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Daphne Sep 10, 2006

We'd discussed sources for and types of synthetics very recently and I ordered some samples from PreFurs. They came at the same time I finally found my German synthetic samples from Edinburgh (and some other interesting things in the back of my closet!) so I decided to have today's bear club discussion on synthetics. My club meets here once a month or so. There are 6 of us.

Well...... all of these women either use only mohair or the cheap craft store synthetics so they were all in awe of these wonderfully soft samples they could sink their fingers into. Oh, one of the women does make minis from Sassy Bears' furs and brought some of that along too.

I got the old "how can you justify a high price for them though?" and "I haven't seen artist bears of synthetics at shows." SO.... I got out my old TB&F issues that I'd marked the pages of all the artist ads and articles showing synthetic bears (Paula Carter, Karen Lyons, Jenny Johnson to name a few) and they all said "oh yes, I've seen her bears in the mags.... those are synthetic??" 

Now they are all itching to try some themselves. We discussed pattern alterations to accomodate the density and pile lengths of the furs they chose. A couple bought some of the German synthetics I had on hand and I just submitted a group order to PreFurs. I am SOOOO excited and anxious to get it. I worked on my design this afternoon. I haven't felt this revved up to make a bear in ages.

Now, this isn't to say that I've fallen out of love with mohair. NO WAY!!! Once a Schulte Mohair Quuen, always a Schulte Mohair Queen! Just broadening my horizons a bit.

Any body else decided to take the plunge and try some synthetics?

Jellybelly Bears Sep 10, 2006

thats terrific daphne!!!  And sounds like your day went really well.. couldn't be happier for you  :hug:  :hug:
xx sarah

chrissibrinkley Sep 10, 2006

Now I must buy the sampler pack from prefurs too.....
Are these those lovely furs that are thick and ...what do you call it when the  fur is graduated in color...like when it's darker on the top and then lighter towards the bottom of the fur (or vice versus)....so sculpting looks amazing??  Are these furs like that Daphne??

I'm working on a plushy synthetic bear now but had to stop for some supplies to come in.  I thought we were doing a challenge too. ?yes, no?
:hug:
~Chrissi

Dilu Sep 10, 2006

Good one Daph!

itching to try some themselves

:crackup:

glad the ladies had a good day.,,,and a little retail therapy is very therapeutic.

Daphne Sep 10, 2006

Sarah,
The meeting was good.... needed a nap after though... it's been a looooooooong week!

Chrissi,
Yes, that's the stuff. Is the word you are looking for verigated? I'm not sure.

Dilu,
Shop therapy is the best! It should be a treatment recommended by your doctor so insurance covers it!

Kathleen Sep 10, 2006

Daphne, does this fur has the suede like back or is it more like mohair backing?

Kathleen

kate Sep 10, 2006

Well, being on the other side of the globe, I can hardly blame the season - but after two or three years of happy mohairing, I've suddenly had the urge to try synthetics too.  Have just bought two pieces - both dense and somewhat long pile - with firm knitted backing.   I've probably no idea the drama I'm in for, there's already fur flying around the house everywhere and I haven't even started to cut yet.
Still, for sometime I've been following the posts on synthetics through TT ( really grateful, girls!) and am itching to try the lovely glass eyes and eyelids which have been in the sewing basket for ages now waiting for 'mother bear' to work up some courage.
I have to confess that I've also bought a little cheapie hair and beard trimmer since the warning has already gone out about MM's    own gear.
The next thing is to work up a design.  If anyone's got thoughts on some pitfalls to be avoided in designing with synthetics, would be really interested to hear (before I make every mistake in the book and others more that nobody's even dreamed of!)
Cheers and bear hugs
Kate

Marie_ Sep 10, 2006

Hi Daphne,  your  Bear Club sounds so fun !!! I wish I was the member too !! 
I tried cheap(good value)synthetics (before I met mohair)and  I thought
I'll not going back to synthetics till I met this gorgeous synthetics !!!!  I saw our TT members using
gorgeous synthetics for their bear and I was so shocked because they ware so fantastic.
I had to buy the same type of synthetics and I really love them !!
the color, the texture, softness, heavy dense are great. I haven't a time to work one them yet,
but I definitely love to try it soon !!  :dance:

does this fur has the suede like back or is it more like mohair backing?

↑
Hello Kathleen!  I'm not expert of synthetics but I think some of fur has weak backing and some fur
has good strong baking but I never met the fur with cotton backing as mohair has.
I think someone can help your better than me....... :redface:   

hugs
Marie

hugs
Marie

Jare Hares & Bears Sep 10, 2006

Well, being on the other side of the globe, I can hardly blame the season - but after two or three years of happy mohairing, I've suddenly had the urge to try synthetics too.  Have just bought two pieces - both dense and somewhat long pile - with firm knitted backing.   I've probably no idea the drama I'm in for, there's already fur flying around the house everywhere and I haven't even started to cut yet.
Still, for sometime I've been following the posts on synthetics through TT ( really grateful, girls!) and am itching to try the lovely glass eyes and eyelids which have been in the sewing basket for ages now waiting for 'mother bear' to work up some courage.
I have to confess that I've also bought a little cheapie hair and beard trimmer since the warning has already gone out about MM's    own gear.
The next thing is to work up a design.  If anyone's got thoughts on some pitfalls to be avoided in designing with synthetics, would be really interested to hear (before I make every mistake in the book and others more that nobody's even dreamed of!)
Cheers and bear hugs
Kate

Worked with store bought synthetics for years, before I discovered mohair...
Look for furs that have firm or stiff backing that don't give much. They should barely give at all. Those are the best fabrics to get usually $13 ~ $20/yard in the stores. Avoid the really long stuff, tends not to be good for teddies.
Remember that you might need to make a timmer version of your pattern as the fur is denser than mohair, also keep in mind no matter how firm the back it will give some. If you use your normal mohair bear pattern you will end up with a bear that is a bit out of shape. The arms might be too big around, as will the legs, and the body will be a bit too round...
When we were using synthetics all the time, we had two sets of each pattern one to use on the mohair and one to use on synthetics.
I'll have to dig around to see if I have any photos of our synthetic bears and bunnies. That was before the digital camera... I'll get the shovel out...

kate Sep 11, 2006

Thanks Jared,
That tip on the possible trimming up a mohair pattern to suit a dense synthetic was an important one and probably something I would not have thought about until the inevitable happened.
So many thanks indeed and I'd love to see some examples of your synthetic work!
Kate

Daphne Sep 11, 2006

Kathleen - The synthetics we bought have a tightly woven cotton backing. The really high quality synthetic has a tight cotton backing similar to mohair. The Tavassel line of synthetic as well as the Schulte synthetics (such as found at Edinburgh) have this type of backing. Most craft store synthetics and a lot of the Beary Cheap synthetics will have a knit, stretchy backing. They are more of a challenge. There are products out there that you can 'paint' on the backing to keep it from stretching and also FrayCheck to put on the edges to prevent fraying if you don't mind the extra steps and time.

Kate - Jared gave the most important tip to keep in mind when working with synthetics. You'll also want to be sure to trim your seam allowances. You'll likely find more tips in another more in depth discussion we had on synthetics recently. Here: http://www.teddy-talk.com/viewtopic.php?id=9640

Marie - wish you were a member too! :hug:

Jare Hares & Bears Sep 11, 2006

Not every pattern piece had to be trimmed down.
Usually, just the arms legs and body. Most of the time the head would be ok and the ears would be fine too.
But you just have to play around a bit to find what will work for you.