Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Thank you Sue Ann! I've removed the ears and will try again! This is exactly what I was after!

OH! How sweet is he?!?! What a great face! The size is really perfect! Well done! 

Thanks, Becky! I opened the arms back up, removed some of the stuffing, reclosed and then put the buttons on. I'll have to take another picture - it looks better! That's a great idea for buttons down the front - think I'll pick up a button card when I go to town this week!

The eyes on your avatar bear are fantastic! That bear's face is just incredibly sweet! Do you use a larger eye on your bears?

Thank you Sue Ann~! It's a wonderful wonderful pattern! I really enjoyed crafting the bear and just wish I had "trusted" the placement of the arms - it seemed so low. I feel dumb. Can't wait to try this in the mohair!

I'm looking forward to seeing your ear illustration!

Thank you Becky and Richard! Your words and tips are really helpful!

I read and read and read all over this forum for different techniques and tricks - there was one thread in particular that really helped me with the foot pads! I sewed those by hand. And velvet is so slippy, not sure I would use velvet again.

I had my husband look at the joints and he says there is no way to take them apart without damage and I live VERY rurally and can't make it to town for more until later this week. They could be too small....hmmm....I've got some fiberboard/screws/nuts on order for this size. And some mohair!!! *scared but excited*

Does everyone sculpt the face before setting the eyes? I did not do that....

Yep, I can see the ears are going to take practice. Should I put the upper edge on/against the head gusset seam?

I think I'm going to take the buttons from the overcoat and sew them onto the joints as "fakes" and see if I can pull the arms in a bit tighter....

Yay! I finished my first bear this morning! It was great fun! A HUGE shout out and thanks to dangerbears for her help and encouragement. And thank you to SueAnn for her wonderful (and free!) pattern for "Goldie".

I did not have any mohair so I recycled a thrift-store purchased top end wool overcoat.

Here he is and he's far from perfect but I think I've gotten past the worst of the learning curve now. As you can see I opted to totally ignore the pattern instructions for reasons I will never understand and I set the arms too high.          I used plastic safety joints and I have no idea if it is possible to break those apart and try again.

I'm also struggling with ear placement and you can clearly see THAT issue - any tips or suggestions?

Other than that, I'm pretty happy with this little guy. I can see now that he needs more embroidery done on his upside-down triangle nose. I also set and reset the glass eyes about a million times because wow it's hard to get that just right expression. 

If I can't reset the arms....I think I'll knit him a red muffler! ;)

I really am enjoying this new-to-me craft and this forum is fantabulous!!!

Thank you both so much! Very nearly done now - pictures soon.

SueAnn ~ I LOVE LOVE LOVE your work! Do you have any tips or tutorials on how you set those fabulous ears?

  Okay....this is going to be embarrassing, I'm sure, but here goes. I'm working on the Goldie and it's a great size and great fun! However....I'm confused about one thing and I've got the head pieces cut out for two heads so that I can do the right thing. The "Goldie" gusset seems to be calling for the direction of the fur opposite to what would seem obvious. Unless I'm looking at the gusset backwards? There are no indicating letters on the gusset as to which piece goes towards the muzzle. I've sewn it up with the bulbous end being in the muzzle and the squared end being at the neck....but I'm not sure that is correct.

HELP!!

TIA. 

I've got the "Traditional Teddy Bears" in the mail right now!!! Looking very forward to that. And the "Goldie" pattern is pretty much exactly what I'm after - so now I'm waiting for mohair from Intercal.

I really really appreciate the comments and tips - everyone is so friendly here!

While I'm waiting for the right tools to begin, I'm wondering about recycled fabric....think I'll go do a "search".

Thank you Becky! I will go look for Goldie! I understand what you're saying about floppiness - but isn't there an identifiable difference in regards to "vintage"? Longer arms, three-piece head? I'm so new to this and just trying to sort it as I go along. I wish there was a class in my area.

Guh. Getting a bit discouraged with the mini sized - I do NOT know why I thought mini would be a good place to learn bear making!    Midi is moderately better - I'm in love with 5" - 7" but there are still frustrations.

I've decided I just need to try a larger bear or rabbit. I don't necessarily want a "free pattern" but would love links to downloadable patterns for vintage-looking, floppy, say 10" - 15" bears or rabbits! I'm looking for a size that could be sewn on a machine rather than by hand.

Thank you everyone - such a friendly group and forum!!! I really appreciate you all taking the time to respond and link.

I have been emailing sites and asking for help with the materials. It's just a frustrating "extra step" when it seems that a materials list would be so effective!

I've got several kits on the way - yay!!!

Thank you so much! 

I am in the US.

I am mostly drawn to the slouchy, vintage-looking bears/rabbits. I'm also really loving the sparse mohair look. And plain boot button style eyes! I would LOVE to find a kit or two to get me started!

I do realize that the bears get their individual "looks" from the creator's choices, but there must be some generalities in regards to joints, eyes and fabric sizing....isn't there?

Hello ~!

Brand new to bear making and I realize that once I really jump into this AMAZING craft....all of my questions will be made clear. However, for someone just starting out and having to order everything sight-unseen on-line....I really have found myself stumped.

It would be WONDERFUL if reputable sites that sell patterns and materials would also list the "materials list" for individual patterns so that a shopper could purchase what is necessary. I hate waiting!    But I'm not finding any sites like that....so, do I just order the pattern and once it has arrived, log back in and order the materials???

Specifically, I'm struggling with:

joint sizes
eye sizes
mohair pile sizes

Uh, that's just about every aspect of the bear, isn't it? 

Are there "general guidelines" to certain sized critters? Say, a 7" bear takes X size joints and X size eyes and probably would work best with X pile????

Help!