Let's make it by hand-knitting: children's toys. Cute ideas.
For babies and toddlers who’ve just started walking, you naturally worry about toys because of the risk of choking or injury.
That’s why I recommend hand-knit toys.
When you knit them yourself, you can freely choose the size to suit your child, and toys made with wool or cotton yarn are soft, so they can play safely.
In addition to classics like rattles and balls, this article also introduces ideas perfect for early learning.
You can find the necessary tools and materials at 100-yen shops, so give it a try!
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[Let’s Make It by Hand-Knitting] Toys for Children: Cute Ideas (11–20)
bento (boxed lunch)
Believe it or not, you can even make a bento with knitting.
Let’s knit a variety of foods—rice balls, bacon, green beans, potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes, and more.
Compared to plastic play food, a knitted bento has a much warmer feel.
Then pack them into a bento box or store-bought containers.
Filling the containers helps you appreciate the colors, practice fine motor skills, and when pretending to eat, it can spark a story—like deciding which one to start with.
A coaster that can turn into a cake
Introducing an easy project for crochet beginners: a “coaster that can also become a cake,” adapted from a simple coaster.
Of course, it works great as a coaster, but its soft texture makes it a lovely baby toy too! Prepare cotton yarn and a crochet hook, crochet a round in single crochet, then add a scalloped edging to look like cream.
Stack several coasters and secure a strawberry pick on top, and it looks just like a cake! You can also hand-crochet the strawberry pick, so give it a try for reference.
roly-poly toy
Would you like to try hand-knitting a fun toy that pops back up even when it falls over—an “okiagari koboshi”? For the core, use an egg-shaped piece of Styrofoam and a nut as a weight.
Using Styrofoam as the core gives it a gentler, more leisurely movement compared to typical okiagari koboshi.
You can customize it into a daruma, rabbit, mouse, and more—the possibilities are endless.
These okiagari koboshi amigurumi are perfect as toys for newborns or gifts for children! The egg shape is beginner-friendly, so give it a try!
fluffy ball
Babies and small children love balls, but even a vinyl ball can hurt if it’s thrown hard.
A ball knitted with yarn like this is soft and safe even if it hits someone.
There’s a little bell inside, so it makes a sound, which is a nice touch.
By changing the colors of the yarn, you can make a colorful ball even with just small leftovers.
The shape can be managed fairly well through knitting, so just be careful not to make it lumpy when you stuff it with filling.
Animal motif rattle
We’d like to introduce a rattle that babies can hold in their hands.
Since it uses cotton yarn, it’s safe even if it goes in their mouth.
We’ll avoid materials that could accidentally be swallowed, such as beads for the animal’s eyes, and choose safer alternatives.
It’s important to select materials from a baby’s perspective to prevent any accidents.
The handle section may require some technique, so this project might be best suited for intermediate or more advanced knitters.
A bell sealed in a capsule will be placed inside the animal’s head.
Kids backpack
Surprisingly, even in knitting, when you take on a larger project, you can make something as big as a child’s backpack—complete with a stuffed bunny on the back.
And the bunny plush is removable.
If you make it as a gift in your child’s or grandchild’s favorite colors, they’ll be thrilled.
The project involves assembling several parts and adding a zipper and hardware, so it’s recommended for intermediate or more experienced crafters who are comfortable with both knitting and some sewing.
[Let's Make by Hand-Knitting] Toys for Children: Cute Ideas (21–30)
picture book
How about making a cloth picture book for babies out of felt? You can find colorful felt at 100-yen shops and craft stores, so try cutting, pasting, and sewing it to match your vision.
You can recreate a picture book your child loves, or add interactive elements they can play with.
There are many kinds of mechanisms: for example, motifs that can be peeled off with hook-and-loop tape, parts that fasten with buttons, and classics like puzzles or matching games.
