 

Press together and firmly until glue is set. That’s it – you’re all done! How did your plush turkey turn out? I’d love to see. Please share a photo on Instagram and tag us @CraftsandPrintables.

Check out these other fun crafts for kids