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That's pretty much it. I want to make a bent-leg bear pattern and haven't done so before so I'm looking for help with a bent leg design.
Specifically:
1. Do you joint the legs in a different spot if the bear has bent legs?
2. It looks, to my eye anyway, like bent legs are proportionally longer than straight legs for the same bear would be. Am I crazy or is this actually the case... that the thightop-to-sole measurement is longer for bent legs than straight ones would be for the same sized bear?
3. Is there any "magic" -- darts, needle sculpting -- you do to give your bent legs shape?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Shelli, I have not done a lot of bent legs... but some.
For ME......
the joint was in the same place
YES - technically... if the leg was "straightened out" it would be longer
No.. I didn't use darts... but my bent legged bears were kinda small -- 6-8" 
Apple Dumpling DesignsI've only done ONE bent leg and was quite happy with it. I have no idea why I haven't done another.
I used my original leg pattern and then Nancy Tillberg's directions on page 118 (101 Bears to Make) to "shape shift" the pattern to the shape I wanted and redrew a new leg pattern.
Have fun!!!
Ooh, great idea! Of course I have that book in my collection; it's one of us bearmaker's how to reference necessities! Thanks, Laura & Shantell!
Apple Dumpling DesignsI was off looking for picture...I think you can sort of see what I ended up with. I really didn't take a very good photo of his bent leg. I did the same thing with the arms..."shape shifting".
He's sitting flat in this photo but when seated on something like a shelf or books his little legs actually hang with his toes pointed in a more natural direction.
Tami Eveslage Original Teddy Bears1. You can use different joint placement or the same, depending on how you want the bear to sit. If you move the leg placement down toward the bottom of your torso pattern, your bear will have legs that splay out a bit at the knees, and depending on the lenth of the legs you could cross them at the ankles when he sits.
2. Yes, it is often true that bent-legged bears (and bent-armed bears too for that matter) have disproportionally longer limbs. You might want to have bent arms and legs so they match.
3. Darts can always be used to create bends, although it may not be necessary if you can create the bend with the two side pieces. I've never used darts to bend the legs but I do use them to get the paws to turn inward.
Tami Eveslage Original Teddy BearsGood example, Shantell. I haven't done one for a long time and the only bear that fits the bill is in my brother's possession.
Wild Thyme OriginalsHi Shelli! I do A LOT of bent legged bears! 
Sometimes I shift the joint placement a bit more backward... as in more toward the back seam (butt crack!) :crackup: My bent legs are most certainly longer than what I'd do so the same sized bear with straight legs. ALL my pattern pieces have a bunch of little darts here and there for shape, but I think that's more due to my pattern generation method more than anything else. The same thing could probably be accomplished with a "flat" pattern piece.... they might give a bit of extra shaping here and there though.
Good luck Shelli! I can't wait to see!
Kim basta
Back Road BearsThere are also great tips, drawings and instructions in Ted Menten's "Teddy Bear Studio" for doing bent legs and converting straight legs on an existing pattern to bent legs.
I place the joint as usual. I like to have long legs so they are definitely much longer than traditional legs .. particularly if you want to sit the bear casually on a step for example and as Tami says, to make him cross his legs. I find it works well to use plastic pellets in the ankles and knees. I don't use darts, I just rely on the pattern shape to do the job. Don't forget, you'll need more fabric than usual!
I haven't made any for ages, but here are some pics of earlier bears I've designed with bent legs.
Hi Shelly,
My latest traditional pattern design is with bent legs. You find him at the Hugglets show preview on my website.
I made the design for a straight leg first, and cut it at the place were the knee is. Than I bent these paper shapes like a leg should bent, the back side is getting shorter, the front side longer...does this makes sence? and draw along the entire piece. This makes a permanent bent leg. The same technic you can use for the arms. My pattern is for a mini bear.
Good luck!!
Berta
PS: I love the Spell Check button.. here I can check how bad my english is and make corrections..lol.
Great topic! It brings to mind that I haven't made a bent leg bear in awhile. Yes, the legs if stretched out, would be longer. I just drew out a simple two piece pattern....no darts. Like Paula said, you will need more mohair for this style of leg.
Shape shifting? Never heard that term. Do I have that book? Hmmmm.
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Awesome, you guys; thanks so much for the explanations. The best part is that I don't have to start from scratch on this but can use an already-created leg pattern to do this shape-shifting thing which Berta also described, which saves me the relative hassle of redesigning a footpad, too. That part's always a stinker to get right on the first try.
You're appreciated! 
Past Time BearsShelli, don't know how big your bear needs to be, but I just finished this 10 1/2" guy with bent legs today. I also have this particular design with a straight leg. I added about a 1/4" to the length of the straight leg and made a bend where the knee would normally be, but kept the joint in the same place. This is Kipper.
Wild Thyme OriginalsAwww... Sue Ann! I LOVE this guy! 
Kim Basta
I love him too; great bear, Sue Ann! The tips and pointers are so helpful. I'll be drafting this pattern tomorrow. Wish me luck!
Bumpkin BearsHi Shelli, I'm a bit late on this topic, I hope your designing is going well today for the bent leg. I used the shape shifting on my latest panda bear, Sim-Sam, and it came out ok. I find that you do use quite a bit more fabric doing a bent leg than you do a straight leg. Looking forward to seeing your bear
Hugs
Catherine
x
Darling bear, Catherine; I think maybe my favorite of yours yet!!! Thanks for the pics and pointers. It's never too late to add great info!
Jellybelly BearsOooh, I love bent legs, nearly all my bears have them, some subtle some not, but I find it adds that little bit of charater in posing that I love. Most everything has been covered here that I was going to suggest, but, can't wait to see your new bear. Have fun!
