Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi everyone!

I really need some help and am fed up of searching google!!

I'm sure this type of question has been asked loads of times, but I can't seem to find any answers.

Basically for the past couple of months, I've been experimenting with making bears, just using a simple pattern for A jointed bear.

At first I secured the joints with a dolls needle and thread, but found that the thread became loose quite quickly, no matter how tight I threaded it, pulled it and made sure it was secure. Hence why my first bear has its arms hanging down by the base of its feet lol

I then moved onto the plastic safety joints.. And found that they always seemed too loose. I wanted a nice fixed joint, with very little or hardly any movement.

I researched the different joints available and decided to try the nuts and bolts. And to be honest, I don't think I have the exact strength to make them tight enough in order for them to become un-moveable.

Sooo.. About the 8th bear in, and I've decided to try the safety joints again, and just really am not happy with the looseness of them and the flimsiness.

Please help!!! Where am I going wrong?? Any suggestions on how's best to get joints that don't have much move ability in them?