Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Love it.

Thankyou all.  Love the idea of "Winky Wonky" but I will also try to use a mirror.

I must have wonky eyes, I have so much trouble achieving symmetry in the face.  Does anyone else have the same problem?

Fishing line works OK.

I stopped pinning, preferring to overcast by hand instead, as I was obviously not using the correct technique for pinning. the fabric moved and slipped. I am more used to dressmaking, and have found that techniques for teddy bears are very different. Thanks for the tips on correct pinning techniques. I will try with my next bear.

I have a Pfaff dual feed machine and used it recently on alpaca fabric. Even though I overcast the entire seam by hand first, I found that the fabric moved sideways, so that when I looked on the reverse side the seam allowance was very uneven ie, the stitching on the underside was way too close to the edge. I asked a Pfaff consultant about the problem at a quilt show and she said there was very little that could be done to rectify the problem.  I was not very pleased with the result but satisfied my curiousity by trying machine sewing out. By the way, the alpaca fabric was fairly spongy so I don't know if results would be different with a different fabric.  For dressmaking the Pfaff is excellent.

Is there any way I can download and save this tutorial to my computer for future reference?

Thankyou so much for a great tutorial.  The photos make it so explicit.  As they say, a picture paints a thousand words.

I'm about to restuff a teddy head for the third time in the quest for perfection and symmetry so I don't think your OCD is anything to worry about.

If you google "Monicasattictreasures" and find the link to the free tutorials, one is about closing back seams using ladderstitch.  You have to email Monica and ask for that tutorial which is excellent with close-up photos and detailed instructions.  Hope this helps.  BTW I have noticed that some ladder-stitch instructions involve a "horizontal" stitch ie paralled with the back opening, whilst others show a taking a stitch in the opposite (cross-wise) direction.
Hope this helps. Jan

Thanks for the tip Ariane.

Thanks for a great tip.

Hi everyone,
I am now on to my third bear which I am making up from a kit.  I have found that the footpad seems to be much too large for the foot. What is the best way to trim the footpad so that it will be a better fit. Should I trim 1mm ( at a time) around the whole perimeter of the footpad and test then try another 1mm or should I try to adjust the shape of the footpad.  Thanks, Jan 

Hi everyone

I was in a craft shop today and noticed a circular cutter in the quilting section. Has anyone tried to use this type of cutter instead of scissors for cutting out a bear pattern? I don't know if you could get enough control over the cutter to cut the small bends etc of a bear pattern with accuracy?

Thanks for the diagram of the surgeon's knot. I found a video of same but it was difficult to follow.  The diagram makes it clear.

I am praying for yuo and your son.

He is adorable.  I'm a novice and I hope to be able to make fabulous looking bears like yours sometime in the future.

Thanks for your help everyone.

I'm totally obsessed with bear making   I think I need some kind of intervention.  Is there a simple cure?  thanks

The knots I'm thinking about are the ones when using a double thread to attach the eyes, and the instructions say to tie the threads together.

What is the best type of knot to tie?  I tried using a reef knot but it tended slip.  When I googled reef knots the info I gleaned was that a reef knot is not a good one to use. Many thanks.

These are both great tips.  Thankyou.

Hello everyone

I'm new to bear making so please forgive such a dumb question, but how do you "anchor" the thread as stated in instructions in books etc.  Many thanks for sharing your expertise. People on this site are so generous.
Jan

Hello fellow bear lovers.  I am having trouble keeping my stitching really tight when backstitching.  Also can someone explain what a "stabbing" back stitch is ?  Many thanks.