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Apple Dumpling DesignsMy hat's off to all of you who sew your bears by hand. For some reason I started working on a bear yesterday while watching a movie...one thing led to another and before I knew it I had almost all the parts sewn together so I decided to just sew it all by hand. I now have a blister on my index and middle finger and I'm STILL NOT DONE.
So...for all of you hand stitchers....my sincerest 
(the only finger without a blister).
Hugs
Shantell
Pumpkin & Pickle BearsI have built up callous's on my finger tips since making bears and also one on my right index knuckle from cutting out all the fabric (it's where the handle of the scissors sit!)...still, at least it's not painful anymore!!! 
Posts: 8,574I do so understand Shantelli! Because we have such long doctor drives i make mini bears by hand, but can not possibly imagine sewing anything bigger than 3" by hand....yikes!
sorry about your blisters....Sounds like you are making a biggin....
My hubby gave me a featherweight as a get well present and that poor baby has been set up in the living room since she came out of the box....and I can watch the food network or movies while I work on the gollies......
Thank heavens the dear man doesn't seem to care.
hope your poor fingers feel better soon!
hugs
dilu
but his mom, gotta love her, was the same way!
LuxembearsShantel, I love sewing by hand. Almost all of my bears and Tigers are sewn by hand. Even Sherwood, my big boy. There's something therapuetic about it for me...but it does take more time.
ToadBriarcalluses is the secret, lol
Machine goes so fast - I prefer to make my mistakes
at a snail's pace! 
I love my little kenmore machine
but I agree with Judi - handsewing is therapeutic - each
little stitch, just the same as the ones before, all in a line -
maybe it's akin to meditation or something. I'd love the
greater number of bears I could make by machine, but I
will console myself with the conceit that I can say "entirely
sewn by hand" & hope it means something significant &
interesting & romantic & appealing to the buyer, lol
JeannieB BearsI am hand sewing my first bear and even my thumb has a little blister . The world does seem to stop when sewing....I am having fun!
JeannieB 
DoodlebearsI always sew all my bears and furry friends by hand. I've never had a blister and I don't have any calluses. Maybe I'm a tough old bird after all and just get mushy over animals and soppy films.
Hugs Jane.
Jazzy RagsI sew everything by machine
Country BearsI probably do 50/50 machine/hand, perhaps hand sewing just edging forward, I certainly know how sore those fingers can get, have you got a thimble Shantell, I wouldn't be without mine!! Hope they're better soon!! :hug:
Posts: 3,540I'm another who sews completely by hand since the sewing machine is :twisted: ...let's just say we have different opinions of what I'm sewing should look like 
As I primarily sew real fur, I've found leather thimbles to be invaluable. I tried metal thimbles, but that was just awful. I made my own out of moosehide, and have the leather encase the bulk of my thumb, index and middle fingers. Better than having the needle go back into my fingers 
and it does help prevent blisters
Bears by JodiI sew every thing by hand now and have for the last 2 years. Years ago I would go back and forth ... but now , just all by hand. It is therapeutic :dance: And I can watch TV while I do it . GREAT FUN !!!
Jodi Falk
