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Apple Dumpling DesignsIs that grammatically correct? I'm having a senior moment :crackup: Anyway...
I recently needed more polyfil and the I brand I normally purchase wasn't available so I purchased something different. It seemed to be great while I finished up legs, arms and a body. However, after stuffing and literally ruining two heads and becoming very frustrated because it kept shifting and distorting I decided that the polyfil just wasn't up to par for the head because it doesn't hold it's too lofty (is that a word).
Anyone run into polyfil that's too lofty even when packed rock hard? This stuff is great for cuddly bodies though.
Now I just HAVE to go back to the craft store...I just HAVE to. :crackup:
Hi Shantell, 
You're right! I find lofty polyfil to be a pain to work with. It's much too slippery for me. I like the polyfil that goes by the name Simplicity. It has great "grab" and packs firm when you want it to. I get if from Mill End, a store in the Milwaukie/Sellwood area. Another great thing about this polyfil is that you can get it in a gigantic bag!
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
P.S. Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm supposed to be over at the Ho Ho Oh Bearz show. Everyone else (Yay for them!! 
) is selling but me so I thought I'd come over here and chat for a bit.....since I have to be on the computer for another hour and a half!!
Back Road BearsShantell,
That lofty (yes it is a word) stuff is all I use!!! No wonder I get so ticked when stuffing the head. It is slippery but I love it for the rest of the body. I use the Simplicity poly for the muzzle because it does pack hard. I think I'll try it in the whole head next time. Thanks for the idea, Queen!!
Have fun at the craft store, Shantell!
Strange Bearshi Shantell
I love wool for stuffing the muzzel and then change to plyfill for the rest of the head....that way I get the muzzel firm for doing a nose and the behind the eyes where it is part wool and part polyfill is then easy to needle scultp as it part firm amd part soft...
I also use wool over the tops of the joints in the arms and legs as it "holds' there and covers the joint firmly .....I often have up to 3 different types of fill in my bears of I use glass or pellets as well......but nerlay all have wool and polyfill.
Sandra
Posts: 3,540Well its interesting reading. I've noticed just switching brands I'll have this, one will be better at giving a smooth, not lumpy stuffing.
Hmmm...will have to try some of this 'lofty' and wool for the head... 
Chaska, MinnesotaWell wonders never cease. I use Mountain Mist like Toby. Now all of you are introducing other ideas that may give a better look. So please Sandra tell us more about the wool idea and where to buy it.
Michelle
Drea's BearsHi everyone, thought I join in on this one. I get almost all of my bearmaking stuff from Disco Joints and Teddies in St Jacob's Ontario. They have a website I'm not sure what it is exactly but if you google them you'll find it. They sell stuffing from a company called G E Textiles (I think 
) and then it's sent directly from the guy who manuactures it. I've been using it for almost 10 years, he used to be at all the bear shows in Toronto but now he's a little harder to find. I use his 'regular fill' stuffing because it's what I like the best I tried using his 'hollow fill' which is the 'lofty stuff' and the 'hard pack' stuffing but I found the 'regular fill' worked best for all around stuffing. It packs firm when you need it and soft when you don't. And the great thing is you can buy it in 20 pounds or 40 pounds so you will have it for a while! If you are going to check out their web site for the polly stuffing you'll need to ask them for it since they no longer have it listed on their site but they do still sell it!
If I remember correctly Disco Joints and Teddies' also sells sheeps wool or lambs wool for stuffing noses.
Another place for sheeps/lambs wool would be a dance shop....yes I said dance shop! Ballet dancers often use it on thier feet when dancing on pointe, and most dance shops will have it in stock. I'm not sure you could get a huge bag of it but it would be worth a try! Maybe they could do a special order for you?
The last batch I got was from a local farmer.........it was fairly cheap and already cleaned!
There's my 2 cents, hope you find it helpful.....if not, don't worry I can make change! 
AndreaM
Swan Valley BearsOK, my $.02 worth . . . . I buy Morning Glory Premium Polyester Fiberfil from Walmart. You can get it in a big box or a 20 oz bag. That's what I stuff the heads with. Packs nice and firm. I use Wonderfil I buy at Joann's for the bodies and limbs. Morning Glory has two others that Walmart sells, one is called Cluster Stuff, the lofty slick stuff that's good for soft bodies (the bag says "airy, down-like) and the other type is somewhere in between the two. I bought a bag of the Cluster Stuff and I'll try it in the body of my next bear.
Posts: 8,574I have tried the expensive stuff and don't like it, give me the cheaper stuff from wall mart-morning glory? It doesn't ball up into hard little nuggets, and it does pack beautifully. I use a large scre driver for big projects and a small one for the minis.
Hang in there honey~! I know you and you wont let any of this keep you down!
gollylove
dilu
fribbles, ltd...I use the slippery stuff and I hate the firm stuff with a passion---it gets mini teddies bumpy in all the WRONG places. I also receive from time to time packages with polymer fairies in 'em, and the artists use polyfil to cushion their sculpts. Usually the kind I can't use! I dislike wasting the stuff, but if I ever do bigger bears now I'll know that finally has a use!
Amelia
Apple Dumpling DesignsI conquered and I won...got my usual stuff (no pun intended) and packed it rock hard...good to go...but I'm using the fluffly lofty light as a fleather stuff for the body and limbs...give this little bruin a nice little cuddly feel along with her little glass bead tummy and she'll be a real snuggler.
:crackup:
