Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi Melissa, Clare and Linda,
Thank you for all the wonderful tips and hints!  I'm not sure I'll ever get these little ears to sit right - I rather suspect it takes lots and lots of practice.  I have to say ear placement is much harder on these little guys than their bigger siblings. 

Anyway have finally finished him - poor li'l fella - the stitches show on his ears, he has six toes instead of five, the pulled toes have wrinkles in them.  I claim him as my little 'prototype'  and one day when I can bear the shame,  I'll post his picture!

In the meantime, happy bearmaking and hugs
Kate
PS - Melissa your little one is just the cutest!

Thank you everyone for the wonderful tips  :hug:  and yes, Carolynn, I understood - your instruction is very clear, very helpful.  Am going to try all the tips suggested. 
I can see that this little bear is going to be a test critter - not expecting too much for first try.
For all the bears I've made, I've certainly discovered minis are a totally new ball game!
Thanks all,
K

My first mini-bear (in Sassy) underway ... was going reasonably okay until I got to the ears.   Please, are there any tips for sewing on ears?   I've had one ear on and off four times .. mainly due to placement .. but also the stitches are so difficult to disguise! 
Is invisible thread really strong enough?  Would it help?
I also find it nearly impossible to turn and hold a seam allowance on the bottom of the ears.   Maybe it's my big hands!   :doh:  :doh:  :doh:
HELP!
K

PS  Kim,
Love your little 'pinkie'!
Kate

Thanks to you too, Kim.
I can't get a good enough picture up of that particular pattern but it looks a great pose.  I hope to investigate that one further, too.
Can't wait for it to be started although a lot of fun in a project is in the 'chase' and the 'planning'.
Let you know how it goes.
Thanks again
Kate

Thank you Julia!

Don't know how I missed that one - I must have looked at everything else in the Google universe.  It is just what I'm  looking for - and it will easily accommodate any small changes that we might fancy.   It was such a good find - thank you again.
Best of luck with your bears
Cheers
Kate
:hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

Have bought a piece of rather nice faux fur in sort of beigy-grey (mixed) tones with muted spots in some areas.  To me, it really says 'wild cat'  and knowing that my husband will just adore it, am planning to give it to him for his birthday from the 'girls' - Dewi and Rani - Burmese and tabby - who are the loves of his life.   Sometimes I think  they rate ahead of me - but that's okay.
He's quite adept at making bears although this will be his first attempt at another sort of critter.  I'm pretty fearless with the bears I make and will be available for backup. 
What I would like to get hold of is a really nice pattern - tending to the realistic rather than toy.  Does anybody know where one can go for such a pattern?  Has anyone seen such patterns for sale anywhere?
Cheers
Kate

This would have to be the prettiest blue I've ever seen in a 'fur' - and only 4" high - what a cutie!     :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:
K

Thank you all for being so kind!   

We love all our bears no matter whether we've made them or acquired them - but this one was really rather special to us.  Even more than dolls, bears seem to have a life and personality all their own.  And from the time we started to make Sayuri, she seemed to say this was who she wanted to be.

A bit weird and whacky, but wonderful!
K

Although I log on occasionally to keep up with what's on and what's doing in the world of teddies, it's been a while since I've posted anything.   The year has been busy - as well as exciting and frustrating in equal measure - so no bears have emerged.  But at long last another bear has come into our "hug".   May I introduce Sayuri - "Little Lily" - she is about 14" tall (in her getas) in a lovely mauvy-beige Schulte mohair.  We are pleased with her - hope you like her too.
Kate

What a stunningly beauiful pair!  Just gorgeous!
Congrats   :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:
Kate

Many thanks for shedding some light on the 'snorer'.  And it's quite possible it was a 'salvage job'.
It is a beautiful little bear with the most gorgeous droopy eyelids and we all had ideas on what we'd like to create in a similar vein - and who we'd give them to!  But his dear little belly rising and falling with the snore just blew us away completely.
Perhaps one day some enterprising person will come up with something we can use in bears.
In the meantime, ta for the info.
Bear hugs
Kate

A year or two ago, a friend of ours brought back a bear from overseas - a delightful little critter reclining on his back and elbows.  A real cutie, and sorry, I muffed the photo so I don't have one to show.
What is special about him is, that instead of a growler he has a 'snorer'.  Moreover, whatever the device is, it raises his belly up and down with each snore.  Needless to say, it's battery operated and the sound/motion is triggered by touching him on the belly.
Has anyone ever seen one of these devices or more importantly, have an idea where they might be bought?  Our bear group would dearly love to know.
Bear hugs,
Kate

Oh Paula,
I've long admired and admired and admired your gorgeous creations.  I just don't know what to say in way of consolation.  P-l-e-a-s-e, just let it be some sort of awful misunderstanding.
Thinking of you,
Bear hugs
K.

Thank you Jane!
Our little bear group has lots of bear books in its library but nothing with socks.  I've raided our op-shops and book exchange but nothing with socks or bootees. 
Paddy is about 36cm (14") - but I can adjust the pattern, needles, etc.  It's the turning of the toe and heel bits that I just can't seem to remember.  I'll put a little message in your pm and would be ever so grateful - but please, at your convenience - absolutely no rush. And if you run out of time, don't worry.  It's taken me the best part of 3 months to get Paddy up to this stage.
Bear hugs
Kate

Hi all,
Bear-making has slowed down somewhat over the past few months but certainly not forgotten.  Would like to finish off some clothes for a St. Patrick's Day bear (well, I did say things had slowed down!) and need to knit a pair of socks to match his aran jumper.  The socks don't have to be an aran pattern, I'll just put in a cable up the outside.  Has anyone seen - or know of - a pattern for bear socks? 
I wonder if I could adapt a bootee pattern (there's a blast from the past) - has anyone done that?
Bear hugs
Kate

I have just had the most marvelous time reading all the messages on this thread.  I have a genetic form of arthritis which I control with Mobic (NSAID) + paracetamol.  At the moment, have a pinched nerve in lower back which makes walking or standing a very painful exercise.  Have just started on Glucosamine and also have some stronger (DD) medication which I keep only for night.
There's no doubt you get to feel pretty sorry for yourself at times - but this thread was filled with such interesting (and fun!) observations that I completely forgot my discomfort and now have some new things to try.
Thanks gals!
Kate :dance:  :dance:  :dance:  :dance:

And it was a lovely day wasn't it?  Ours was, and I hope all Aussies - wherever we all may be - had a great day.
Three cheers for the wide brown land!
Kate
:dance:  :dance:  :dance:  :dance:  :dance:

He is just what dreams are made of!  Beautiful!
Congrats
Kate
:clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

I've got a word or two to add to this topic too. 
Occasionally a bear is brought to 'life' with a character that just begs to be dressed.  Without even thinking, any such clothes are cut and sewn to be removable whenever necessary for cleaning, washing, etc.   While our bears should never (or hopefully never) come to grief at grubby handling, every fabric item can stand an occasional sprucing.  Yet, how often one picks up a pattern that suggests sewing the clothing directly to the bear!  In other words, by-passing the need to use elastic, buttons, velcro, etc.  I'm sure it must be a much more convenient way to get the 'perfect fit' but what about a couple of years down the track?
Perhaps I'm too fussy?! :doh:
Cheers everyone and a Happy New Year...
Kate

Yes, they are.  While I've bought a set of Baby Eyes - they're planned for use in a very plush synthetic because I'm not sure how far they'll pull in either.   I'm assured they will pull in but I can't see that it could be as far as those on a wire shank.  It should be possible - after the eyes are set and the head stuffed, to pull in around the eyes a bit further if needed by extra needle sculpting.  Has anyone tried this, does it work?   
I like Jenny's idea that you might be able to force a hole through the shank with a hot needle - it certainly could be worth a try.   Otherwise hand-painting the eyes to suit requirements might seem to be the go.  Some of the hand-painted eyes I've seen on TT have been quite beautiful.
Cheers
Kate

Hi Jenny,
Beary Cheap here in Australia have a line called "Baby Eyes" in their "Alive Eyes" range and they do have quite large pupils compared to the regular eyes.  However, the Baby Eyes seem only to come in 10, 12 or 14mm.  I bought a set in my last order - arrived a couple of days ago - they're quite lovely and I can't wait to use them.  One of these days I'll find enough time (and courage!) to create a set of hand-coloured eyes.  But in the meantime.....
Bear hugs,
Kate

I don't know about Patty, but I found your post most informative.  I've often wondered about cutting the gusset on the diagonal where the pile is 'offline' but have never been game enough.  I'm certainly going to try your suggestions.
Thanks, Ellen and
Cheers
Kate

How utterly delightful!  Beautiful job!
Kate

Congratulations, like your website very much indeed.   Am just in the throes of trying to build one by myself - having had very limited tuition, don't know how far I'll get - but if it turns out half as well as yours, I'd be very happy.  In fact, if it turns out at all, I'll be happy.
Cheers
Kate