Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I'm currently working on a miniature bear, and the pattern recommends using something called washer replacements for the limb joints, however I cannot find any information on these outside of the book I'm working on, and the company listed in the book doesn't appear to sell any bear making supplies anymore.
Does anyone know where to buy these joints, or what to use as substitute to get the same effect? They apparently make the limbs more poseable, as there ends up being an armature wire through the length of the limb.