Whether you are making stuffed animals for children or yourself, there is nothing more important than choosing the right eyes. You want to select eyes that will add soul to your creation, but you will also need something that will stay on and won’t become a choking hazard when the animal reaches its young owner.
So what are the best eyes for stuffed animals? The best eyes for stuffed animals are made of durable materials that will stay put once sewn on and are the perfect size and color to suit the personality of your stuffed animal.
If you are planning on making stuffed animals for a child, you should think about the kind of look that will draw his or her attention. If you’re wondering where to start, let’s take a look at some of the most popular options for stuffed animal eyes below.
Types Of Eyes For Stuffed Animals
There are so many ways to make eyes for your stuffed animals. There are plastic button eyes and clear shiny beads in various sizes and colors for your choosing.
While choosing eyes for stuffed animals seems quite simple and straightforward, there are still some things you will need to consider, especially if the recipient of your lovely handmade stuffed animal is going to be a child.
Since the eyes are going to be choking hazards for young children if they become loose, you will need to look at how the eyes can be secured to the stuffed animals and how safe they are. You’ll want something that’s easy for you to use, but once they are secured, they won’t become loose or undone when the stuffed animal reaches the child.
Let’s take a look at the different types of beads that you can use as eyes for your project below.
Black Beads
The easiest option you can find to make eyes for stuffed animals are black round beads. They are inexpensive and can be found at the local hobby shop or online. They are available in so many sizes, and if you want, you can find half-beads or round beads to work with your particular stuffed animals.
One minus point about black beads is that they are sew-on, which is a less secure way of attaching the beads. You will want to use very durable thread for this type of bead and secure them very tightly when you sew so that the beads don’t come off.
Since they are just black beads, they are not very detailed, and there’s not a lot of options when it comes to design, so it works better for stuffed animals with simple designs.
Buttons
Buttons are another easy option that you can find in your own craft corner, local shops, and online stores. Buttons come in so many shapes, colors, and sizes, so you can choose whatever buttons you want to make eyes for your stuffed animals.
You can even layer several sizes of buttons together to make one eye, which will add depth and a unique touch to your stuffed animal.
Similar to the black beads, buttons can also be a choking hazard if they fall off the animal, so make sure that you secure them tightly to the animal using durable thread that is difficult to break.
Safety eyes
Craft eyes, also known as safety eyes, are specifically designed to stay securely on the stuffed animals, so you won’t have to worry about them ever coming off and endangering the children.
You can find craft eyes in so many shapes, sizes, and colors, which allow you to be as creative as you’d like with your stuffed animals.
Craft eyes are designed so that the stem is placed from the outside and secured with a washer from the inside of the stuffed animal, so you will have to secure the eyes before you stuff the animal.
Because of this design, you don’t have to know how to sew a button to safely and securely attach eyes for your stuffed animals. Once they are secured, the eyes won’t go anywhere, adding a layer of safety to your creation.
Best Eyes For Stuffed Animals
If you are wondering about the best options on the market for stuffed animal eyes, below are some of our top picks. We’ve pulled a variety of different styles and types so you can find the perfect ones for your precious creation.
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Eucarlos Safety Eyes | Safety eyes, several sizes, durable |
| 2. | Swpeet Plastic Safety Eyes | 8 glitter colors, 64 pcs, safety eyes |
| 3. | Upstore Brown Plastic Safety Eyes | Safety eyes, durable, several sizes |
| 4. | WillBond Safety Eyes | Glitter colors, safety eyes, 50 pcs |
| 5. | Sewpasam Mixed Resin Sewing Buttons | 5 sizes, black and white, sew-on buttons |
| 6. | PandaHall Black Beads | 6 sizes, classic black, glue on |
| 7. | Topwel Black Plastic Mushroom Beads | 50 pcs, sew-on, several sizes |
| 8. | Teensery Googly Eye Buttons | Googly eyes, sew-on, several sizes |
| 9. | ArtCXC Black Glass Eyes Kit | 10 sizes, felt compatible |
1. Eucarlos Safety Eyes
These Black Safety Eyes are perfect for adding extra detail to your project. These 16mm – 24mm safety eyes are suitable for making teddy bears, soft toys, and other types of stuffed animals.
This set comes with five versatile sizes that will work with various designs, including 16mm, 18mm, 20mm, 22mm, and 24mm (6 eyes per size).
These adorable amigurumi eyes are elegant and can work with a wide range of color schemes and animal designs. They are made of glossy, high-quality plastic, adding a finishing touch to your creation. They are highly durable and can withstand the ups and downs of toddlerhood.
Since these are safety eyes, which means they come with washers that allow you to secure the eyes on the stuffed animals without sewing, they are extra convenient to use and perfectly friendly to beginners.
Even better, once they are secured, they will not come off of the stuffed animals, so they won’t become choking hazards. This safety feature is great if you are giving the stuffed animals to young children.
2. Swpeet Plastic Safety Eyes
If you want more lively colors to add depth to your stuffed animals, then these plastic safety eyes need to be in your craft corner. They come in nine colorful, detailed designs, which are great for teddy bears and other plush toys.
These safety eyes are made of good quality plastic and are solid and durable. Each piece is glossy and smooth to the touch. They are beautiful to look at, and they make perfect decorative finishing touches to your designs.
The box comes with 64 safety eyes, including the washers to secure the eyes. The washers are very sturdy and can securely attach the eyes to your stuffed animals without sewing, which is a huge safety bonus.
These eyes are designed to make your stuffed animals look lively and adorable. Thanks to the beautiful vibrant colors, you can mix and match them with the color schemes of your design and breathe some soul into your creations. They also come with a few dog noses with safety washers as well!
3. Upstore Brown Plastic Safety Eyes
These cute brown plastic safety eyes would be the perfect finishing touch for stuffed animals and soft toys. They have a classic design with a lovely brown color that reminds you of every Teddy Bear from your childhood.
These safety eyes are made of high-quality plastic material to give your teddy bear a natural and lifelike look. They have a smooth surface and will not break easily as it is made from durable plastic.
The safety eyes are conveniently installed with washers, so they won’t come off too easily. The stems are very short and can be comfortably hidden with the stuffing, so you don’t have to worry about the ends poking out or the eyes coming off of the stuffed animals.
These eyes come in several sizes, from 10mm to 24mm, which will work with smaller-sized stuffed animals as well as life-sized teddy bears. If you are looking for an elegant design to create the classic teddy bear look, then these safety eyes would be perfect for you.
4. WillBond Safety Eyes
If you are looking for a classic-with-a-twist design, then you should definitely consider these glitter plastic safety eyes.
They are created using high-quality plastic to create a rounded dome eye that has depth and definition, while the glitter rings (that you can add while assembling your stuffed animal) are customizable so you can create the most stylish look for your teddy bear!
These safety eyes are 12 millimeters in diameter, which means they will work with most medium-sized projects. The eyes are designed for machine assembly, but if you are making your own toys at home, you can still easily secure them using the included washers.
We love these unique, quirky eyes that can effortlessly enhance the look of your teddy bears. With a wide choice of colors, you can pick the glittery look that will work with your color scheme and even match them with the stuffed animal’s outfits for a cohesive, stylish look.
5. Sewpasam Mixed Resin Sewing Buttons
As we’ve mentioned, buttons are probably the best and simplest-looking eyes for crochet and felt stuffed animals.
They are affordable and readily available everywhere, and you have so many possibilities to be creative with button eyes. You can go for a simple, classic look with a single black button or layer different shapes and colors to get the look that you want.
Investing in a set of buttons in various sizes is also never a bad idea since you can use them for other purposes, not just stuffed animal eyes.
That’s why we are recommending this set of resin sewing buttons that come in 5 sizes: 0.39 inches, 0.5 inches, 0.6 inches, 0.8 inches, and 1 inch. They come in black and white, so you can even layer them to create depth for the eyes.
These resin buttons are highly polished and durable, with a glossy finish that won’t fade in the wash. If you use these buttons for stuffed animal eyes, you will need to know how to sew buttons, and you will need to sew them very securely with a strong thread to prevent them from coming off the animal.
6. PandaHall Black Beads
When it comes to simple stuffed animal eyes, you can never go wrong with classic black beads. These beads come in a wide range of sizes, from 4 to 12 millimeters, which will work with small stuffed animals and especially crochet stuffed animals.
These acrylic eyes come in so many different sizes and so many different colors, too, so you can always customize them to work with your creation.
If you love arts and crafts, these beads can also be wonderful additions to your craft corner since they not only work as stuffed animal eyes but also decorations and embellishments.
These beads are glued on, which means you don’t have to sew or do any complicated steps to secure them on your stuffed animals.
When you attach them, make sure to use a clear drying and super strong adhesive so that they will not come off later on. If you are planning to wash your stuffed animals, make sure to use a waterproof and heat-resistant adhesive so that the bond can stay secured for a long time.
7. Topwel Black Plastic Mushroom Beads
If you prefer sewing to glue, then these black mushroom beads are definitely for you. These beads have a similar half-sphere design that will work beautifully as stuffed animal eyes.
On the flat side of the beads, they have small loops that are designed to help you sew them to the fabric, so you can secure them on your stuffed animals using strong threads and a needle.
Keep in mind that it’s just one loop, so the bond of sewing will be weaker than compared to the four-hole buttons.
However, if you prefer sewing, then you can definitely opt for this option, but make sure to use very strong thread so that the eyes won’t come off later on.
These glossy round beads come in various sizes ranging from 10 millimeters to 30 millimeters, so you can choose the size that will work best with your teddy bear’s size.
8. Teensery Googly Eye Buttons
These googly eyes can add a fun touch to your stuffed animals, guaranteed to be a big hit among young children.
Compared to the craft googly eyes that you can find out there, these ones are quite superior because they’re actually high-quality and durable buttons!
Similar to the mushroom beads, you can just sew them on your stuffed animals using strong threads and a needle, which can provide a stronger bond compared to the glue-on type, depending on your fabric.
The eyes are made from high-quality PVC, making them eco-friendly and very safe for young children. They come in 6 sizes ranging from 8 millimeters to 20 millimeters, so you can choose the best size for your creation!
9. ArtCXC Black Glass Eyes Kit
These black glass eyes are specifically designed to work with felt animals. If you are making felt animals, it’s going to be very hard to sew on buttons or attach safety eyes.
These black glass eyes are designed with a small bead on one end of a small pin, which you can use to insert into your needle felt animal.
You can use a bit of glue on the wrong side of the bead so that the eyes stay secured on your creation. Alternatively, directions are also provided to help you sew the eyes on your felt animals.
Note that because these eyes are designed with a poky end, they are mainly used for decorative stuffed animals, not toys that children are going to be playing with.
These eyes come in 10 different sizes ranging from 3 millimeters to 12 millimeters, perfect for various-sized stuffed animals. The pins are very short and can be easily covered with felted wool if needed, so you don’t have to worry about the ends poking out, especially for small felt animals.
Up Next: Toy Stuffing – The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide
