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Bumpkin BearsI don't know why but I can't seem to get the head placement right on new patterns I've been trying out. My bears often end up looking slightly up rather than straight forward or down as I would prefer. I'm not sure if it is the place I'm putting the head joint or if I'm not getting the shape of the body quite right. I am wanting to create a slightly more realistic bear shape with a good full belly. I have previously left a small gap between stiching the body up for the neck joint, but I am not sure where to do it so now I make a small hole just to the side of the body seam to place the joint. However doing this I seem to be getting the head looking slightly lopsided then...
After all this time I really should have the hang of this, but it seems to be stumping me... I'm having a bit of a frustrating time in my life at the moment :crackup: 
so would really like it if my bears cooperated a bit 
Any tips?
THANKS
Big hugs
Catherine
xx
Does the top of the body (at the neck area) angle down slightly at the front toward the chest? I find that the more it angles down...when I tighten the joint...the head begins to angle upwards to get straight on the fabric. I have even eneded up with a bit of fabric being a bit scrunched under the joint area... annoying.... .... perhaps you could try less of an angle on the top of his body next time....see if it helps a bit...don't know for sure that it will...but... maybe....
I happen to like my bears looking up as they appear so ..uhm.... innocent looking then ... and I like that in a bear.
Bumpkin BearsHi Veronica, THANKS, I do know what you mean about a bear looking rather endearing looking up, it works on my cuter style, but I am trying to make a more older beary bear and so wanted him to look more straight on.
YES, my body pattern does go down at the front, I figured that having this slope would mean the head would tilt down too and thus the eye line. Thank you for pointing this out, I'll try less of an angle next time. It is frustrating when you come out of the comfort zone of trusted patterns when trying something new and doesn't work!
Hugs
Catherine
x
BrisbaneCatherine I have this problem a lot too, now I always place my heads further forward than where I think they should be (if that makes sense) so far this seems to have solved the problem. Before I was placing the head right on top of the body or just slightly forward.
Flying Fur StudiosI hear ya, I've had troubles with that as well.
I leave an opening in my seam on the body, or else it also goes lopsided for me.
Play with the angle of the body, and the bottom the head. But worse case senario (one I've done many times) is to needsculpt it. I have made a bear or two that looked up, so I started to take in some stitches and that fixed it right up.
Clear as mud I know........
