Fitting safety eyes involves inserting the eye post through the fabric and then securing it on the inside with a washer.
Fitting safety eyes is a crucial step when making stuffed toys to ensure they are secure and safe, especially for children. The process typically involves two main steps: inserting the eye and securing it with a washer.
Step 1: Positioning and Inserting the Eye
Carefully determine the desired placement for each eye on your project. This often requires aligning them symmetrically, perhaps counting stitches or rows to ensure even positioning.
- Positioning: Place the eye post against the fabric where you want it located. As highlighted in the reference, you aim to position the eye in the correct spot, ensuring it is hopefully in the desired place, perhaps aligning with the other eye.
- Insertion: Once positioned, push the eye in quite firmly through the fabric. The post will penetrate the stuffing and fabric layers. You may feel a slight pop or click as it goes through. Ensure it is pushed in as far as it can go without distorting the surrounding material excessively.
Step 2: Securing the Eye with a Washer
After the eye is inserted, you need to secure it from the inside of your project using a washer (also called a back).
- Access the Inside: Depending on your project's stage, you may need to access the back of the fabric where the eye post is sticking through.
- Place the Washer: Take the corresponding safety eye washer. The washer has a hole that fits over the eye post and often has prongs or a ridged edge to grip the post securely.
- Push the Washer On: Place the washer onto the eye post and push it down firmly. You might hear clicks as the washer slides down and locks onto the ridges of the post. Continue pushing until the washer is tight against the fabric on the inside. This prevents the eye from being pulled out. Some crafters use a tool (like a washer insertion tool or even pliers) to help push the washer down completely, ensuring a very secure fit.
Once both eyes are inserted and secured, they are permanently attached. Safety eyes are designed to be difficult to remove once the washers are in place, making them a safe option for children's toys.
