Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I bet it would help to tack it in place. It was slithering around on me a little bit, and I thought it was too little to use pins. Thanks Anna!

Wow. Does this bleed when it's done?

I dyed a barbie's hair with kool-aide when I was a teenager, and it still rubs off every time you touch it. Maybe I did it wrong.

Instead of whip stitching it right sides out, I sewed it wrong sides out and turned it. That's a valid technique, right? Only place I really had problems was the tail, where I ended up cheating a little bit, but overall I'm very happy with how it's turned out so far.

I don't think my foot problems were with the seams (but there's always the possibility I'm wrong!). I think it was trying to do one stitch that went through all 3 pieces (both feet and the footpad). Upon further inspection (and a wonderful tutorial I was sent), I think I need smaller, more precisly placed stitches, so they don't show or distort the piece next time.

The instructions are at home; I'll have to copy them later. She recommends whip stitching the entire thing right sides out, but I opted not to. The pieces are teeny tiny, so I didn't even fiddle with pins except in the largest pieces. I tried using one stitch through the footpad and both leg pieces; sounded like a good idea at the time but it came out a little goofy.

I'm working on a mini cat from a kit. (Pussycat by Emily Farmer, that I got from Sassy. Cute!!) And I'm really happy with how easy it's been so far. But my footpads came out a little funky.

What's the proper way to sew it where the 2 leg pieces meet up with it? (I hope that makes sense.) This spot came out different on front and back, and different still on both feet. It's not terrible, so I probably won't redo it, but it'd be good to know for next time.

Thanks!

- Heather

I'm sorry he was such a pain, but take solice in the fact that he's totally awesome!

I would say steam it with an iron. (Don't iron it, just bring it close enough that the hot steam gets on it.) A hair dryer might help too. (Test this! I haven't.)

Doll customizers use boiling water to style & perm synthetic hair. I don't think water's appropriate here, but the heat will probably help.

It's extremely cute, and that fabric is wonderful. Almost looks like he'd glow under a blacklight!

Cute!!! I've wanted a sugar glider for years, I just didn't know what my cats would have to say about it.

Cute!! I love the longpile you used.

Thank you ladies.

The pattern I'm working on (/wrestling with) involves connecting drastically different colors (pink and white, white & black, etc.)

If I owned a sewing machine, I'd use a different color bobbin thread. But I don't.

I was wondering if there was a consensus for what thread to use when joining different colors by hand.

A color in between the two? Clear thread?

Just curious.

Thanks ladies & gents.

Cute!!! Good work!

Thank you!

Daphne--do you have a place you regularly order yours from? I've been shopping for tags, and I like the idea of the printed ribbon, but I worry about the foil wearing off after a while.

Enchantments--I LOVE your dragon!! I can see where you wouldn't want to detract from that wonderful creature.

I recently ordered some synthedic myself, and I'm SO tempted to steal it for something I can wear... like a big ol' robe. It's got stretchy knit backing too. Unfortunately it seems like a lot of them do. But it just feels so nice I'll go through the hassle of lining it.

Sorry I can't be of assistance, but the fur is lovely!

My first pattern had the hind leg incorporated into the body piece, but clearly I did something wrong because it looked more like a blob than a leg. Lol.

I may have seen bears on all fours with similar legs. The outside is a continuation of the back piece, and the inside is a seperate piece attached to the belly.

I can see how that would be easier to sew. Maybe I'll try again and see if I can get it to look less awful.

However, it's good to know that a seperate piece, ladder stitched on is an 'acceptable' way to do it if I can't.

I'm on my 4th muslin. It's been great practice, both for my sewing and understanding how things come together. I just start to wonder if I'm going to live to see it to fruition.

While I was sewing it I felt like it would have helped to have a stitching line marked. I just kind of estimated. I'm sure it's like anything else though: practice makes purrrrrrrfect.

I went home & un-and-reattached, and they came out A LOT better. I tacked it first with a couple big stitches, which I cut when I was done, and left about a half inch margin between the top, highest part of the leg, and my stitches. I'm not sure how invisible my stitches are, but I'm sure that'll get better with practice.

The muslin is scrap. I'm going to redo it out of a synthedic fur, but I wanted to work out any pattern tweaks before I started cutting that up. He's about 7" tall.

Would it help to mark the leg and/or the body before I start? Or do you ladies just kind of wing it?

Thanks SO much. You've already been a huge help!

I tried ladder stitching the leg to the outside of the body. But the legs came out distorted & uneven.

It's a big cat leg, hip and all like when they're sitting down. I tried it on a muslin but they came out really uneven and weird.

Sorry, I'm new at this.  :redface:

I'm been working on my first plush--a cat, and I'm trying to figure out how to attach his hind legs so the stitches don't show.

He's in the sitting position, so I don't think it makes sense to joint them. But I really like the look of external legs, instead of a 'gingerbread man' shape.

I've been reading this board from a few months now, and I've learned SO much here. But since I didn't see this addressed anywhere I thought it was time I buckled down and asked a question!

Thanks so much.