Banner Sponsors
For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
BrisbaneHow long does it take you to make a bear from start to finish...I have no real reason for asking this I am just curious...(or nosy)
It takes me about 3 days or longer so I'm thinking I'm incredibly slow....or need a lot of play time
Bears by Jodi
TEE HEE :crackup: Some times 4 to 5 hours, some times 3 months !!!!! Depends or LIFE !!!! When I made 10 to 24 inch bears years ago it took about 5 to 6 hours from cut out to finish. Some times I would make 3 in a day . But you know, making bears is therapy to me now, I just enjoy it and it makes me feel better. Selling or trading is just a bonus. And gifting is a blessing. So I wouldn't stress over the time, just enjoy
BrisbaneOh I'm not stressing Jodi...just curious really!!! 
Sometimes I see some fabulous bears that I think must take hours and thay don't take as long as you'd think.....and others take forever...I know what you mean about life!! 
Bears by Jodi BrisbaneThank you Jodi she took me about a week....I must have dressed her about 5 times!!!
Kim-Bee BearsDepends on how motivated I am to get the bear done LOL... Anywhere from around 6 to as long as maybe 2 weeks....
Wild Thyme OriginalsI don't think I've ever finished one in under a week! 
EVER! But with my other responsibilities I generally work five minutes here, 20 minutes there, etc..... Actually, I really wish I knew how long it took, in a real measurement of hours... that would be interesting!
Kim Basta
Dolls N DreamsHi, it usually takes me about 2-3 days to cut out , sew up, finish , take pics and list! Maybe I'm slow! But I do take a lot of TEDDY TALK breaks
The Teddy Patch/Bear NecessitiesGood question ... I think it depends on lots of factors. One's mood often makes a difference too. Oh, and don't forget the mood of the bear too! Every once in awhile (I'm sure everyone has experienced this) you'll come across a bear that just won't cooperate! He just wants to be who he wants to be no matter how you insist otherwise. In those cases, it will take forever unless you just let him have his way! Once you give in, he'll be finished in no time! On average, in answer to your question, it takes me between 15-20 hours start to finish for an average sized (10-12 inch) bear.
Laurie Lou BearsI completely hand sew mine from start to finish and I am a bit of a slow worker.I work on the bears a few hours in the afternoon and sew them up during the evening.Mind you I am lucky if I finish one in a week on a 15-17 inch bear.I can't be rushed as it would take the fun out of making them.
Laurie :hug:
Terries BearsThat is a good question and I really don't know. I work on several bears at the same time and they are all at different stages. I like to alternate between the little ones ( 2-4") and the bigger ones ( 6-8") because I find it much easier on my hands & eyes. Right now I have 4 that I am working on.
Posts: 3,540I wish I could go that fast! Mine normally take about two weeks to complete. If its a heavier fur, like raccoon, it takes roughly two and a half weeks to finish. The worst was the mouton (sheepskin) those took me two MONTHS to complete! And boy was my hand tired!
That's start to finish times, though. It can take me up to a full day just to 'gut' a coat, then another full day to get the pieces cut out, muslin pieces cut out, marked and ready. I'm also a handsewer, so it does take me a lot longer to sew the pieces. But there's no way the sewing machine :twisted: and I can agree on what a teddy's supposed to look like...so that option is out 
Chaska, MinnesotaSarajane: Well it takes me at least a month if not more to make a bear. Teddy bear making is a hobby for me and I don't sell my bears. I sew on the weekends only (if I feel like it) for my job has me working long hours. So the weekends are my only down time to work all my hobbies.
Michelle
Real Deal BearsI actually set a stop clock to 7 hours, and each time I took a break I would stop the clock and restart it once I started again. I think I was doing a 5" bear at the time. It took just over the seven hours straight.
BUT... that was straight sewing. You never count the times you stand back and look and ponder on how your bear will look.
The thing is we don't manufacture our bears.
They come from our creative minds and souls, so I think it really had taken me all my life to create that one bear.
Jellybelly BearsI've just finished pricing all my bears correctly including work time so I know this one It takes me around 15 hours for a normal bear, and up to 25 for fairy or more complicated. Days.... depends on how I'm feeling, but usually 5
BrisbaneI've just finished pricing all my bears correctly including work time so I know this one
Aren't you organised!!! 
I must admit that I asked this because I thought it would take me about 8-10 hours, to complete a bear, but when I started my last one I then realised that after 8 hours I had just completed the head!!! ...so they obviously take me a lot longer than I thought.....Sarah the times you gave sound about the same for me...I think I'll time the next one just for interests sake...
Flying Fur StudiosLOl
man, it takes me about 2 months to make a bear, although I really wonder how many hours. I would say 15-20 perhaps. I spend lots of time just looking at the bear, decided what I want to do.
i like the stop watch idea, if I could only turn off the TV in my studio, maybe I could get even more work done.
Back Road BearsWell, if I put my mind to it I can make 3 in one week.
But I'm never as happy with those as I am the ones I take my time on.
And I do count some of the time I sit there just gazing at the pile of body parts or unsculpted head trying to see the finished bear. That IS part of making the bear and as long as I'm not abusing that gazing/creative time I count it! So..... probably about 12-15 hours. That doesn't count pattern design.
fribbles, ltd...Mine take approximately 5-6+ hours to create, sometimes longer---depends on if I'm trying new techniques and a new design, or if they are being obstinate! =)
Amelia
Chowlea BearsOh My - I am so slow - it takes me at least a month if not longer. :redface:
I don't know how you Ladies can work on multiple bears at the same time - I can just envisage the chaos that would cause me if I tried - wrong bits attached and so on. :crackup:
I like to take my time ( I'm striving to make the technically perfect bear) - and its personality sort of develops as I work. Bet that sounds daft......... :doh:
Matilda Huggington-beareMY goodness I must be slow. It must take me 80 - 100 hours of solid work to finish a bear/critter from pattern design to ready for photo shoot. A shoot and editing with graphics will take 38 - 48 hours.extra. None of this is counting the hours that I put it aside to gaze at to see if it is correct and pleasant from all angles.
I do hand stitch everything and paint eyes .........etc.............etc........
I must admit, I'm very gentle with my babies. I never 'shove' the stuffing in. :crackup: as I have seen a friend do to her bears. She always makes me wince :redface:
Wendy 
It usually takes me 1 - 2 weeks to make one bear, although I do hand stich everything. I work full time, so I sew whenever I get time to do it.
Real Deal Bearsi like the stop watch idea, if I could only turn off the TV in my studio, maybe I could get even more work done.
Oh TV is allowed Just have to watch you don't prick your fingers.
Sometimes I can do three in a week if you don't count designing.
That takes up a huge amount of time.
Sometimes I spend a couple of weeks on designing alone untill I produce a design I am happy with.
The stop watch was just to see how long it would take to actually sew up a standard 5" bear.
IF I just counted working time.... my basic bear would take about 8 hours to complete I think.....
But I can never work on one for 8 hours straight... one thing... I get distracted easily... 
Later I found that was a good thing because I need to change positions frequently for my back. The first time I hurt it was when I was "being good" and working on bears all day long straight for several days...
Cleathero CreationsI take about 12 - 14 hours but that can be stretched over weeks and weeks and it also depends on the details!!
