Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Thanks everyone!

Well, the main reason I wanted to explore plastic instead of metal is that I'm too bad with tools such as screwdrivers, cotter keys, etc. I'm kind of afraid of using metal parts and tools. I know it's funny :)

I want to make thread jointed limbs, for sure, but I don't know what I'll use for the head.

Is it OK to make a collectible bear with a non-jointed, static head?

Thanks, but I heard you can't give children bears with metal jounts anyway, so you were right to give plastic, even if it broke They are called plastic safety joints anyway.

I just can't understand this: only bears for kids need to be able to stand wear and tear and still they must only be equipped with rather breakable plastic joints, but bears for collectors won't be subject for such sever use conditions, so why bother equipping them with metal joints anyway? Unless plastic rots or wears just with time and metal doesn't... In any case, why bother with screwing metal when you can just pop a plastic joint? I have a feeling they must be easier to use and, besides, metal is just something too cold and hard for a cuddly fluffy animal, isn't it? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

So what's the reason for using metal joints instead of plastic? Espacially on medium and small size bears?

Thanks again!

Hi,

Sorry for asking about this, I'm just a newbie.

All the time I see people use mostly cotter pin joints on their artist teddies.

However, don't you think metal is a bit "unfriendly"? Isn't it better to use plastic joints? Why do so few people use plastic? Do such joints stand the tests of time worse than cotter pins?

Does anyone use plastic joints on high-end collectible artist teddies? 

Also, does using plastic joints instead of cotter pins it lower the teddies' value or anything?

Thanks!!!

WOW! Thanks to everyone who replied! So much useful information!

Do bear designers use any pattern construction techniques as clothes pattern designers do? Well you know, like calculating all the measurments, etc?

I got the idea of polar fleece from a Russian bear making Livejournal community. Some people use it for "training" (like first bears), because it's rather cheap and widely available. It is stretchy and sometimes the shape of the head goes strange because of this.

I have a few pieces of stunning mohair, but I'm still afraid to cut it I have to order it from abroad (the US and Australia), so it becomes even more expensive.

Can felt be used instead of muslin? (I don't think I have any muslin in my house, I'll have to do some shopping).

I'm planning to use sparse and ultra sparse mohair. It's going to be a whimsical Japanese style teddy, so this type of fabric suits my sketch the best.

Shelli, nice to see you here too. I've checked your blog, how's your hand? Get well soon!

Thanks again everyone!!! I'll post some pics if I make something worth looking at Otherwise I'll have make amigurumi bears.

Thanks for you reply!

Gosh, I think I'm going to die that way LOL

Thank god I'm not trying it on mohair, I'm making them from fleece.

Have you even made your "test pattern", tried it on alternative inexpensive fabrics (like felt, fleece, etc) and it was fine, and when you finally cut it out of mohair and sewed it up it was all wrong?
How much risk is there when transferring a pattern to mohair after it's been tested on other fabrics?

Hi, I'm a newbie, nice to meet you all!

I have a question:

I've made a few sketches of my own bear designs. Now I want to make patterns based on my own sketches, but I can't get the head right.

The proportions always come out wrong and the head never looks exacly the same as I want it to look.

I've bought a book 101 Bears to Make, but it's not use when it comes to my problem.

Could you please share your head construction and design techniques? Thanks.

Also, do you make your patterns from scratch or drastically alter existing patterns to make your own? Thanks again!