Skip to main content

Banner Sponsors

Johnna's Mohair Store - Specializing in hand dyed mohair and alpaca
Past Time Bears - Artist bears designed and handcrafted by Sue Ann Holcomb

Pepper Posts: 5

Hi,
I'm extremely new to bear making.  I've made a couple with synthetic fur and used plastic safety joints, but now I've started using mohair and fibreboard disc
joints (with locknuts). 

What bothers me is that I can feel the discs through the mohair.  Is this normal?
I've never held a bear made by anybody else so I don't know what they're supposed to feel like.  I use as large a disc as I can fit into the opening (per the advice I've read here and elsewhere), and I stuff reasonably firmly, but I don't like that "hard feel" at the joints.  I've thought about gluing foam to the discs before the real stuffing goes in, or maybe even trying some kind of homemade foam or rubber disc, or maybe using much smaller hardboard discs that will be softened when the stuffing goes in, but everything I've read indicates that I'm using the right sized disc for my bear size.  Any suggestions?

Maybe I'm worrying over nothing.  Maybe they're supposed to "feel" that way.

MerBear MerBear Originals
Brockville, Ontario
Posts: 1,540

I know some people glue thin felt on top of the discks before using them. As well, have you trimmed the mohair on the outside before you jointed the bear? That way you'll get a closer fit.

Marion

Pepper Posts: 5

Hi,
Thanks for the reply...No I haven't tried trimming the mohair...but I will.
I've read about that.

If that doesn't work, I'll try the felt trick.  I'm dying to get to a show so I can handle some bears.  It's difficult being in an area that doesn't have much to offer in the bear arena!!!

Dilu Posts: 8,574

You can also take batting like are used in quilts and make a sandwhich for your discs.  then put your bolt through the batt,disc,batt.  if your batt is sewn up around the disc it will be harder to feel the disc.


dilu

Pepper Posts: 5

yes!!!!!!!!!   a batting sandwich!!!!!!!!!!!
thank you, thank you, thank you.
Will try it toooday!!!!  Hobby Lobby, here I come.

What a brilliant idea!
Thanks again!

Board footer

Powered by FluxBB

Banner Sponsors


Shelli Makes - Teddy bears & other cheerful things by Shelli Quinn
No Monkey Biz - Domain name registration, hosting