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kraftyladies Oct 2, 2005

Hey guys,

I hope someone can help me.  When I attach my head onto my bear it seems like it is where it needs to be.  But once I joint the rest of the body and stuff it, they seem to end up looking at the sky as if looking for rain!!  What am I doing wrong? Any hints or tips on this would be greatly appreciated.

Bear hugs,
~Susan

Judi Oct 2, 2005

Susan, maybe you need to set your head farther forward on the body.  Aslo you could sew up part of the opening on the head at the back side.  This would bring the joint pin closer to the chin and may bring it down.
Hope this  helps.

Meri Bears (UK) Oct 2, 2005

Hi Susan

I have recently started to use wobble neck joints with cotter pins and I'm really pleased with the result but then I prefer a slightly down turned head. If you don't want the head too droopy just make the pins tighter.

Kate
x

Winney Oct 2, 2005

Susan, I had that problem when I first started...so now, I mark the body for the neck pin 1/4"  forward of the seam junction.

Then I hand stitch a " stop" first in back of that mark then leave about 1/4" unstitched for the pin... then stitch in front of that .

NOw...the head looks more natural...you can even try marking more forward for" slumpy"  looking bears... Winney

Shelli Retired Help Advisor, Banner SponsorOct 2, 2005

Susan, Judi's idea to place the awl hole for the head a bit more FORWARD makes sense to me.

Also, look at your body pattern pieces.  If you have a downward slope at the upper body, where the "neck" and "shoulder" would be, the head will naturally turn down a bit when jointed.  If the upper body line is straight across, it looks more forward.  And so on.

Good luck!

And... DARLING avatar duo, by the way!

kraftyladies Oct 2, 2005

Thanks everyone for your tips.  I have lowered the point where I put my pin in, but will lower a little more.  I will also look at the way I am doing my body part of my patterns and see if that is where part of problem is.  Trial and error with your advice, maybe I will figure it out. 

I appreciate all of your help!!  :D

Hugs,
Susan

Shelli Retired Help Advisor, Banner SponsorOct 2, 2005

What's interesting about your question, Susan, is that I had the opposite problem early on; my bears looked TOO down!  So trial and error, yes... Hope some of what you've read here will help!