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Posts: 8Hi,
I have a pattern for a 10” bear. I’m struggling to choose which mohair I’d like. Firstly, I’m not sure what length pile I should use. I’ve been looking at 12 - 15mm?
Secondly, I’m in the UK and finding it difficult to find suppliers. I was hoping to make a two tone bear, white/cream head and body and then a bold colour for limbs. I just can’t seem to find matching types of mohair for the colours and pile I want.
Is there somewhere I can find a list of suppliers?
Are there parameters in pile length depending on the size of the bear?
Many thanks,
Claire
Posts: 43Hi & welcome :-)
There are 3 main suppliers in the UK;
Bear Basics https://www.bearbasics.co.uk/ Sue is very helpful and she holds the only official UK licence to buy Schulte fur fabrics from the mill in Germany (Schulte is very high quality & what Steiff uses). This is where I get all my supplies as the quality is amazing which always makes a difference to your finished bear. Sue is really good at giving advice on what furs are suitable for projects and what go well together etc.
Christie Bear is another UK supplier https://www.christiebears.com/ I have never used them personally; they stock Helmbold furs which are also good quality (2nd best to Schulte).
Mohair Bear making supplies https://www.mohairbearmakingsupplies.co.uk/ I have used this supplier when I first started out for 1 or 2 things. His prices are generally lower but I personally don't think the quality is as good.
It all depends on what you want but I hope that helps.
Karen
SuffolkHi & welcome :-)
There are 3 main suppliers in the UK;
Bear Basics https://www.bearbasics.co.uk/ Sue is very helpful and she holds the only official UK licence to buy Schulte fur fabrics from the mill in Germany (Schulte is very high quality & what Steiff uses). This is where I get all my supplies as the quality is amazing which always makes a difference to your finished bear. Sue is really good at giving advice on what furs are suitable for projects and what go well together etc.Christie Bear is another UK supplier https://www.christiebears.com/ I have never used them personally; they stock Helmbold furs which are also good quality (2nd best to Schulte).
Mohair Bear making supplies https://www.mohairbearmakingsupplies.co.uk/ I have used this supplier when I first started out for 1 or 2 things. His prices are generally lower but I personally don't think the quality is as good.
It all depends on what you want but I hope that helps.
Karen
I have used Christie Bear - she is great and has a nice selection of stock and is super helpful.
Most of my mohair though is from Mohair Bear Making Supplies and to be honest it was because they were at a Hugglets show and I was able to go and browse the fabrics in person. If you can get to a show to do that even if you don't buy much it is well worth doing. You then have an in person idea of what the different fur types are like in person and I have found it has made decisions when buying online so much easier.
Their mohair lately has been mostly Hembold and Schulte which are well covered by the others also, but I think he tries to stock a different selection of these to Christie Bears and Bear Basics. I do find they get some other brands in too. I had some of their Jerry mohair a while back which is lovely to work with and I wish I had bought more as I can't get anymore in that colour 
They do however generally have a great selection of faux furs - of varying quality mind but reflected in the price they charge. They have a mixture of knitted and woven backed ones. I also really like that they put quite a lot of their mohair stock on eBay, which is really useful if you only want to buy a few bits because you then benefit from having free postage (and nectar points if you link you nectar card to your ebay account), whereas if you order on their website you get charged postage.
I find they all have their strengths. I haven't yet ordered from bear basics but they also look to have some of the better selections and priced paw pad fabrics and I really like their eye's on pins sets to try out eye positions and sizes so I shall eventually treat myself to a pack of these.
Julie
