Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Phew!  I'm so glad that I'm  the only one that has this problem!

I do use lots of pins, and as I'm sewing, I frequently check to make sure that the fabric isn't bing pushed forward so that it "bubbles" under the first pin.

For one pattern, I had the gusset come up short on BOTH sides by about 0.24" - and this was on a small bear, only about 6" high!  I checked with the artist who had designed the pattern, and she double checked that the gusset sides were in fact the correct measurements, and of course they were fine. She asked if I had cut the gusset on the bias, but I hadn't.  I created another head from the same pattern, but adding an extra 0.25" - 0.50" to the tail end of the gusset, and everything was fine!

The funniest thing about it is that head has stuffed perfectly, no twisty or less supple seams causing an imbalanced head, when stuffed, and the 0.25" issue for the gusset running too short is the same amout on a big bear head as it is on a little one!  That really puzzles me...

Oh well!  Perhaps I need my sewing box exorcised?! ;)

Cheers and good night  - oh, er, good morning to everyone!

Brenda

... that depending on which seam you're working on, and whether you're right-handed or left-handed, that your fabric seams may not end up equal?

Its weird:  I start off with exact fabric pieces based on the pattern - I'm very particular about it.  I am left-handed, so when I sew a backstitch by hand, the top edge of the 2 pieces of fabric is at the top of my hand, and I am stitching towards the right.

Don't know why, but after completion, the left seam of the gusset and side piece ends up about 0.25" longer than the right sewn gusset seam!  I even tried forcing myself to sew the right hand gusset seam as if it were the left (so the edge of the 2 pieces of fabric together was at the bottom, not at the top, in my hand) and it was still the same.

What the..... ? 

Has anyone else had this happen to them?

Is there a handy trick to correcting this? Is it caused by stitch tension? Or MY tension (trying to sew a perfect seam - I should try it after  a martini or two and see if it still happens!)

I know how to change the tension of my knitting by changing needles, and on my sewing machine, but don't know how to do this!

OK, newbies probably ask the weirdest questions.

THANK YOU and Bless you, Teddy Bear People, One and All :)

teddyretirementhome

Hi everyone!

Success:  I spent hours sewing (picking out stitches that weren't perfect and resewing) the whole head by hand, and its worked out perfectly.  This is for a big bear - 18"+, so the head is much bigger than what I've done before.

With Babelfish I was able to translate a few basics - start at the nose first, it stressed, for the neck/chin seam.  I took the angles literally on the nose, however,  sewing each side at the same time and found that it has given me a perfect nose!

Stuffed the head with excelsior today, and its great.  Can't post it yet as the rest of the bear has to be done and the mohair I have used is a wonderful long, dense, wavy antique blue - the backing looks exactly like denim, so imagine a smoky version of that! - and so the nose will have to be seriously clipped and plucked, when ready.

I noticed in the photos of the original Bing bear that the arms seemed shorter than I expected, so I blew up the arm pattern pieces by 15% and the proportions are more suitable.

I really appreciate everyone's help and the time you've taken to help a newbie out!

Cheers and thanks

Brenda
teddyretirementhome

Hi!

Thanks so much - the reason I ask is:

(a) the pattern instructions are in German only

and

(b) if I start with the gusset and sew each head side piece on to it, then part of the depth of the muzzle (the chin) will be eaten up by the seam allowance for the triangular nose tip. Can't tell/not sure if the pattern has compensated for that, from the look of the pattern. I've even cut this all out on plain cotton to try it out but am stumped on this one thing!

I appreciate your patience - I know I didn't word it very well :)

SO - do the little slasshes at the corner of the pattern indicate that is the place to start sewing first?  Gosh!  Is there a list of sewing pattern symbols (like editorial symbols for mark-up)?  That would be great! 

Believe it or not, I can actually sew, just can't really read a pattern to save my life!!

Cheers and thanks

Brenda

Hello!

I'm really new to making my own bears, and I appreciate all of your help and patience! :)

I have a pattern of a Bing Bear.  It shows the end of the nose in a hard line triangle/point on the gusset pattern - the actual mohair cloth, there are not any curves to it.

I haven't sewn this sort of nose/mussle yet, and before I start into stitching the mohair, I need to ask:

- do I literally sew the end bits of each side of the head/nose TO these angled lines on each side of the point of the tip to the gusset, or

- do I sew the neck to nose seam right up to the top and then when sewing the gusset, add the nose to the top edge of the 2 head pieces where they join at the nose/mussle?

Aside from this pattern, how do you get a nice squared off nose (old Farnell style)?

Cheers and thanks!

Brenda

He's about 6" tall.

I adore his bears!  Does he have a mailing list for when his creations may be available?   

Brenda
(teddyretirementhome)

Hello!

I've been working my way through some patterns for small bears I have, and have even had fun modifying them to make my very "own" bear.

Now its time!  Does anyone know of a great pattern for a Classic Bear (early Steiff, etc.) with a Center Seam?  Quite happy to purchase, although freebies are always great for baby steps experimenting! Once I try the first pattern, I'll be able to create my own.  Just haven't ever made one before and would like to see how its done.

Would really appreciate any pattern suggestions!

Brenda
teddyretirementhome

Ridley is gorgeous.  I want him!!

Update:

Uline is in Canada as well, and they ship either via UPS or Canada Post.  Their customer service is WONDERFUL, and my 5 lbs of undyed fine aspen excelsior is on its way to me right now!

If anyone in Canada is looking for excelsior, I highly recommend them - and their prices are lower, even with shipping, than the specialty craft stores.

Cheers and thanks to everyone for your help! :)

Brenda
teddyretirementhome

Hi

If you don't have excelsior to stuff/pack a teddy nose so that it holds its shape and can be embroidered easily without losing its shape, what do you use to stuff it with in its place?

Cheers and thanks!

Brenda
teddy retirement home

Thanks so much, everyone!

Strangely, the Michael's around here don't have any.  I've tried shipping supply places, too, but no luck, so far.  I'll keep at it!

S'Truth:  I even contacted a couple of local taxidermy stores as they use it to stuff "things", and boy, did I get some weird answers!  One fellow told me he takes it out of another place's garbage, and he wouldn't tell me who or what kind of company's garbage he was pilfering because he didn't want his supply to dry up cos I might get there before his next visit!  I'm so glad I didn't go in person to his shop to speak with him.... I think he might be an alien :)

What do people use to produce nice, hard noses for their bears that keep their shap perfectly and are easy to embroider?

Cheers and thanks

Brenda aka teddy retirement home

Its crazy, but I have been looking for over 2 months and have not been able to find a Canada source for excelsior!  I live in Toronto, shipping is fine, but everyone says they've been out of it and out of it for awhile.

How can this be? 

Has anyone else experienced this, or have a tip on how to get some?

If you work without it, what do you use to pack a teddy nose nice and tightly, and to create a slightly crackly feel to the bear's body?

I usually use a mixture of polyfill, excelsior a bit of shot or pellets to weight the bear here and there.

There are 6 bears' sets of body parts lying around my workroom and its like I can't finish until I can get some darned wood wool!  (The other bears in the house are looking at me like I'm a serial killer because of the state of their friends - they seem to forget I'm putting them together, not taking them apart!)

Hope someone can help!

Cheers and thanks

Brenda
Teddy Retirement Home