| | | | | mohair bears for adults and collectors. |
| SOME BEARY INTERESTING HISTORY | | | | JOINTS |
| The very first teddy bears were made over 100 | | | | There are different sizes and types of joints available. |
| years ago. These weren't soft toys but wooden and | | | | Each bear needs 5 sets of joints. |
| clockwork, sometimes pulled along on a string. | | | | 1 for the head |
| Teddy Bears as we know them originated in Germany | | | | 2 for the arms |
| and the U.S.A. | | | | 2 for the legs. |
| President Theodore 'Teddy" Roosevelt refused to | | | | Plastic joints are easier to use if your are a beginner |
| shoot a bear in an unsportsman like way. This event | | | | Wooden joints need to be joined with either bolts and |
| was made famous in the press and cartoons were | | | | locknuts or cotter pins. |
| the result. A shopkeepers wife made a teddy bear | | | | Stuffing |
| and put it in their shop window next to the cartoon and | | | | Polyester stuffing is the most popular. Collector bears |
| called it 'Teddys' bear. This bear became quite famous | | | | need to be stuffed more firmly than toy bears. |
| and the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company was founded. | | | | HOW TO MAKE A BEAR |
| A few years earlier in Germany, Margaret Steiff used | | | | The pile of the fur needs to go down the bear. |
| her offcuts from her sewing business to make animals | | | | First of all, trace the pattern onto paper or cut out the |
| including teddy bears. The Felt Toy Company was | | | | pattern if you can. Then glue the pattern pieces on to |
| founded in 1893 and started making mohair bears with | | | | cardboard(cardboard from cereal packets will do). |
| moveable joints. A New York department store | | | | Make sure to transfer the arrows and other markings |
| ordered thousands of these bears. It was perfect | | | | onto the pattern if you have traced it. Place the |
| timing as it was around the time of the Roosevelt | | | | pattern pieces onto the wrong side of the fabric with |
| incident. The first bears were designed by Richard | | | | the arrows pointing down the pile. Make sure that you |
| Steiff who was Margarets nephew. The Steiff bears | | | | have enough fabric for all the pieces, remembering |
| has a button placed in one ear, which they still do | | | | that you'll have four lots of legs and arms. |
| today. | | | | If you are happy with the placement of the pattern, |
| During the first world war (1914-1918) German bears | | | | draw around the pattern with the felt pen. Then |
| became scarce, so teddy bear making took off in | | | | remove the templates, making sure to transfer the |
| England. Then later on in other countries. The time | | | | markings for the joints and eyes etc onto the back of |
| between the two world wars was when teddy bear | | | | the fabric. |
| making really took off. Films, cartoons and books about | | | | Pattern piece should be:two heads (one in reverse)two |
| teddy bears became very popular and teddy bears | | | | bodies(one in reverse)four arms (two in reverse)four |
| started to be mass produced. The Panda bear | | | | legs (two in reverse)four earstwo paw pads (cut out |
| became popular after China gave Chicago Zoo a | | | | of felt)two foot pads (cut out of felt) |
| panda in 1937. | | | | Cut out the pieces using the small pointed scissors. |
| After the second world war, everything was in short | | | | Use small snips and try not to cut the pile, just the |
| supply so teddy bears started to be made from | | | | backing fabric. This takes time! |
| man-made fabrics with softer filling. This made them | | | | After cutting out, pin the pieces together right sides |
| much more affordable. Teddy Bear sales declined in | | | | facing. Tack, making sure that no bits of fur our sticking |
| the 1960's and 1970's but recovered in the 1980's. | | | | out of the seams. Stitch the paw pad to the short arm |
| Teddy Bear collecting has become very popular, and | | | | before tacking the arms together. Back stitch is used |
| there are some very old bears out there worth an | | | | to stitch all seams, Don't forget to leave a gap in each |
| absolute fortune. | | | | part so that it can be stuffed. Some bear makers like |
| ITEMS NEEDED FOR BEAR MAKING | | | | to sew by machine, but you have to be careful that |
| Most large towns and cities have craft shops that sell | | | | the fabric doesn't slip. Fasten off the stitching strongly |
| bear-making supplies. Supplies are also available by | | | | so that it doesn't come loose. |
| mail-order of over the internet. | | | | After stitching the head parts together stitch around |
| TOOLS | | | | the neck opening and pull tightly, fasten off securely. |
| Small, sharp pointed scissors | | | | Then stuff the nose area firmly. Stitch the nose and |
| Strong, sharp sewing needles | | | | mouth using the embroidery cotton. |
| Coloured head dressmaking pins | | | | Sew the leg parts together then pin the foot pads into |
| Tape measure | | | | position before tacking and sewing. Turn the legs the |
| Wooden stuffing stick | | | | right way and push the awl through the marked spot |
| Wire brush (small)felt pentracing papercardboard for | | | | inside for the joint. Do the same with the arm joints |
| templatesacrylic or mohair fabricfabric for paws (felt | | | | and then push the awl through the joint marks inside |
| or suedette) | | | | the body. |
| Strong sewing thread to match the colour of the fabric | | | | The teddy bear can now be assembled. Fasten the |
| Black, brown (or whatever colour you like) embroidery | | | | joints together by lining up the holes in the limbs and the |
| thread for the noseplastic safety eyes (if the bear is | | | | body. |
| for a child)glass eyes (if the bear is for a collector or | | | | Push the joints through from the inside of the body |
| an adult)plastic or wooden joints with washersstuffing | | | | (making sure that the washers are used)into each |
| of choicering spanner for locknuts (if using wooden | | | | limb.The joints need to be very tight as they loosen |
| joints)screwdriverawlpointed pliers or cotter-pin turning | | | | after stuffing. Once the arms and legs are joined, tack |
| tool for split pins | | | | around the neck opening and pull together and secure |
| (If using wooden joints, they are joined with either the | | | | tightly. Using the holes in the head and body push the |
| locknuts or the cotter pins)long doll needlestuffing of | | | | neck joint through to secure the head to the body. |
| choice | | | | Teddy is now joined together. Next thing to do is to |
| FABRICS | | | | position the eyes. I like to use coloured head pins to |
| Acrylic fur fabric or mohair. It's best to use acrylic if | | | | decide where to put the eyes. Safety eyes go in |
| your new to bear making as mohair is quite expensive. | | | | before the stuffing. Glass eyes are stitched on after |
| PAW PADS | | | | stuffing. |
| These can be made from felt or suedette | | | | Now it's time to stuff teddy. Using the wooden stuffing |
| NOSES AND MOUTHS | | | | stick, use small bits at a time. I like to stuff the limbs |
| It's best to sew the noses using the embroidery thread | | | | first, then the head and body. Make sure that you stuff |
| rather than using plastic noses. It takes time to perfect | | | | firmly. If you are happy with the stuffing you can now |
| but the outcome is worth it. | | | | close the seams using ladder stitch. |
| Eyes | | | | After stitching the ears together, turn out the right way |
| Eyes are available in plastic or glass. Plastic eyes are | | | | and stitch across the bottom seam. Place on head in |
| safety eyes and it's best to use these if the bear is for | | | | desired postion and stitch on firmly, sewing aroung both |
| a child. Glass eyes are available in many colours and | | | | sides of ears. |
| are absolutely beautiful. I prefer to use these on a | | | | Congratulations, you now have a beautiful teddy bear. |