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FenBeary Folk Sep 13, 2007

Hi everyone, I am determined to crack noses and have been looking at buying some thread from the company I use. They sell size No 3 and No 5, which one do I use. My bears tend to be on the bigger size (12 inches) but just recently I have been trying to get a little smaller aroud the 7 inch mark, so which one do I buy or do I buy both??
Many thanks :hug:

WildThyme Sep 13, 2007

Is that size 3 and size 5 pearl cotton?  If you are going down to a 7 inch bear, you might want to try 6 stranded embroidery floss.  It can be separated easily, so you can just use 5 strands, or 4 etc.... whatever suits the scale that you are working with.

Kim Basta

All Bear Sep 13, 2007

Hi Sue,

I make bears over 15" and use perle no.5.  I've used no.3 successfully for smaller bears around the 12" size.

elle Sep 13, 2007

Hi Sue,

If you want to use pearl cotton, for smaller bears, I have found #12 pearl cotton from Valdani.

Here is the website.  http://www.valdani.com/products.php?Ope … GroupID=87 

There is a list of vendors on the site. 

I have also bought #12 Turkish pearl cotton on eBay (I bought from seller: skaptan who is in Turkey, but the sale went very smoothly.  He has an ebay store and has a big range of colors, also.)   

Daphne Sep 13, 2007

I use perle cotton #3 on most all of my bears 12 inches and over. Because this is the larger diameter yarn it fills in the nose quickly. (I have hand problems and can't spend forever stitching a nose!). On bears under 12 inches I still sometimes use #3 but quite frequently use #5.

I know most folks use a more narrow yarn or floss than I do but I get a lot of compliments on my noses so I think it's personal preference. There is no right or wrong..... as is the case with most all of bear making! Best thing is to experiment and use what is most appealing and easy for you. If you don't like the look or how it is to work with the end result is not going to be what you want, even if it works for someone else.

I also use a lot of the over-dyed embroidery yarns, alpaca and wool yarns also..... this is my source:
http://www.abcstitch.com/threads/fibers.php

The Caron Collection, DMC, Rainbow and Weeks Dye Works have some great yarns for doing noses.

scruffiebears Sep 13, 2007

I use no 8 perle cotton on all bears between about 7 and 14 inches. No 5 on bears above that and I have used no 12 for really small bears. Although this is really fine.

Hugs
Susan

FenBeary Folk Sep 13, 2007

Sorry kim, I did mean pearle cotton and embroidery floss- is this the same as used for cross stitching as I have loads of beautiful colours but as this is 6 stranded I was worried it would seperate when pulled tightly.

Thanks also Paula, Ellen and Susan, I am grateful for your advise :hug:

Daphne, a woman after my own heart, LESS STITCHES LESS COCK-UPS :dance:

What colour should I use, is Black too stark on some mohair colours? should I get a shade of brown as well

Many many thanks

matilda Sep 14, 2007

Sue I have a secret colour I use for my noses. I found black not suitable for all bears and found brown also was not quite right for others. I came across this one colour that is just out and out perfect for ALL noses, even on black bears this colour works a treat. ....it is..........DMC's #5 perle colour3021
Have fun with your noses
Wendy

FenBeary Folk Sep 14, 2007

Hi Wendy thanks, I do have DMC3021 and all the other shades but they are embroidery silks, can I use those???? :hug: