Felt Shark DIY Tutorial

Shark Week is one of our favorite times of the summer—and not just for the documentaries! It’s the perfect excuse for all kinds of themed crafts and snacks, and this adorable DIY felt shark is a simple, hands-on activity that kids (and grown-ups!) will love.

Whether you’re planning a shark-themed party or just looking for a creative way to keep the kids busy, this little guy is a fintastic addition to your summer fun.

Vertical Pinterest image of a completed DIY felt shark on a green background with the bold title “DIY Felt Shark.”

This DIY felt shark is a great beginner sewing project. It’s easy and inexpensive to make! Once your kids learn how to make this felt creature, they can then branch out into other shapes as well.

Simply draw your own shape to make the template for your craft project or search for templates online. You can even use simple coloring book images as your pattern.

🧵 First Time Sewing? Tips for Helping Kids Make a Felt Plush Shark

Start with a blunt needle. Use a child-safe needle or a plastic tapestry needle for extra safety, especially for younger kids.
Use pre-punched holes. For very young children, you can pre-punch small holes with a needle or hole punch to make sewing easier.
Choose thick thread or embroidery floss. It’s easier for small hands to see and control, plus it holds up better.
Use clips or paper clips. These help hold the felt pieces together while sewing instead of pins, which can be tricky for little ones.
Keep it short and sweet. First sewing projects don’t need to be perfect or long—celebrate each small success!
Let kids personalize it. Encourage them to add details like a name, extra fins, or a silly face with fabric markers or extra felt scraps.

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post below are affiliate links provided for your convenience. This means that if you purchase something through one of these links, I get a small commission at no added cost to you.

Supplies needed:

You can often find many, if not all, of these supplies at your local dollar store. I’ve added Amazon links in case you need them but if you can, definitely check the dollar store first.

Side view of a handmade blue felt shark on a yellow surface.

Find more sea related crafts here:

Instructions:

Two shark shapes and a small white circle cut from felt, ready for crafting.

Trace printed template onto felt and cut out.

Blue felt shark with one white eye attached, shown on green background.

Place eye on shark cut-out.

Shark craft with stitched eye and simple smile, made from blue felt.

Sew eye into place and stitch a mouth.

Partially stitched felt shark with needle and blue thread still attached.

Stack sharks on top of each other, and whipstitch around perimeter leaving room for stuffing.

If you’d rather use a blanket stitch, here’s a tutorial on how to do that.

Felt shark partially filled with white polyfill during the stuffing step.

Stuff shark with Poly-fil.

Finished blue felt shark placed on a yellow background.

Continue whipstitch to close.

Collage of four kid-friendly shark crafts made from printable templates, including a pop-up shark mouth, a 3D paper shark, and a hand-colored cartoon shark.

Looking for even more shark-themed fun? I’ve got you covered! I created a free Shark Art & Craft Pack filled with easy, screen-free activities the kids will love. It’s a great way to keep the creativity flowing long after your felt shark is complete.

🦈 Sign up here and I’ll send it right to your inbox!

Felt Shark Sewing FAQ: Everything Beginners Need to Know

What age is this shark sewing project best for?

This project is ideal for kids ages 7 and up with adult supervision. Younger children may need more help with threading the needle and stitching.

Does my child need sewing experience to make this?

Not at all! This felt shark is a great first sewing project. The shapes are simple and the stitches are easy to learn, making it a great confidence-builder for beginners.

What kind of stitch should we use?

A whip stitch or running stitch works perfectly for this project. Whip stitch is especially great for little hands because it helps keep the pieces more securely aligned.

Do we have to use felt?

Felt is recommended because it doesn’t fray and is easy to work with, especially for beginners. You can also try fleece or other soft fabrics, but you may need to adjust your stitches.

Can I glue it instead of sewing?

Yes! If sewing isn’t an option, you can use fabric glue or hot glue with adult help. Just note that the finished shark may not be quite as durable or squishy.

Find some interesting shark facts from Nat Geo Kids here.

Happy Summer Fun Friday!

Love this craft? Don’t forget to save it for later! 🧵🦈

Pin this DIY Felt Shark project to your favorite kids’ crafts or Shark Week board so it’s ready when you are!

Pinterest graphic showing a blue felt shark craft on yellow with the text “Beginner Sewing Project: DIY Felt Shark.”

Fun Pinterest pin featuring a soft blue felt shark on yellow with text overlay “DIY Felt Shark – check it out!” in playful fonts.

Find a super cute Shark-cuterie candy board here and adorable shark cupcakes here.