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tigergod.ink Mar 8, 2006

What is the difference between Needle Sculpting and scissor sculpting?

I know how to...and what needle felting is, but these other term elude me.

Thanks,
Letha

Shelli Retired Help Advisor, Banner SponsorMar 8, 2006

Needle sculpting is when you use a needle and thread to shape, or reshape, features... usually on a bear or doll's head.  Like when you sculpt from edge to edge on the muzzle pattern piece to lift the bridge of the nose.  Or when you place a stitch where the eye will go and then pull tightly to create an indentation, or "socket", for that eye, before actually setting it into the head.  Needle sculpting requires careful placement of exit stitches and knots, so you don't end up with a dimple-headed, dented-skull, critter!

I'm attaching a photo of a book on needle sculpting for dolls, because you can see most plainly on this kind of clean canvas fabric what I'm talking about.

Scissor sculpting is when you use your scissors (or sometimes clippers or a razor) to clip away the mohair, to create contours and effects in the hair itself.  This is how you get that really rounded muzzle, puffy-cheeked look.  It's a result of clipping the mohair into shape.

I'm attaching a photo of one of Pat Youderin's bears as a wonderful, perfect example of scissor sculpting, done on very dense hair.  Her website is:  www.longlongagocollectibles.com.  She's a multi-year nominee for the big contests and this year has two nominees, if memory serves.  Fabulous work! 

Hope this helps!

Dilu Mar 8, 2006

gREAT mISS sHELLI

pAT'S BeAr SHOWS THE SCISSORS Work really well.  What a beautiful bear!

Letha, I haven't tried it yet because I am basically full of chicken livers-It is practically the last thing you do and if you blow it....well you have a wonderful headless teddy.

I think I'll wait for an on line class it the scissors sculpting.

Letha start with something easy when it comes to needle sculpting-try just the eye sockets...even just making the sockets set downb in farther can change the whole look of your bear, and you don't ruin anything while you are at it....

and BTW your little avatar is really cute, love the little bear.  :dance:

hugs

dilu

tigergod.ink Mar 10, 2006

Thanks so much,

I'll do a little investigating. You guys are right those bears are incredible! It’s something to aspire to.

Letha