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For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
I'm definitely a lock nut and set screw fan. With large joints that have 1/4" set screws I do often have to use channel lock pliers to hold the ends of the Allen wrench because my poor fingers don't have the strength to hold it steady while turning the nut. 1/8" set screws are a breeze! You can buy sets of 10 discs and 5 screw/nut units from Edinburgh - enough for 5 joints in a packet.
Sue
So sweet! Just the right amount of previous loving is indicated, and the colors are perfect!
Sue
This is the second bear I've made for the EbearZ sculpting class. After doing one in mink I moved on to a 1" tipped alpaca. I love big bears, so I designed this one to be 22" - and VERY stout! Because of the plastic pellets in her belly and legs she weighs in at over 2 kilos. Although quite husky, she's definitely a girl. Her name is Big Momma. She's an ample armful of hugs!
Sue
Richard -
All that worrying for nothing! He's adorable! I love his back stitches and his overall shape. And his expression is so sweet. Keep it up!
Sue
Adorable! :clap: :clap: :clap:
I can't imagine any adopter not being thrilled to have him. I'll bet Oliver's sweet as he can be!
Sue
I'm in! Super tutorial - well worth the subscription price. Thanks, Alison!
Sue
Alison -
I have the subscription and it shows up in my account summary, but I can't seem to get the tutorial to load. Is there a trick? Am I missing a link or an icon?
Thanks,
Sue
Wow! :clap: :clap: :clap: You haven't lost your touch, for sure! I love the earring, the colors, the eyes, the ribbon ... EVERYTHING! Well done - Leggo's going to be treasured for a long time at your house.
Sue
Nutria is a rodent, a cousin to the beaver. So Scruffy is made from real fur/skins, with all the extra work that entails. Nutria skin is rather spongy, so thread will pull through it if it's stressed. The jacket he came from was made in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It must have been a quality garment, judging from the extensive hand work inside. It was even interlined in red satin, in addition to the lovely brown embroidered lining and flannel inner lining. The pelts were in fairly good shape but the jacket was small. So laying out the pattern pieces was challenging. In addition, the sleeves were made from pelts sewn on the diagonal, making them suitable for inner arms, ears and his tail only. Every piece is lined with muslin, which I prefer to baste on rather than using glue. Seam allowances for such a long fur need to be trimmed and carefully picked out.
So the short answer to your question is that the nutria was very time-consuming compared to working with mohair. But, of course, well worth it in the end! (TMI ?;) )
Sue
Aww - thanks, Raewyn. I should mention that this is a 20" bear, so the length of the fur really is impressive.
Sue
Richard -
I'm just a beginning bear maker, but for what it's worth the first bear pattern I purchased actually directed that the head be placed on the bias! And it turned out beautifully, so I wouldn't worry too much. If your mohair has a nice firm backing and you're mindful about stuffing I don't think you'll have a problem.
Sue
I've had a nutria jacket that just cried out to be an old fashioned bear with its golden color. So for my final "Designing Teddy" EbearZ class I tried my hand at designing one. He had to have a substantial schnozz, a nice broad head and a hump (of course!)
The guard hairs on nutria are very long and coarse. I cut the body with some of the longest and got a really wild effect over the hump. I trimmed on top of the nose gussett, but not down to the hide since there are lots of seams there. The rest of the face is pretty much au naturel. I rather like the fuzziness of the face, so I've held off on further trimming. One of my co-workers said, "That's one scruffy bear!" And so, "Scruffy" became his name.
There was a really luxe lining in the jacket from which I planned to make a bow for him. But given how he turned out, a spiked collar may be more appropriate. 
Sue
Cute as can be! :clap: What a sweet expression! I, too, like the rich contrast with the paw pads.
Sue
I sent a sample to Nancy Tillberg and here's what she said:
I got home from the police college and celebrated Easter with the family, and have just opened my mail this morning. I've got the fur sample that you sent.
I'd have to say that it's Nutria or a mutation thereof.
1. The backing is light and slightly spongy, typical of the South American animal.
2. The guard hairs are a golden shade, and very coarse; typical of the Nutria. However, in the swatch that you sent me, most of the guard hairs have been shorn away, leaving only short, golden hairs. These would have been much longer on the animal.
3. The fur is not as dense as the North American Beaver.
Regardless of the exact species of South American Beaver, I am certain it is not the fur of a typical North American Beaver.
So, there's nothing like having your hands in it! I'm designing a pattern this week for a bear from another (for-sure) nutria jacket - long guard hairs and all.
Sue
Thanks, Becky! He is quite huggable. There's very little that's softer than sheared beaver! It makes my mohair feel quite scratchy by comparison>
Sue
