Except, it wasn’t a stuffed animal she made, but a small pincushion in the shape of an elephant. It was supposed to be a fun, but functional bit of cloth and stuffing to hold pins. Except that ...

This fall we got new carpeting. While packing our house we found dozens of items from our kids' childhood — clothes, stuffed animals, cuddle blankets — shoved into closets and under beds.

Seeking something more cuddly, Ms. Khidekel designed a weighted stuffed animal. In 2022, she left her journalism career and founded Hugimals World. Ms. Khidekel, who is in her mid-40s, worked with ...