Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hello everyone,

I am still on making my first bear, My Joints should arrive today so we can get moving some more!

I would post pics of my bear so far but my brother has taken my Digi cam cable with him to go live in canada on accident! Duh!

Am I wrong in saying you can joint a bear with all cotterpin joints?  I've been reading alot of places that it needs a "head bolt"? 

How do you sew the head together when the bolt is in place? A simple running stitch, Gathered knotted and sewn back on it's self a few times, That is all?

Can you over stuff? I think I may have over stuffed the head, It's nice a first, Still has some give though...?

Trimming fur, I'm using a synthetic on a woven background, I don't want to pluck it as the weaving isn't at all nice compared with Mohair... Where do I trim?

Do you place eyes on the bear before you attach head to the body? Seams logical but places i've been reading have explained more or less doing it last.

How do you "curl" cotter pins? I have seen people curl them and seen people "Crown" them... What is the best way?

For weight, Do I just pour the beads into the feet and hands? Or do I stuff a layer onto the fabric and then pour them in between the layer? I was thinking the beads would be pretty lumpy and feel pretty awful without some kind of cushioning first?

How many strands of embroidery floss do you use? When I used to cross sticth most requested 2 strands from each length? How many for the nose and mouth?

I think that's about "ALL"  :crackup:  of my questions...

Hope yo are all well,

Thank you very much

Richy~

Being a breeder of pedigree cats I know that it can be awfull to register colours of your cats! When they are young they change so much before they get to 6 months then keep changing till 3 years of age. I'm sure it's his guard hairs probably coming through.

I have once known a cat who went to get spayed. She went ginger, Came back shaved... Once the hair had grown back, The once shaved patch had projuced BLACK hair!

Richy~

Thank you very much everyone!

Nancy D : Thank you very much for the pictures. I think I will try them out! They are very vivid colours arn't they!

Pumpkin & Pickle Bears: If you are talking about Pink Champagne, She is just adorable! I love her. You will want to see my first bear, all peices cut, Just waiting on the cotter pins. Believe me, Wont be a touch on her 

Sandi.S.: Thank you. I am also waiting on my first needle felting kit from the same place as the cotter pins so It will be usefull to dye the roving also! Thank you so much for the colour chart it is fantastic!!!

millie: I am looking for a more softer colours, Like a tint of orange or a tint of lemon.... I think I will leave it in not quite as long as you guys do!

Thank you again everyone!

Hi,

I just came across a topic about Kool-Aid dying mohair. As Kool-aid Isn't really in the UK (well at least I havn't seen any) I was wondering what kind of colors are what? I have found a website what Supplies Kool-Aid in the UK.  But without ever seeing, I have no idea what colour it is!

The website is www.koolaidUK.com If you'd help me choose what tones of colours the "Original Kool Aid" are.

Thank you again,

Richy~

Edit: Also can you dye Synthetic fabrics with Kool-Aid?

Thank you All so kindly for your help. Very much appreciated.

I am very much so getting into bear making and do also hope to became a bear artist like some of you in the near future.

Thank you all again

Richy~

Going on coat style, I was always told to keep them out of direct sunlight for long periods of time and in the cool, I know the heat can cause them to shed.

Richy~

Thank you both Very much. I will check out the books

Doing my first bear I came to some hard parts. Putting the foot pads on! ARGH! Also sewing the front and back arms together as... Someone who made the pattern but different Opening sizes! I was really confused!

I have finished all body peices. thank god!

Anyways, Thank you again,

Richy~

I've heard people using Transparency Film. It's that durable but flimsy plastic you use for over head projectors Being Transparent, You can see through them and can use a perminant marker to draw/write your info on them.

I thought they were a brilliant Idea.

Richy~

Hello,

I am new here and New to the Teddy making world. My name is Richy and I breed Russian blue cats. 

I am just on my first bear using a synthetic fabric. Very cheap but nice and plush. While I'm waiting for my joints and eyes plus stuffing I am getting eggar to start another! I have been making him over 3 days and all in all about 8 hours of work and I just need stuffing a little over sewing and joints eyes etc. 

I adore some of your more Modern bears And you all go on about how you make patterns and it seems so easy for you! Any help on how to develope some patterns while I wait for my order to arrive. I'm more into 13"+ size bears. 

Thank you all for you time,

Richy~