Have you or your son or daughter ever had a favorite toy that's gotten a little worse for wear? With all the times your favorite plush toys get squeezed, dragged around, and played, with wear and tear takes an inevitable toll. Little rips can make your most beloved teddy bear look more like a Franken Bear, suitable only for Halloween.  Luckily, this problem isn't as hopeless as you might think. There are a few steps you can take to fix almost any soft plush toy so that they are practically as good as new!

<b>Step 1</b>

Identifying the specific problem area (or areas) is your first step. The most common rips happen at the toy's stitches, which can include where the legs, arms, or head were sewn on to the body, which is what we are going to focus on. This is naturally the weakest point on a stuffed animals body, and when squeezed the stuffing puts pressure on these areas, causing the stitching to fail. These rips might not all be easy to fix, but they can mostly be approached in the same way.

<b>Step 2</b>

For the second step, you'll need to pick up supplies. There are some basic tools you'll need when the seams on a plush toy are unraveling: a needle and thread. The thread should match the stuffed animals fabric, or be as neutral or complementary in color as possible. Make sure the thread is tough too, otherwise you'll just have to do this again a couple of months down the road. Most needles you can get as part of a set, and that way you'll have needles in various sizes. This is important because a big teddy bear may require a thick, touch needle, while a small plush dog should have a small, delicate needle. Also, get a needle threader if you have trouble getting the thread through.

<b>Step 3</b>

For step three, learn what you need to do. Even an amateur sewer can stitch up a stuffed animal, it is not at all complicated. First, thread the needle with an arm's length of thread so that you make sure that you won't run out, as that complicates the sewing. Once the needle has been threaded, double the thread and tie a knot at the end. This way you'll have two rows of thread with a knot at the bottom away from the needle. Now it's time to start sewing. On one side of the split seam, push the needle through, and then push it across through the other side of the split seam. Pull so that the two sides come together, and then push the needle in again on the next part as you sew in a diagonal pattern. Keep doing this so that you stitch the ripped sides together. When you get to the end, have the needle go through the last stitch and wrap it around, so that the last stitch is strong. Then, tie a knot or two as close to the stitch as possible in order to make sure that no thread is showing. Finally, cut the thread.

So there you go, practically any stuffed animal can be fixed with a minimum of hassle. It only takes a couple of minutes of your time, and the purchase of a needle and thread is very inexpensive. Now you can think twice before throwing your favorite toys away!