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sarahjane Jul 2, 2006

Just wondering ...for those of you that pluck the muzzle of your bears, do you pluck before or after stuffing, and before or after sewing? I am just curious really as I have done it all ways and don't find any of them particularly easy.

I was wondering if one way was better than another.  :doh:

kbonsall Jul 2, 2006

I do after I sew the head together and after I stuff... I have a spare tweezer (that I use to pluck my eyebrows) that I use specifically for my bears 

Mutz Jul 2, 2006

I do both ways.  Sometimes before... sometimes after. I always try a practice piece first out of a scrap & then go from there. I also do the same if I use my electric razor.
TTFN
Amy

Delartful Bears Jul 3, 2006

When I first starting making bears, the thought of plucking before sewing and stuffing scared me terribly.  I had no idea how much I would need to pluck!

Now I pluck faces on all my bears, so I know how much to take off.  I find pucking before I sew, after it's cut the best way.  This way you don't get yucky hairs left in the seam, I also find it comes out of the backing much easier before it's sewn.

Hope this helps!
Danni

jenny Jul 3, 2006

I do mine after stuffing...but then again I only pluck the nose area. I use tiny pliers to pluck the hairs..I find that my tweezers are too hard to grip and then it takes ages but my little pliers do the job easily.

I would be very scared to pluck or clipper before sewing and stuffing as I can't see how I'd know what bits to pluck till I see the bear almost complete....what if I wanted more fur on the face and I'd already plucked it?

Marion Jul 3, 2006

I pluck after the stuffing too with tiny hemostats :). I just never know how much I will pluck before stuffing. In fact I pluck little by little, an pluck more when I put the eyes on for example.
Bear hugs,
Marion  :hug:

Chowlea Bears Jul 3, 2006

Yep - I'm with the others - pluck after stuffing....................
Sounds like bad advice for the Christmas Turkey........... :crackup:

Judi Jul 3, 2006

Sounds like bad advice for the Christmas Turkey........... :crackup:

:crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:

I have not done much plucking but I have tried it both ways.  I have found that it can be difficult to get the hairs in the seam to I try to pluck that area beofre sewing...but not too much as I don't want to go too far.

sarahjane Jul 3, 2006

Sounds like bad advice for the Christmas Turkey........... crackup

:crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:

I think I might try a little of both and do the seams before sewing ( I hate trying to get those pesky little hairs out of the seam!!!!  :twisted: ) then the rest after stuffing as I never know how much I'm going to pluck.

Jellybelly Bears Jul 8, 2006

Hi Sarah
I do the same as the rest...I stuff first then pluck...I do this because I never know what will look best on the finished bear...if you pluck it all out then realise you wanted hair!!!  yikes! Can't put it back!
I always trim the seams tho as this gives a really good finish.  I think that plucking is easier once the bear is stuffed too as the fabric is taut.

matilda Jul 10, 2006

Sounds like bad advice for the Christmas Turkey........... :crackup:

:crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:

I trim my seams around the muzzle before sewing. It makes neater seams that way. But I wait until I stuff to see what really needs doing. I'm known for changing my mind. (big grin)

Wendy