Banner Sponsors
For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
DallyMay TeddiesI don't know if anyone else does this but I have now started to tack my bear pieces after pinning them. I just got so fed up with sticking holes in my fingers and bleeding on my bears and have found that tacking works for me. It doesn't take much longer to do and helps to keep my bears blood free 
Hugs from Coraleen
DENBY BEARS
I believe Coraleen means basting, long stiches to hold the bear together until you sew it and then pull out the thread. It probably is easier than sticking your fingers with the pins all the time, I know how she feels.
Hugs Pat 
Braille TeddiesFor me, I just hold the bear together and try to keep it fromcrawling the best I can. I do stab myself a lot, though, and then my husband gets to hear all my original expressions that I use instead of cussing.
I use about 30 pins in each piece to keep all that fur tucked in. Some pieces I then baste and I still get stuck frequently but it works great!
Chaska, MinnesotaI tack in key places such as the nose, middle of the head and end of the head the meets the end of the gusset. Ankle curves are another place I tack. Oh, I use hydrogen peroxide to get blood off the fur when I stick myself. It should be a part of every bear makers tool kit.
DallyMay TeddiesHydrogen peroxide, hey? I must put that on my shopping list! 
Hugs
Coraleen
Posts: 285I tack in key places such as the nose, middle of the head and end of the head the meets the end of the gusset. Ankle curves are another place I tack. Oh, I use hydrogen peroxide to get blood off the fur when I stick myself. It should be a part of every bear makers tool kit.
Duly noted!!
I never pin! I always baste by using tiny blanket stitches around each piece prior to sewing, so it's more secure than simply basting using a running stitch and it takes quite a while to blanket stitch each piece but I must say I've never gotten injured with a pin!
Hugs,
Janice
Hobart BearsI use small alligator clips, I trim out the seam allowance, match the pieces up and clip the pieces together. I use between 4 and 6 clips, I move them along as I go. Works wonderful for me and I have been using them for over 15 years. Not to say that when I am sewing I haven't gotten myself poked here and there. My daughter calls it "sacrificing to the bear goddess". 
Posts: 751I don't pin my bears at all - I just "oversew" them then either handsew or machine sew.
Karon
Wagga WaggaI do both, first I pin and then I oversew to hold it together as I have found mine don't sew straight on the machine if I don't oversew.
CootamundraI never pin! I always baste by using tiny blanket stitches around each piece prior to sewing, so it's more secure than simply basting using a running stitch and it takes quite a while to blanket stitch each piece but I must say I've never gotten injured with a pin!
Hugs,
Janice
I do the same. I blanket stitch before sewing together. If I dont do this I find my pieces are out of shape.
I pin..then machine...never stick myself..I do that when I hand sew! OUCH!
I'm laughing, Jenny, because I do pick myself when I hand sew (even when I do the blanket stitch prior to machine sewing)...BUT, never got a pin stick!!!
Hugs,
Janice
TC Folk OriginalsI like to do a whip stitch all around those tricky curves like the muzzle and paw pads before I sew! And I agree, no matter what, I always stick myself!
I always handstitch my pieces together before sewing them with the sewing maschine ..I believe all turns out much neater and more perfect
Depends on the size of the bear but I always pin before stitching...hand or machine. And, I get stuck a lot!
Posts: 54I don't know if anyone else does this but I have now started to tack my bear pieces after pinning them. I just got so fed up with sticking holes in my fingers and bleeding on my bears and have found that tacking works for me. It doesn't take much longer to do and helps to keep my bears blood free
Hugs from Coraleen
Hi Coraleen,
I find video about pinning and stitching just look on my blog:
http://taleobears.blogspot.com/2011/07/ … orial.html
Good luck
Braille TeddiesI don't think I've ever gotten stuck with pins, but I hate them because I usually drop them and that's not fun when you don't have sight and there are pins in the floor. Ouch!!! Of course I hand sew my bears and I have to feel where the seam allowance goes. My thumb looks like I've been using it to play guitar, there's a great big callus where I've gotten too close to the needle.
BeauT BearsI don't think I've ever gotten stuck with pins, but I hate them because I usually drop them and that's not fun when you don't have sight and there are pins in the floor. Ouch!!! Of course I hand sew my bears and I have to feel where the seam allowance goes. My thumb looks like I've been using it to play guitar, there's a great big callus where I've gotten too close to the needle.
Hi Wubbie, a Grabbit magnetic pin cushion might be the solution for the gravity problem with your pins. Cheapest seller online I could find is this one : http://www.save-on-crafts.com/grabmagpincu.html
I hope this helps!
Braille TeddiesIt's not that. When I have pins in my bear I wind up dropping them as I sew from where they just fall out.
Boogaloo BearsHi
I always whip stitch the whole bear and then start to sew each piece.
It takes a lot longer, but does secure the pieces nicely and makes for a more symetrical bear as the pieces don't move at all! I didn't get on with just pinning, I am too clumsy and ended up with more pins in me than the poor bears! 
Hugs
Lisa x
DallyMay TeddiesI agree with you about the pins stuck in you, Lisa 
I think the whipstitch is a very good way to go about it and have begun using it instead of tacking (basting), especially around the difficult bits like the nose and pawpads. Thanks for the tip. xxx Coraleen
GJOYful BearsI pin and whipstitch too ~ it takes longer but saves your fingers and your bears from looking like vampires lol. The only time I don't whip-stitch is for my minis as the stitches show to easily.
