Help on how to fix toddlers favourite toy!

[Namechangedforthis25]

Hi
our toddler has a favourite toy but it has a rip which I’m not sure how to fix.
could anyone recommend how to repair this?
Thanks in advance!

i am not an expert at all but what I would do is add a new second belt. If you want easiest I’d do a patch and hard mode I’d make a new top in the same shape as the current one and sew it in. (You would need to hem).

get fabric in a colour that goes / toddler chosen - without a stretch.

strip instructions:

Fold over a strip of cloth 2 x the size of the gap from under arm to middle of yellow belt. Iron folded. If you have a machine I’d see a hem at the top fold to keep in place. Or if you have a machine I’d do a strip and fold in the bottom and top and hem properly.

then hand sew to the under arm and round.
you need a cone shape, so cut at the sides under the arm (and have the material join here on the other side. Then sew the bottom bit at the front flat to 0.5cm into the yellow. Then do the back.

then fold the corner so they meet as a line, and sew the corners under the arm. Should stop you having a bulge/gathered bit at the bottom.

if you do a top you could make a gathered bottom part of the look. You make a loop so you can thread a bit of elastic at the bottom and then hem c. 0.5 cm above it, making sure it is sewn all round as this will become the new body /the stuffing will spill to the top.

https://thedailysew.com/blog/2015/09/how-to-patch-a-well-loved-stuffed-animal/#:~:text=To%20patch%2C%20cut%20out%20a,the%20edges%20of%20the%20hole.

this is a better description of how to patch

and by hem the patch I meant an overlock stitch. Sorry!

m.youtube.com/watch?v=havk0m4bBlw

I was going to suggest Repair Cafe (as I cannot sew at all) but genuinely inspired by @purpletrees16

Lots of great advice there.