Make Any Stuffie into a Pull Toy!

This post is a part of my celebrate the puppy week, after releasing my brand new puppy dog and puppy dog patterns. (Psssstttt...don't forget to enter my pattern giveaway!) My three year old LOVES animals, and dogs especially.  She begged for me to make these puppies, and then after they were finished, she wanted to bring them on a walk.  I thought wheels would be great alternative to her dragging the poor puppy all along the floor, but there was one problem.  Wheels aren't cuddly!  So the wheels needed to be removable so that the puppies would still be hug-able.

I designed these wheels with my puppies in mind, but they'd really work with any standing stuffed animal (I know we have several good candidates in our stuffed animal stash!)  Let's get started!

Here's what you'll need:

• wooden wheels (1.5 inches in diameter with a 1/4 center hole)
• 1/4 inch in diameter wooden dowel
• 4 3/4 inch pieces of 3/8th inch elastic.
• Hand sewing thread and a needle

I found all of the supplies at my local JoAnn's.  The sizes of the wheels, elastic, etc are just suggestions.  You could certainly make due with what you have on hand.

Alright, let's get started:

Start by cutting your elastic into four small pieces (one for each leg.)  Handstitch the elastic onto the bottom of each foot.  Nothing fancy here!

Once you have your elastic on all you need to do is cut the dowel.  I just lined the dowel up with the legs and marked.  I could have used a saw, but the dowel was easy enough to cut with some pruning sheers. Then I just slipped one wheel on, slipped the dowel through the elastic pieces, and added the other wheel onto the other side of the dowel.  

You could easily use wood glue to hold them in place, but I liked the fact that not gluing them makes them removable.  Of course if you're making this for a small child that could put the wheels in his/her mouth, this might not be the best solution.  It works super well though for my 3 and 5 year old!

Then we made a leash.  I found this trim with the cut by the yard ribbon.  I folded over one edge and sewed, then pulled the rest of the leash through the hole.  This makes the leash adjustable!  Simply make the hole wider to put over your puppy's neck, and then tighten it!

My kids have taken their puppies for lots of walks since...even shopping.  They've had so much fun with them!

Don't forget to check out the rest of my puppy related posts this week, as well as enter to win a  free puppy dog and puppy dog carrier pattern.  Lot's of awesomeness!

And finally, do you follow my blog already?  Yes, awesome!!!  If not,  please consider following this blog!  I'm really trying to build my followers via email and on facebook, pinterest, twitter, and instagram.