Sew a spooky bat plush pattern for Halloween!

If you're like us, then you're probably already getting ready for Halloween. We're loving these super-cute spooky bat plush toys, which would look adorable hung up on the wall or on a door this October.

There are some fiddly parts of this bat plush pattern, so it's not suitable for absolute beginners. You'll also need to be able to master some basic embroidery stitches to complete the bat's face. Add a finishing touch to your bat by adding a toothy grin!

This adorable bat bat sewing pattern originally featured in Simply Sewing Magazine. It's by the talented Jo Carter, who has been designing soft toys for over a decade. Read on to learn how to make your own bat plush pattern for Halloween…

Make a cute Halloween toy with our bat plush pattern

Notes

Download the bat plush pattern templates here.
Finished size: Approx 38cm (15in), wing to wing.
Use a 5mm (¼in) seam allowance, unless otherwise stated.

Unfortunately, the fabrics used in this pattern are no longer available, but similar fabrics are available from online fabric shops or from your local fabric shop. For reference, the fabrics pictured are:

Fabric A: Essex Yarn Dyed in Espresso. Ref: E064-1136. By Robert Kaufman.
Fabric B: Petite Plus. Ref: 5033-01. From the Black and White 2015 Collection by Rashida Coleman-Hale for Cotton+Steel. Twist in Charcoal. Ref: TWIS 1155. By Dashwood Studios.
Fabric C: Kona Cotton Solids in Black by Robert Kaufman.

If you're new to sewing, take a look at our sewing for beginners guide and how to use a sewing machine guide.

You will need

Fabric A: 35x35cm (13¾x13¾in), for the body
Fabric B: 35x25cm (13¾x9⁷/₈in), for front of wings
Fabric C: black, 35x25cm (13¾x9⁷/₈in), for reverse of wings
Pair of 6mm (¼in) black plastic safety eyes
Polyester toy filling
Stranded cotton: purple and white
Basic sewing kit

Looking for more cute plush patterns?

Head over to the Gathered Shop where there's a huge collection of toy sewing patterns, including these butterflies!

Cutting out

Trace and cut out all of the bat plush pattern template pieces. The templates include the seam allowances where necessary and the arrows indicate the print direction for marking and cutting out. The notches are used to match pieces when stitching together, so mark these too.

When the pattern specifies to cut two or more of a template, after marking out half of the pieces required, the template needs to be turned over to mark out the remaining half so that the pieces are cut as mirror images.

Draw the pattern pieces onto the wrong side (WS) of the fabric and cut out:

From Fabric A:
- Face, cut 1.
- Ear (for back of ears), cut 2.
- Back head, cut 2.
- Tummy, cut 2.
- Back body, cut 2.
From Fabric B:
- Wing (for front of wings), cut 2.
- Ear (for front of ears), cut 2.
From Fabric C:
- Wing (for reverse of wings), cut 2.

Free bat plush toy sewing pattern

Bat plush pattern

Making the wings

Step 1

Place the Fabric B wing pieces right side (RS) together, pin and then sew at the bottom along the short straight side. Press the seam open.

Repeat for Fabric C wings.

Step 2

Place the two sets of wings RS together, pin then sew around the sides.

Step 3

Clip V-shaped notches in the seam allowance on the external curves, clip the internal curves and corners, and clip at the outer tip – a V-shaped notch works best at the corner on the top side of the wing.

Turn the wings RS out and press.

Step 4

Transfer the stitch line markings from the template onto the wings and stitch along these lines backstitching at the start and end of your sewn lines to secure.

Step 5

Stuff the channels formed at the top and the ‘legs’ at the bottom of the wings.

Step 6

Tack the open edge closed to secure the stuffing and keep raw edges aligned.

Making the ears

Step 7

Place corresponding front and back ear pieces RS together. Pin, then sew around the outer edges.

Clip the corner at the tip and clip V-shaped notches in the seam allowance around the curved side.

Turn RS out and press.

Step 8

With the front of the ear facing upwards, fold the straight side over at the bottom where marked so that the edge meets the other marker.

Tack the fold in place along the bottom edge.

Step 9

Repeat to make the other ear.

Creating the face

Step 10

Fold the face piece in half RS facing and sew the dart at the bottom.

Step 11

Refold the face so the end of the seam is at the top and the seam is central.

Finger press the seam open, then sew across 3mm (¹⁄₈in) from the tip to ‘box’ the corner (shown in orange thread to highlight).

Step 12

Sew the dart at the top of the face.

Making the front body

Step 13

Place the tummy pieces RS facing, pin then sew along the front.

Step 14

Sew the bottom of the face to the top of the tummy, RS facing, taking care to match up the seams.

Step 15

With the front of the ears against the RS of the face (with the folded side at the top), tack the ears in place where marked.

Step 16

Make the smallest holes possible to allow the shank of the eye in the face pieces where marked.

Fit the eyes in place following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Making the back body

Step 17

With the front of the wings against the RS of the tummy, tack the wings in place around the sides of the tummy.

Step 18

With RS facing, sew the bottom of a back head to the top of its corresponding back body piece (markers indicate correct placement). Repeat for the other side.

Step 19

Place the back body sections RS facing, pin and then sew together along the back at the top and bottom leaving an 8cm (3¹⁄₈in) opening in the centre.

Step 20

Place the back body section on the front body section, RS facing, and fit the wings through the opening in the centre of the back body to keep them out of the way (you can pin them together as well, if preferred).

Step 21

Sew the front and back of the bat together from the top of the head all around the sides, sandwiching the wings properly in place but taking care not to trap any further parts of the wing in the seam.

Step 22

Turn RS out and stuff.

Embroidering the face

Step 23

Using an erasable pen or tailor's chalk, draw a smile on the bat’s face and backstitch over the top in purple stranded cotton.

Add a French or colonial knot nostril at either side of the boxed snout.

Embroider two inverted triangles in white stranded cotton on either side of the smile for fangs.

Finishing off

Step 24

Adjust any filling that has become disturbed, then close the opening in the back using ladder stitch or similar.

Step 25

Sponge or brush away any pen marks on the face to finish.

If your little one fancies a bit of fancy dress for Halloween, try making them our adorable free cat costume pattern.