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clare14 Jan 3, 2006

When making your paw pads, what do you tend to use, and why??   My favourite is ultrasuede, I also have just got some lovely very thin leather which I'm itching to try. I like the way I can age these materials, which I probably wouldn't be able to get the effect I wanted with felt.

I'm also going to try different fabrics in the future - I feel like a change - has anyone got any good results from something unusual??

Just being nosey, as usual!!   

jenny Jan 3, 2006

OOOh ....I like ultrasuede, felt and I love cashmere as it's so sculptable..and colours so nicely when painted.

I have also used thick kimono silk and hand painted it which is lovely to use too. I also bought some leather which was fab but deceptively hard to sew!!

Whatever I use I line it first with light coloured fusible cotton interlining so I can draw on my machining line so I can see it to get a neat shape. I don't have to line the cashmere (another advantage!!) as it's on a white backing anyway...

I find the lining makes the sewing easier.

nettie Jan 3, 2006

Clare,I do like felt and you can age it by boiling it for a while.I also like old wool coats etc for pads.At the moment I am using a 1920's wool pram cover.
Dense woven cotton and linen is nice too.
Being a veggie I don't fancy the leather much but it does look good.
Diane

psichick78 Jan 3, 2006

I love to use ultra-suede. I find it colors much better than felt when I am using my copic markers. I haven't tried  cashmere for paw pads though. They sound great!
I guess anything would work. I find when people look at my bears, they don't even notice what material the paws are made of. I guess it's just me obsessing about perfection.

DebbieD Jan 3, 2006

I've used cotton quilting type materials with my first bears.  I loved the 'down home' look on some of my bears, but a bear shop owner told me to steer clear of it if I wanted my bears to look professional.  She said people would think the bear was a 'crafter type' bear and not want to pay $$ for it. 

So I sewed just a couple with moosehide pawpads.  They turned out beautiful!!!  My fingers however, did not    I will say, this learning experience led to me creating my very own moosehide thimbles    I handsew, and simply cannot get a metal thimble to work for me....end up sticking myself even worse, and I cannot feel! 

Then joy upon joys, I stumbled onto ultrasuede and have been hooked ever since     I love all the colours it comes in, plus its very easy to sew the sculpted toes.   

I haven't tried wool or felt, even though I know its traditional.  I worry that the fabric may not hold up...

Delartful Bears Jan 4, 2006

Mmm good question. I have no personal preference.  When I first got into bears, I purchased a lot of wool felt. I figured it was so cheap to be able to get all the colours.

Now I have all the mohair I can use from Gerrys, I seem to be going just a little overboard with footpads.  I have a lot of different suedes - including satin suede which is sooo silky smooth - love it!! 

A friend sent me some cashmere, so I've purhased some from eBay - can't wait for it to get to me!!

I have loads - I am starting to think the more you have, the better.  Plus if you have different types, it's easier to match colours etc! It is very difficult to remember what type of paw pad it is though LOL

Danni

Terrie Jan 4, 2006

My favorite is ultrasuede but I also use short pile upholstery fabric and it is easy to sculpt and work with also.

Marie_ Jan 4, 2006

I like 100%Wool Felt but as someone mention,
ultrasuede has more color choice so I use
both for my bears.       I never used "cashmere"
before...   Can some one tell me where
can I get them ?? Can I buy from internet ? 

I do like felt and you can age it by boiling it for a while

Thank you Diane ! I was trying to make
some distress bear and I wanted to age my felt !

Aleta - The Silly Bear Jan 4, 2006

Hands down my choice would have to be wool felt.  I make traditional bears so I primarily choose traditional materials.  That's not to say I won't use anything else.  I would like to try a thin leather......if only I could find it! 

Warmest bear hugs,  :hug:
Aleta

bearlyart Jan 4, 2006

Cashmere and upholstery velvet!  They give a really delightful effect and I am getting absolutely addicted to using the cashmere.

Hugs,
Kelly

Delartful Bears Jan 4, 2006

Oh don't tell me that Kelly -I'm probably going to want more and more of my Cashmere.

I got it from eBay.com from this seller Marie:
http://search.ebay.com.au/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQ … cNQ5fQ5fSI

I haven't received them yet, and haven't heard if they have shipped, so I'm not sure what her service is like, but I thought the price was ok - and I'm sure she's a great eBayer - great feedback etc!

Danni

All Bear Jan 4, 2006

I like to use Ultra Suede because it's strong with a little 'give', but I also love to trim up mohair and use that - you can get so many different effects with it!

Meri Bears (UK) Jan 4, 2006

I've experimented with lots of different pad materials like Ultrasuede, felt, leather and mohair.

I usually use mohair in co-ordinating colours but for the bigger bears I like to use leather. We sell furniture so I often get leather swatches in all shades of browns and blacks. It's not the easiest to sew but I like the finished effect.

Helena Jan 4, 2006

I usually use ultrasuede, mainly because I have a huge stash of off-cuts that I bought about 18 months ago. Because I only make small bears I only need small amounts so I can see this stash lasting me forever!

But I have also used suedine (imitation suede) and just love the stuff. The pile is shorter that cashmere and suitable for little bears, and the backing is very tightly woven & doesn't fray. Here's a link: http://www.probear.com/com/stoffen_overig.html#suedine (I haven't bought it from here but it gives you an idea of the fabric).

Judi Jan 4, 2006

For pads I have used, mohair, ultra suede, wool felt, and leather (and various furs on many real fur bears).

If I am going to needle felt paw details I will use mohair or wool pads.  If I want individual raised toes I use leather.  I like to mix things up ...keeps the end results interesting.

Shelli Retired Help Advisor, Banner SponsorJan 4, 2006

I love felt because it just ends up with a nice soft effect, especially after some light shading at the edges.  But I've also used leather, and shaved mohair, and reversed mohair.  I'm currently working on a piece using upholstery velvet (usually used for minis) for the pawpads for the first time.  I'm excited to see the outcome!

Marie_ Jan 4, 2006

Danni ! Thanks for the information !! 

krystolla Jan 27, 2006

Ultrasuede is great, and I probably use it the most often. It's so easy to paint, shade, embroider, or applique that it seems there's no end to interesting ultrasuede effects.

I'm a nut for tracking down unusual fabrics to use for paw-pads though. I had a lot of fun making a bear that had denim paws with metal studs in them (sadly, I don't have a picture of that guy any more). I've used velvet and satin for a classy look. Tapestry fabric makes great paws if you can find a small enough pattern. Right now I'm experimenting with brocade and looking for some raw silk (the nubbly kind). Oh! and sequins. I want to try sequins but I haven't figured out a way to keep them from looking too . . . uh, Las Vegas showgirl. Or maybe I should just do a vegas showgirl bear with a sequined outfit to match the sequined feet.

-- Erika
Fuzzbutt Bears

kbonsall Jan 27, 2006

I use cashmere, upholstery velvet, ultrasuede and other “mini” fabrics   I have only used wool once – sometimes I don’t do paw pads at all

Danni - that is the seller I got most of my mini fabric and cashmere through

Deb Jan 27, 2006

sometimes I don't do paw pads at all

Doesn't the stuffing fall out of the bottom of the leg?  Or do you mean on needlefelted bears?  It's my day to be confused Kim!

I favor wool felt.

kbonsall Jan 27, 2006

I should have specified - sometimes I just use the mohair, not a different material

clare14 Jan 29, 2006

Awww Kim, what a cutey-pie!!   

kbonsall Jan 29, 2006

Thank you Clare!  :hug:  He was one of the ones I made around Christmas but I couldn't part with him... I am not sure if I made any other bears out of this pattern... I think I will use it again... I have been so busy with the felted bears that I haven't made any mohair ones in a while... people prefer my felted bears and they sell much higher than my mohair bears (most of the time)... go figure... 

Daphne Jan 29, 2006

I use mostly ultrasuede but also love cashmere a lot!
I also use denim in various colors.
I've teastained natural colored canvas to use with cream colored or light brown bears.
I've used homespun fabrics on my country bears and buns, with fusible interfacing of course.
Corduroy can look very neat.. the wide whale stuff. It frays and needs fusible interfacing as well.
Old curtains can be very handy for paw pads and then make a matching bow or vest, etc.

I guess I still use ultrasuede most often but the other options are great when I need a change!!!

Dilu Jan 29, 2006

When dying my own mohair I dye the felt at the same time, it usually dyes a little darker but its the same value of color so it goes good.

When doing real furr bears, if the silk lining is still in good shape i will iron on a really light weight backing and use the silk

the rest of the time it is whatever color I can find that is close....or colse enough I can doctor it with paint