Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I think you have the basic ideas correct but I would try a few changes that may help.

First use a calico or tightly woven cotton fabric to do your draping and make sure you place the fabric with the grain of the fabric in line with, say, the centre line down the head. If you are using a paper towel it has no grain line and therefore when you transfer it to the fabric you don't know where the grain lines are. This is important as depending on where you cut your pieces the shape of the pattern  will change. If you cut a piece on the diagonal then it will stretch and therefore you will fit in more stuffing, maybe where you don't want it.

Secondly I would use the same fabric to make your pattern pieces as I think muslin is too fine and therefore will distort your pattern shapes when stuffed. Make sure you lay the pieces you have draped on exactly the same grain lines  when cutting the pattern piece . You will have to mark this on your paper pattern

I myself have struggled with the rabbit head but keep going just be patient and I'm sure you'll get there.
Hope this helps
Shelly.

Oh thanks everyone ..... I'm actually going to start on the range for Hugglets  soon.  I like to be ahead of the game,  and do you remember the Brownie motto 'Be prepared' ...ooh that takes me back !!

Hi

I just wanted to say I've received confirmation of my place at Hugglets for Feb '09.

This will be my first time at Hugglets and I'm really excited.

It will be two years since I first visited Hugglets, my first bear show,  and I'd just started making my rabbits. I remember meeting Paula 'All Bear' and Yvonne 'Bebbin Bears' who I'd chatted to on another forum and  I did see lots of other people but at the time they didn't mean anything to me, but now I know a lot of them.

I particularly remember seeing Kelly Deans wonderful creations, and Samantha Potters bears.

So I will look forward to going to Hugglets next year and being on the other side of the table.

Shelly

I saw the first mouse you ever made on your website  and I'm so glad you decided to make another ....... a great success.  I see a family emerging . By the way are those individual pieces on the fingers ? I'm gasping now if they are.

Super job ! :clap:  :clap:
Shelly.

I find that the trimmers can be easy to use where the fur is lying from top to bottom,   but when you then have to do the lower edge of the pattern piece and the fur is overhanging.....that's the awkward bit 

Here , here Lynne!!

Now that sounds more like it. I haven't seen one that narrow, so I'll look out for one.

I don't think your alone in that thought!!!!

I think it may be called 'plush felt' . A lady I know asked me about it a while ago and I'd never heard of it but she was making a blanket for a baby.
I went on ebay and found some there. I've just been on ebay now and if you put 'plush felt' in you can get to see a photo . She ended up buying it.

Hope this helps !
Shelly

Thanks for all the replies !! At least I'm not the only one who doesn't enjoy doing it and I'm not missing out on some wonderful technique!!

I did buy some trimmers a while a go and they are OK but you do need control. It didn't make a huge difference to me but I will wait for Aleta's photos just in case she has a secret skill!

From now on when ever I'm trimming my seams I'll picture you all doing the same  :dance:

When I make my rabbits I cut out the pattern and then trim the fur back 5mm on the edge to allow for a less  bulky seam. It's a tip I read about when I first started making rabbits. 

You do get a better finish I think  and I have tried not doing it but if you get the fur trapped, you can end up with gaps in the stitching which is really annoying.

I just wanted to check that this is what makers generally do.

It is the part I dislike the most and find it's very time consuming.

So if I have missed out on an alternative way of doing it, or if you don't do it , can you let me know or give me some advice?

Many thanks

Shelly.

Wow .......give Wayne a big pat on the back ! He's done a superb job and has really connected with the 'Three oclock Bears' image. Very stylish :clap:

Glad you like Percy .... he thinks a lot of himself too !!

Thanks for taking the time to comment... glad you like them !!

Perfect for Halloween !! :clap:  :clap:

Here are last from an order I've been making
The first one is 'My Teddy !!'
Alistair with the jacket  and Pip carrying the hat !

Thanks everyone I'm glad you like him    

This is Percy, made for an order !! A bit of a Dandy!

They have obviously taken notice of your emails  Jenny !!  

I just went to find out what it was that you were talking about as I didn't really understand. So I followed the process and I think I've found it . On my page it's still listed under dolls and bears , here's the link http://pulse.ebay.com/index/237_1     I may be wrong but I thought you might like to see.
Shelly.

Well Jane I hadn't seen any of the parties and so went in search ...........all I can say is  I AM EXTREMELY JEALOUS OF JENNY JOHNSON !!!!

Standing there with Donny Osmond... well really !! Next time you'd better make sure it's me or there will definitely be complaints !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We humans can be  very strange sometimes when a comment by someone who we don't know...... or don't really care for........... can have such an effect on us, especially when we can see there is so much positive energy coming from the people we do care for.  I think we all have done it sometime or other.

Do yourself a list, negative oneside, positive the other and you'll be able to see it clearly in front of you. So don't let someone's negative comment take up anymore of your brain space and take on board all the lovely things people have said about you.

I think you do a wonderful job sending out all the cards and the photos, and although I haven't ever really met you in person, you must be very special with all the lovely things people say about you .

Best wishes
Shelly x

Thanks Jane for all the effort we all really appreciate it  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

I can't begin to know how you must be feeling.... it just makes your heart sink.

I hope everything gets back to normal for you as soon as possible.

Best wishes
Shelly

It all looks pretty perfect to me .....and very English ! :clap:

Hi

Bangers are sausages ......and mash is mashed potatoes.

I'm from Lancashire and we would have a pile of mashed potatoes with sausages on top and  gravy. Sometimes you will see photos of the sausages sticking on there ends out of the mash.

Simple but tasty ! http://static.flickr.com/1/125099787_c13a245328.jpg