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Pipa Nov 21, 2005

Once you sew on a synthetic fur (one's that don't have woven backs that is)  then do a mohair fur right afterwards it's amazing the difference on how easy the needle passes through with mohair !!

psichick78 Nov 21, 2005

Well,everyone has some great tips,and not too much that I can add.
I never really had any issues with noses, they just seem to come naturally. Lucky I guess.
But one trick i use it that I always draw out my nose shape on paper, cut it out once I'm happy with it and trace it on the bear. This way you can even pin the paper nose on before you trace it, just to make sure it's even.
Then I stitch just outside the pen line ( to hide it of course ) and no matter what shape the nose may be, you can be confidant that you are stitching an even nose, and that the shape is good.

Heather

Jare Hares & Bears Nov 23, 2005

I just wrinkle my noe and say abracadara! and they magically appear. It's really that simple. Don't make it harder than you have too.

I start my noses at the top and come out the botton. I carefully lay each thread next to each other until the nose is complete. I find that I have better luck using #3 floss. My mother likes #5. I also sew a big "U" or "V" shape starting and then use that as a guide, then I don't have to mess with pens. Shaving the nose area before sewing helps.
I always recommend stuffing the nose firmly with excelsior, AKA wood wool, this helps to keep the muzzle straight.
It just takes practice.

Stephanie Nov 24, 2005

I'm brand new here and was reading away and thought I'd stick my 2 cents in. I trim off the fur in the nose area, then cut out a nose shape from black ultrasuede. I glue this on the nose and let it dry. It gives a nice outline to follow and the black helps fill in your stitches. It also helps 'fill' the nose so it looks a little more 3-D. I also use a pair of small pliers to get the needle through.

gotobedbears Nov 24, 2005

Jared! are you magical like Samantha out of 'Bewitched'?

I can't wiggle my nose, otherwise i'm sure that method would work for me too
:lol:

I don't like doing noses but i hate ears more!  :mad:

Penny

Judi Nov 24, 2005

Hi Kimmy, Lots of great advice here.  It just goes to show that different things work for different people.  I too, have found this to be the most difficult part of the bears face. 

I used to primarily only work with real fur so I made my noses from Leather.  I still use leather noses on many of my mohair bears but now an doing more stitched noses.

I do what Daphne and Stephanie posted.  I cut my nose out of felt first, then glue it to the face and sew over it.  It seems to fill out nicely for me. :teddybear:

Never ever rush when sewing a nose.  It can throw your whole face off. :doh:

kbonsall Nov 25, 2005

Thank you all for your tips/suggestions     :hug:

I will be doing Julia's nose next so these tips will help... I think maybe some of the problem was that I was working with a synthetic

plushkinbear Nov 25, 2005

You don't like MY nose?????????????????

plushkinbear Nov 25, 2005

You mean you will first glue black ultrasued on me..., then stitch a new shape very neatly or make me a leather nose????

melissa Nov 25, 2005

Hi Kim

whew - another opinon for you!  If your bears are under 6" (and I think most of them are) chuck away that doll needle and use something smaller and finer.  It was the best thing I ever did in terms of controlling the fabric.  Somehow, the doll needle being that bit chunkier seems to wrench and twist the fabric a bit when working on a smaller scale.  yes, you might bend a few needles, but needles are cheap and dispensible and your hands and bears aren't.  I think that I use John James sharps but I'm not sure what size.

Also, don't use too thick thread.  I used to use a number 5 perle thread on my bigger bears, swtiched to 8 and then 12 on my small bears.  Now, I use a single strand of stranded embroidery floss.  It is much softer than the  number 12 and much easier to make a nicer softer nose shape.  It does mean you have to do a few layers but it makes a much smoother finish than the perle 12 which is quite hard and unforgiving.  If my bear is particularly fluffy, (as with the imported synthetics) I will usea  bigger thread to stitch the septum and mouth.

hmm, hope that helps - probably just confused you more.  You can buy nose templates, which one of my friend's swears by.

Jare Hares & Bears Nov 25, 2005

Jared! are you magical like Samantha out of 'Bewitched'?

I can't wiggle my nose, otherwise i'm sure that method would work for me too
:lol:

I don't like doing noses but i hate ears more!  :mad:

Penny

Well... after 15 years you too can do this...
I have a simple program that is available for the low low price of $1500 US.
Then I have the advanced program that is $3000 US
but you must take them in order... LOL

Ears can be really "ear-a-tating"!  (OOO WHOOO I made another funny!)
There are times when I have had to redo them 10 times before they were right.

plushkinbear Nov 25, 2005

Hi Kim

whew - another opinon for you!  If your bears are under 6" (and I think most of them are) chuck away that doll needle and use something smaller and finer.  It was the best thing I ever did in terms of controlling the fabric.  Somehow, the doll needle being that bit chunkier seems to wrench and twist the fabric a bit when working on a smaller scale.  yes, you might bend a few needles, but needles are cheap and dispensible and your hands and bears aren't.  I think that I use John James sharps but I'm not sure what size.

Also, don't use too thick thread.  I used to use a number 5 perle thread on my bigger bears, swtiched to 8 and then 12 on my small bears.  Now, I use a single strand of stranded embroidery floss.  It is much softer than the  number 12 and much easier to make a nicer softer nose shape.  It does mean you have to do a few layers but it makes a much smoother finish than the perle 12 which is quite hard and unforgiving.  If my bear is particularly fluffy, (as with the imported synthetics) I will usea  bigger thread to stitch the septum and mouth.

hmm, hope that helps - probably just confused you more.  You can buy nose templates, which one of my friend's swears by.

Matilda I'm totally with you!!! Couldn't say THAT in English but thought in Russian

patsylakebears Nov 25, 2005

OHHHHHHHH Jared ...ear-a-tating  :clap: :clap: love it.... Kim I use a milleners needle or straw needle and 8 perle cotton I find I get alot neater nose .....but still have trouble at times......  good advice given above and you will have to work out what works for you..

Eileen Nov 25, 2005

I'm with Melissa--after one stitch with the shorter doll needle, the nose area began to look a bit twisted.

I switched to a long sharp thin sewing needle and had no more trouble, except that regular sewing needles have smaller eyes, and are harder to thread. If the needle jams, I pull it through with a piece of rubber glove while I'm pushing the other end with a thimble.

Just wondering--some of you use perle cotton and some use embroidery floss. What difference does it make?

Eileen

kbonsall Nov 26, 2005

:hug:

You mean you will first glue black ultrasued on me..., then stitch a new shape very neatly or make me a leather nose???? :cry:

he he he..... I am DONE with your bear now Julia and he has a cute nose, if I do say so myself!  It was so much easier to do the nose on mohair than the synthetic!!!  SOOOO Julia... do you want me to post pics of the bear or do you want to wait to be surprised????

Jare Hares & Bears Nov 26, 2005

Nah... you should just post the picture

matilda Nov 26, 2005

YEAH!! post the picture!!! 

plushkinbear Nov 26, 2005

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
I WANT SURPRISE!!!!!!!!! :pray:

(.....maybe one arm?.... :lol:)

I should say your bear will be the cutest (after Mimi) I ever made...new technics...ya know...

Laura Lynn Banner SponsorNov 26, 2005

Hi Kim!

I didn't have time to read all the responses... so I may be repeating here.  But the 2 most important things that really helped my noses were....

Do not close the neck until the nose is done (like Penny).  That way you can add more stuffing to reshape it after embroidering.  Stitching that nose always shifted the stuffing around for me.

Use a VERY sharp needle to embroider!!  I also found for me that a thin needle is easier than a thicker needle.  If I'm having trouble I know it's time to use a fresh needle.

Hope that helps!

kbonsall Nov 26, 2005

Thank you LL   I will post a pic of the bear's nose, how about that ???  But just the nose, nothing else... it will be just a sneak peak but not ruin the surprise ... I cant wait to get your bear Julia!!!  I just have to make his tags and wrap him up...   Hope you like him!  I am going to take pics of yours and Marie's together and post them AFTER you gals receive them.....  I will be sending them out Monday or so......  by the way, Julia, what is the cheapest form of shipping with insurance to your area?  I want to send it with insurance but the one option I saw would have been almost $100 to send it! YIKES!

Jare Hares & Bears Nov 26, 2005

KBonsall,
Are you using the USPS? or UPS?
I have found that I can ship via USPS overseas cheaper than UPS or Fedex.
If you check out the online shipping center for USPS, you usually can buy most of the services online and at a slight discount.
This link will help you just click for international postage.
http://www.usps.com/tools/calculatepost … atepostage

I hope this helps.

I just did a guess-timate and found that you can send a 1 LB package via Airmail takes 4-6 days, bor $16.50, plus insurance.

kbonsall Nov 26, 2005

Thank you Jared!!!  :hug:   I was planning on USPS - Mandie (from Ireland) said that they rip people off overseas with UPS and Fedex so I have always sent USPS... it is what I prefer anyhow   I dont know where I saw that it was so expensive.. I thought it was Global Priority.. whatever option is at the top of the postage calculator at usps.com....

Julia... and whoever else cares to see here is you little guys nose! just a little sneak peak... I have pics taken of both your and marie's bears both by themselves and together... I dont have a name for yours yet...I wanted to post pics and get name suggestions but I wont.... Marie's is a female and her name is Jayla but I dont know what to call yours... I wanted to name him something similar becuase they are siblings

Terrie Nov 26, 2005

I make the initail shape of the nose by doing a couple of stitches in the middle, then I make the outside stitches and then fill it in. I also go in at the top and out at the bottom. I find it a lot easier on my hands to used pliers to pull the needle through.

plushkinbear Nov 27, 2005

Julia... and whoever else cares to see here is you little guys nose! just a little sneak peak... I have pics taken of both your and marie's bears both by themselves and together... I dont have a name for yours yet...I wanted to post pics and get name suggestions but I wont.... Marie's is a female and her name is Jayla but I dont know what to call yours... I wanted to name him something similar becuase they are siblings

Kim, I like his nose!! Is it a boy???!!! I love boys...(bears-boys too.. :lol:)
Can-t wai to get him!!
And today I will get Marie's bear!! Can't wait evening (my hubby arrives today!!)
Kim your bear will be darling! !

matilda Nov 27, 2005

I cant wait till you get him Julia ,I'm dying to see him myself. The nose is not enough to quieten my curiosity      Matilda.

I'm about 1 week away from finishing Sabine's. We arent posting till next year. AND I want to show everybody now, even though it isnt finished, because I'm so excited about it.  HOW WILL I MAKE IT THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS WITH SUCH A SECRET!!!!!!!      Matilda