Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

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I'm very proud to introduce my latest bear, Emerson. He is currently listed on ebay - http://www.ebay.com/itm/261082366438?ss … 594wt_1327. This auction is ending soon!

Emerson is 2 5/8 inches sitting and 3 1/2 inches tall. He's made of premium mini teddy bear fabric from Berta Hesen-minten's webstore - www.threadteds.com. He also has German glass eyes, ultrasuede pawpads and inner ears, a sheer red ribbon around his neck and a bright red rosette on his upper chest. His nose and mouth are hand sewn with embroidery floss and he's stuffed with polyfill and small steel beads.

You can also see my other bears at www.bethannebears.com

Follow me on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BethAnneBears

I love instruction books also! 

This is a great idea! Seeing something in 3D is always helpful. I was just venting on another thread about the problem of getting a pattern right to match what's in my head and then I went to the "library" section and found another good thread about designing patterns.

http://www.teddy-talk.com/viewtopic.php?id=2963

I especially like the post from matilda showing how to lay out a pattern with paper to check the dimensions. It's a 2D approach, so maybe not what others are looking for. There's also a link to Nancy Tillberg's online course called "Designing Teddy". It looks interesting, although I haven't done it.

I'm designing new patterns in different sizes (3-6") right now and I've also just started doing disc and cotter pin joints. I've always string jointed up till now. I don't know if any of you have had the same problem, but it usually takes a few tries to get the right proportions on a new pattern. I've made as many as 4 bears to get one pattern right! I'm close to getting all the different patterns I want made (for now ), so hopefully I'll get faster soon.

I'm really not sure how long I actually spend getting a whole bear done. I only got one 4" bear completely finished last week (with 3 failed pattern attempts), working about 8-10 hrs/day for 6 days, and he's only wearing a bow!

In the past it has taken me about 10 hours to make a 3" bear using a pattern I'm comfortable with and string jointed limbs and a disc/cotter pin neck. My goal is to make about 4-5 mini/small bears a week to sell. I'm working full time making bears, and I usually work 8-10 hours/day at least 6 days/week, so I think this is possible. *fingers crossed*

Hi Bobbie - Thanks for the great info! I especially like the part about fitting the limbs up to the body without the "broad shoulders" or "wide hips" look. I'm still having a bit of trouble with that part. Do you have any pics of bears you've made using this technique? I looked at your website, but it seems you've started making bears with needle felting instead of fabric and cotter pin joints. Love your bears, by the way!

I looked at your lovely ladder stitch demo. I've been using the ladder stitch for a long time and I really like the results, as long as I don't pull the stitch too tight  :0)   I'm definitely going to try sewing my limbs shut along the top instead of the back next time to see how it looks.

I would like some more info on creating a leg socket with a dart or seamline shaping. If you could direct me to a tutorial or give me some info yourself, I'd greatly appreciate it!

Thanks! 

Thank you teeeg, Pink and Thelma! The idea about temporarily attaching the stuffed and sewn limbs and partially stuffed body is great! I wish I had thought of that. Would have saved me a lot of frustration I think Pink - Your drawing and website info is wonderful (love your bears!) and I'm sure I'll find all of it very useful.

And the info is just in time for my current pattern design trial. I'll post a pic when it's done.

Thanks again! 

Hi! For as long as I've been making miniature bears, I've used string jointed limbs with a disc/cotter pin neck joint. It was so easy to get the limbs in the right place with string joints. Now I've decided I need to move on and start doing disc/cotter pin joints on both the limbs and neck. I've been joining the limbs to the body before anything has been stuffed, stuffing and sewing the limbs closed and then attaching the stuffed head at the neck and finally stuffing and closing the body.

The thing I'm having a very frustrating problem with is getting the limbs lined up properly and the right distance from the neck or bottom. What happens is that one or all of the legs or arms is too far forward, back, up or down. I can't seem to see if they are in the right place until everything is stuffed and sewn. It is so annoying to have to take everything apart again to try and fix it.

Is there an easy way to get everything in the right place the first time? I've tried making marks on my pattern piece and transferring them to the fabric, but that doesn't seem to work. They are still uneven.

ANY help would be most appreciated. 

She's adorable 

When I first learned how to make bears, it was doing mini ones, about 2-3.5 inches. I love the tiny pieces and how they look when they're done. I made 3 10 inch bears as gifts once and I don't think I'll make any more that big     I prefer hand sewing, so using the sewing machine on mohair fabric was as frustrated as I ever want to be. And I agree with Katrina - stuffing just went on and on!

I would love to see your mini when it's done 

Hi! Newbie here! I've never used button joints with the buttons inside, but I've done string jointing with buttons added over the joints. I like the look of buttons, but it seems to be an acquired taste.

He is very cute! I don't have the courage or nerve to show my first mini!